Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Comment on this quote Share via Email Print this Page Polybius Quote “[There can be no] rational administration of government when good men are held in the same esteem as bad ones.” ~ Polybius (ca. 203-120 BC,) Greek historian Honor , Integrity Ratings and Comments 4 Reply J Carlton, Calgary 2/4/10 Indeed. Surely Government loses its ability to function on behalf of the people when good men become unnoticable in the melee that is the entrenched bureaucracy and the environment of ubiquitous corruption and graft. Western governments became psychotic bureaucracies some time ago and we are only now collectively noticing that they are out to destroy everything we've worked for. Reply jim k, Austin 2/4/10 Perhaps we are turning the corner in getting our country back, The recent Massachusetts election was a ray of hope. 3 Reply Mike, Norwalk 2/4/10 When government is perceived or spoken of in third person (an alien - other than a personal representative, capable of doing anything more than an individual can do - compelled compliance, license, victimless crimes, larceny with impunity, etc.) history has shown power mongers and other than good people rise to government administration. When malefactors are elevated to leadership positions, the equivalent of Obamunist, Pelosi and Reid, good becomes bad and, bad good. At that point, there can be no rational administration of government when good men are held in the same esteem as bad ones. 1 Reply RBESRQ 2/4/10 Unfortunately, in many cases, good men are lambasted and accused of being radical in the eyes of mediocrity. Good is in the heart (compassion and benevolence towards your fellow beings) and "Bad" is narcissism, greed, and a total lack of consideration for other beings. Very rarely bad becomes good but more often good becomes bad. 2 Reply a adams, hun bch 2/5/10 Thank you Mike for being sane. Sadly, we have had two congressmembers who supported freedom and the US Constitution and Bill of Rights in 2009 100% of the time: Congressmember Flake, Arizona, and Congressman Ron Paul, Texas. We had one Senator. That was Senator Coburn, Oklahoma. How many reps do we have? 535? And only 3 have the integrity to see that our laws are obeyed and our freedom is protected. It will be up to you...if you have the integrity, and the intestinal fortitude, to turn this country back around. I hope I am not standing alone. 2 Reply E Archer, NYC 2/7/10 Yes, but when the system of 'governance' is itself corrupted, even removing 'bad' officers from their seats of power do not remove the power from the seat. There are too many unaccountable seats of power in government whereby no matter who sits in them, if they follow the 'system' the same results will occur. FDA, DEA, FCC, IRS, FEMA, OECD, FRS, and many, many more agencies act arbitrarily with little or no oversight or any way to redress any of their usurpations. Whether a Republican (sic) or Democrat sits in these seats of power, the system itself is rigged to funnel money and power into the coffers of the rich and powerful to the detriment and debilitation of the common people. 1 Reply E Archer, NYC 2/7/10 And as far as 'getting our country back' -- well, it has never been 'back' in our lifetimes, so I would say that we are going to have to take it somewhere it was idealized to be because the true ideal of liberty has not yet ever been achieved. When we have decided as a people to free an oppressed class of the nation, it has been done -- and many say because of this that this is the greatest country in the world. All we need to is to recognize the covert oppression happening now and address it. Reply Ronw13, Oregon 9/20/16 Reply jim k, Austin 10/11/19 SaveOk2 SaveOk2 View CommentsClick to view or comment. Share on Facebook Tweet Email Print This Polybius quote is found in these categories: Honor quotes Integrity quotes About Polybius Bio of Polybius Quotations by Polybius Books by/about Polybius Polybius videos Polybius on Wikipedia Astrological chart for Polybius