No One is Immune to Bribery or Corruption
Prepare to dive into the tantalizing, maddening, and unfortunately evergreen realm of bribery and corruption. This cliché—spiced up as “Everyone has their price”—suggests that integrity is but a veneer waiting to be peeled back by the lure of shiny, attractive coins.
Origin and Usage
Source: This expression has been traced to a speech given by Sir Robert Walpole in 1734, as reported in William Coxe’s Memoirs of the British Statesman (1798). Walpole was valiantly—or venomously—criticizing corrupt members of Parliament, whom he dismissed as “pretended patriots” and said, “All those men have their price.” Intriguingly, another source printed in 1734 already labels the phrase as “an old maxim.” This means Sir Walpole might simply have repeated what every shrewd observer already knew.
Whatever the ultimate origin, this cynical observation about human nature has persisted remarkably in the collective consciousness, easily applied across genders and generations to signify that influence and loyalty are transient commodities in the marketplace of morals.
Synonyms and Related Expressions
- Every man has his price: Simpler but carries the same connotation.
- Money talks: An idiom asserting the persuasive power of money.
- Ethics on sale: Demonstrates the commodification of moral values.
- Bought loyalty: Implies that loyalty can be intrinsically linked to financial gain.
- Silver bullet: Well, not just for werewolves anymore!
Humorous Quip
“When debating bribery and corruption, remember: Money may not buy happiness, but it’s a great down payment on a future of moral flexibility.”
Proverbs and Expressions
- “A fish rots from the head down.”
(The leadership sets the tone for corruption.) - “Greed is a bottomless pit.”
(Bjork—profound and poetic even when dealing with the worst aspects of humankind.) - “The love of money is the root of all evil.”
(Biblical wisdom that underscores the dangers of avarice.)
Literature and Pop Culture Tidbits
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Literature:
Macbeth by William Shakespeare explores rampant ambition and corruption. Catch-22 by Joseph Heller dances oddly between corruption and sanity. -
Movies:
The Godfather (Directed by Francis Ford Coppola) is the apex of organized, systemic corruption. Serpico (1973) depicts one cop’s loneliness in a corrupt system. -
Songs:
“Money” by Pink Floyd hints broadly at corruption—if you think flying pigs serve as hints. “Dirty Laundry” by Don Henley—press-sensationalism meets shady corruption.
Inspirational Thought-Provoking Farewell
As you navigate the often murky realms of ethics, may you rise above the enticements of corruption and bribery, embodying integrity in a world constantly testing its bounds and definitions. Remember, true wealth lies in a spotless conscience—a treasure no bribe can ever claim.
Happy reading and reflecting,
Sir Verbose Allspeak
