Bruce Bueno de Mesquita Quotes

Power tends to protect itself merely to maintain its own status and control. Principle gives up power for the sake of creating the best public policy.

Conservatives are unashamed by self-interest and feel comfortable exercising power on their own behalf.

Most politicians make decisions based on their own best interest rather than the greater good.

That's what it's all about for Trump. It's always about winning - winning for Trump, by making him look good in each day's reality-television production. It's never been about the country.

Politicians as a class are dangerous, that people who are seeking power over us are not, by definition, our friends.

To speak ill of others is a dishonest way of praising ourselves. Nothing is often a good thing to say, and always a clever thing to say.

I'm sure some cynical people would point to that as the main reason for doing it for a lot of people.

Man is essentially a selfish creature. The differences in the degree with which this developed are infinite.

If you run for mayor, people say you're being egotistical. If you decide you won't run for mayor, people say you're being self-centered and egotistical.

Those who joined us for selfish personal reasons, for a career or other motives will be the ones to leave.

People are motivated by the desires for privilege, for power, for profit. Those are not shocking revelations. Anyone who's had any experience in life knows these things.

The egoist is fooled by no ideals: he discards them or uses them, as may suit his own interest.

No man will work for your interests unless they are his.

I think most people act in their self-interest.

Inflammatory passion and selfish interest characterizes most men, whereas ambition characterizes men who pursue and hold national office. Such men rise from the people through a process of self-selection, since politics is a dirty business that discourages all but the most ambitious.

My belief is the majority of people in politics are just interested in pursuing this career in politics, and doing what's necessary to get themselves re-elected. And if that happens to coincide with the public good, great. But if it doesn't, the public good loses out.

He who acts with a constant view to his own advantage will be much murmured against.

Men are not against you; they are merely for themselves.

Hurry, conscious younger people! Get to power quickly so political decisions can be based on the greater good for all rather than the greater gain for few. Hurry, before it is too late!

Unfortunately, there are writers whose only concern is how good they could make themselves look on a title.

Ambition is the mother of hypocrisy and prefers to skulk in corners and dark places. It cannot endure the light of day. It is an unclean vice wallowing in the depths, always hidden, but with ever an eye to advancement.

In the course of time, however, the insolence of the nobles … induced the people to rise…. The nobility, to save a portion of their power, were forced to yield a share of it to the people.

This nation is like all the others that have been spewed upon the earth--ready to shout for any cause that will tickle its vanity or fill its pocket.

Men will always be powerfully influenced in their Opinions and Actions by what appears to be their particular Interest.

Don't get diverted by trying to do things for your own advancement. In other words, don't be lured into responding to incentives.