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“For those of you who say that improving governance is a luxury that poor countries cannot afford, I am here to tell you that they cannot afford not to improve governance.”
Paul Wolfowtiz, President of the World Bank, speaking to the Inter-Parliamentary Union in Geneva; The Tide News, Nigeria, 24 October
"Absolute power may corrupt absolutely, but it also corrupts trivially."
Ruth Markus, writing on politicians indulging in petty corruption; the Washington Post, United States, 25 October
"People now expect their local politicians to be on the take. Voters assume that everybody takes a cut. All they hope for is that politicians do something for their town at the same time."
Manuel Fuentes, mayor of the Spanish town Sesena; The Guardian, UK, 26 October
"I guess I feel the same way when I watch soccer. I am always frustrated waiting for my team to score and feel like getting on the field and playing myself."
Thai army chief Sonthi Boonyaratglin on his frustration at the speed of the anti-corruption investigation into ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra; Reuters, Global, 26 October
"The people who are in power become very comfortable with their positions, and they don't think that they can get in trouble for stepping over the line."
Craig Holman of watchdog group Public Citizen on corruption in the American government; International Herald Tribune, France, 24 October
"It is the tip of the iceberg. There is a lot more down there. The problem is, you don't know what you don't know."
James "Chip" Burrus, assistant director of the criminal investigation division of the FBI, on bribery at the United States/Mexico border; San Fransisco Chronicle, United States, 25 October