Quote#Politics & Power
There’s the biggest kind of a difference between political looters…
Quote byGeorge Washington Plunkitt · 1842–1924
Commonly attributed — not confirmed in an authoritative edition. Cited on Wikiquote to: Chapter 7, On The Shame of the Cities.
English (original)
There’s the biggest kind of a difference between political looters and politicians who make a fortune out of politics by keepin’ their eyes wide open. The looter goes in for himself alone without considerin’ his organization or his city. The politician looks after his own interests, the organization’s interests, and the city’s interests all at the same time. See the distinction? p. 29
— George Washington Plunkitt
More from George Washington Plunkitt
If I have a good thing to hand out in private life, I give it to a friend. Why shouldn’t I do the same in public life? p.6
Another kind of honest graft. Tammany has raised a good many salaries. There was an awful howl by the reformers, but don’t you know that Tammany gains ten votes for every one it lost by salary raisin’? p. 6
There’s an honest graft, and I’m an example of how it works. I might sum up the whole thing by sayin’: “I seen my opportunities and I took ’em.” p. 3
Every good man looks after his friends, and any man who doesn’t isn’t likely to be popular. p. 5
Everybody is talkin’ these days about Tammany men growin’ rich on graft, but nobody thinks of drawin’ the distinction between honest graft and dishonest graft. p. 3, first line
The Wall Street banker thinks it shameful to raise a department clerk’s salary from $1500 to $1800 a year, but every man who draws a salary himself says: “That’s all right. I wish it was me.” And he feels very much like votin’ the Tammany …