John Glenn: Lowest Bidder Rocket

John Glenn Money Quote saying his life was dependent on a complex rocket that had been constructed by lowest bidder contractors and manufacturers. John Glenn said:
 

 

“As I hurtled through space, one thought kept crossing my mind – every part of this rocket was supplied by the lowest bidder” — John Glenn

 
On the same topic, Glenn also said: “I guess the question I’m asked the most often is: “When you were sitting in that capsule listening to the count-down, how did you feel?” Well, the answer to that one is easy. I felt exactly how you would feel if you were getting ready to launch and knew you were sitting on top of two million parts — all built by the lowest bidder on a government contract.” ― John Glenn
 

George Washington: Highest Bidder

George Washington Money Quote saying not many of us will resist the most cash offered, no matter how virtuous. George Washington said:
 

“Few men have virtue to withstand the highest bidder” — George Washington

In this quote, George Washington is commenting on the weakness of human virtue and morality when confronted with large financial incentives or rewards.

His interpretation is that when money is used to entice or corrupt through “the highest bidder” making the greatest offer, few people will have the strength of character or integrity (“virtue”) to resist compromising their principles and giving in to the monetary temptation.

Washington seems to be suggesting that for most people, morality can be undermined by large enough financial inducements, no matter their original intentions or values.

The overall message is one of skepticism about the ability of average individuals to maintain virtue and stand on principle when money is used as a powerful corrupting influence by those willing to outbid others.

Birthday: February 22, 1732 – Death: December 14, 1799

Frederick Douglass: Buyers & Sellers of Men

Frederick Douglass Money Quote saying in his July 5th, 1852 speech to the Rochester Ladies Antislavery Society that evil men sold slaves like animals in the Northern U.S where slavery was outlawed.https://itsamoneything.com/money/frederick-douglass-buyers-sellers-men/ Frederick Douglass said:
 

 

“I hear the doleful wail of fettered humanity on the way to the slave-markets, where the victims are to be sold like horses, sheep, and swine, knocked off to the highest bidder. There I see the tenderest ties ruthlessly broken, to gratify the lust, caprice and rapacity of the buyers and sellers of men. My soul sickens at the sight” — Frederick Douglass

In this quote, Frederick Douglass is vividly describing the horrors of the slave trade from his perspective. He speaks of hearing the “doleful wail” or cries of anguish from enslaved people being forcefully taken away in chains and transported to “slave-markets”. There, human beings would be treated as commodities and “sold like horses, sheep, and swine” to whoever offered the highest price through an auction.

Douglass emphasizes how deeply traumatic this was, as the “tenderest ties” or closest familial bonds were “ruthlessly broken” without regard for the people involved. All of this was done to satisfy the “lust, caprice and rapacity” or greedy, cruel and exploitative desires of those buying and profiting off the slave trade.

Douglass expresses his deep personal revulsion and sickness at witnessing the inhumane system of people being reduced to property and sold without mercy for the benefit of slave traders.

Birthday: c. February 1817 – Death: February 20, 1895