Graham Greene: Corrupt Sentiment

Graham Greene Money Quote saying those willing to sell themselves for money are more predictable than those that may be swayed by emotions. Graham Greene said:
 

 

“They had been corrupted by money, and he had been corrupted by sentiment. Sentiment was the more dangerous, because you couldn’t name its price. A man open to bribes was to be relied upon below a certain figure, but sentiment might uncoil in the heart at a name, a photograph, even a smell remembered” — Graham Greene

Graham Greene is contrasting being corrupted by money versus being corrupted by sentiment or emotions. He says that while a person corrupted by money can be relied upon or influenced up to a certain price point when receiving a bribe, someone corrupted by sentiment is harder to predict. Sentiment does not have a fixed price, so you cannot know for sure what might trigger an emotional response in someone or cause their sentiments to “uncoil in the heart.”

Greene suggests that sentiment is a more dangerous form of corruption because emotions can be swayed in unexpected ways by small reminders or triggers like a name, photograph, or smell from the past in a way that is not straightforward like a monetary exchange. The quote implies sentiment makes a person’s actions and loyalty less reliable.

Jeannette Rankin: Bribes Offered

Jeannette Rankin Money Quote saying as first U.S. Congress woman that no bribe is obvious or traceable – so to prove none were paid, she took the opposite actions. Jeannette Rankin said:
 

 

“Bribes are not offered in such a way that you can prove them, and in order to prove that I didn’t accept a bribe, I had to run” — Jeannette Rankin

Birthday June 11, 1880 – Died May 18, 1973
Elected to Congress from Wyoming in 1916 and helped pass the 19th Amendment, to give women the right to vote

Frederick Douglass: Judge Gets 10 Dollars

Frederick Douglass Money Quote saying Fugitive Slave Law in mid 19th Century made it profitable for judges to decide against slaves and for owners. Frederick Douglass said:
 

 

“The Fugitive Slave Law makes mercy to them a crime; and bribes the judge who tries them. An American judge gets ten dollars for every victim he consigns to slavery, and five, when he fails to do so” — Frederick Douglass