Historically the first philosopher to enquire deeply into the nature of corruption in society was Ibn Khaldun (1322-1406), whose wandering life was largely spent in the northern littoral of Africa at a time when kingdoms and sultanates were crumbling.

It is precisely when we help one another that we gain our victories over corruption, but the victory is assured only when we help one another with all our strength.

The corrupt man is nearly always rootless, deeply aware of his rootlessness.

Nietzsche's accomplishment is that he permits us to see corruption from the inside.

All is forgiven to kings and popes. History grants them immunity, even a full pardon, even when they admit their crimes and glory in them.

Conquest, tyranny, treachery, and the clash of cultures bring about corrupt societies, and so does old age. Sometimes the five faces of corruption are visible at the same time.

At the heart of the mystery of corruption lies the desire of one man to impose his will on others to the largest possible extent.