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Corrupted Quotes

Sayings on how integrity erodes and holds firm.

These corrupted quotes explore how character can be worn down by influence, whether from books, companionship, or unchecked freedom. One classical line uses "slaves" figuratively, warning that a free person who loses their principles is worse off than someone literally bound. Read more in Corrupt quotes.

The sun shineth upon the dunghill, and is not corrupted.

Quotes by John Lyly

We are as liable to be corrupted by books, as by companions.

Quotes by Henry Fielding

Corrupted freemen are the worst of slaves.

Quotes by David Garrick

If something can corrupt you, you're corrupted already.

Bob Marley

Frequently Asked Questions

What do these corrupted quotes discuss?
They discuss how integrity can erode, whether from books, companionship, or unchecked freedom, and what it means to resist that decay.
What does the line about corrupted freemen and slaves mean?
It's a centuries-old figurative warning: a free person who abandons their principles is considered morally worse off than someone literally enslaved, not a literal statement about slavery.
Can books really corrupt someone, according to these quotes?
Yes, one quote suggests that reading material can shape a person's character just as much as the company they choose to keep. See Books quotes for related themes.
Is there a quote suggesting something is untouched by corruption?
Yes, one older line uses sunlight on a dunghill as an image of something that remains uncorrupted despite exposure.
Do any quotes suggest corruption is self-inflicted?
Yes, one line argues that if something has the power to corrupt you, you're likely already corrupted in some sense.

Other lines suggest that resisting corruption takes constant vigilance, since almost anything can wear away at a person's values over time. See Books quotes and Companions quotes for related ideas.