Eric Hoffer: "Power corrupts the few, while weakness corrupts the many"

It has often been said that power corrupts.  But it is perhaps equally important to realize that weakness, too, corrupts.  Power corrupts the few, while weakness corrupts the many.  Hatred, malice, rudeness, intolerance, and suspicion are the faults of weakness.  The resentment of the weak does not spring from any injustice done to them but from their sense of inadequacy and impotence.  We cannot win the weak by sharing our wealth with them.  They feel our generosity as oppression. 

~ Eric Hoffer, The Passionate State Of Mind, and Other Aphorisms, Section 42, 1955

Eric Hoffer on hatred

Passionate hatred can give meaning and purpose to an empty life. 

~ Eric Hoffer, The True Believer: Thoughts on the Nature of Mass Movements (1951)

Eric Hoffer on propaganda and deceit

Propaganda does not deceive people; it merely helps them to deceive themselves. 

~ Eric Hoffer, "The Passionate State of Mind," 1996

Eric Hoffer on mass movements

A movement is pioneered by men of words, materialized by fanatics and consolidated by men of actions.

~ Eric Hoffer, The True Believer: Thoughts on the Nature of Mass Movements (1951)

Eric Hoffer on business corruption and capitalism

It is probably true that business corrupts everything it touches. It corrupts politics, sports, literature, art, labour unions and so on. But business also corrupts and undermines monolithic totalitarianism. Capitalism is at its liberating best in a non-capitalist environment.

~ Eric Hoffer, philosopher (1902–83), New York Times, April 1971