This month’s theme is the problem of corruption, defined as ‘illegal, bad or dishonest behaviour, especially by people in positions of power’. February quotations reference corruption relating to political policies, politicians, and the influence of financial business inducements on benefactors. The following are extracted from Matthew Syed’s feature, page 21 of the Sunday Times, 19th January 2025: ‘The TikTok saga neatly embodies 40 years of being duped by China – There is one reason Trump has reversed his stance on the app: self-interest. This is how we’ve been corrupted’.
‘It is difficult to get a man to understand something when his salary depends on his not understanding it.’
UPTON SINCLAIR
‘Corruption in foreign policy as in so many areas, is not a symptom of our problems. Corruption is the problem.’
MATTHEW SYED
GRAMMAR/COMMUNICATION NOTES
Terms relating to corruption/reprobative behaviour:
- Malfeasance – wrongful or illegal act, especially by a public official
- Egregious – outstandingly bad / shocking, obviously wrong beyond any reasonable degree
- Pernicious – wicked or malicious/ causing grave harm
- Seditious – inciting rebellion
- Traduce – speak badly of or tell lies to damage reputation
- Opprobrium – public disgrace because of bad behaviour
Warmest & best wishes
