3. The Righteous Leader Keeps Away from Corruption

World Scripture

He who receives office in order to profit from it is like an adulterer, who gets his pleasure from a woman’s body. God says, “I am called holy, you are called holy; if you have not all the qualities which I have, you should not accept leadership.”
Pesikta Rabbati 111a (Judaism)

Do not ask for the position of authority, for if you are granted this position as a result of your asking for it, you will be left to discharge it yourself; but if you are given it without asking you will be helped [by God].
Hadith of Muslim (Islam)

By God, any official who takes anything from the public funds without justification will meet his Lord carrying it on himself on the Day of Judgment.
Hadith of Muslim (Islam)

Bribery is the door through which come all manner of sins. Those who live by bribery cut off their mother’s breasts.
Somadeva, Nitivakyamrita 17.184 (Jainism)

The great Way is easy, yet people prefer bypaths:
The court is corrupt,
The fields are overgrown with weeds,
The granaries are empty;
Yet there are those dressed in fineries,
With swords at their sides,
Filled with food and drink,
And possessed of too much wealth.
This is known as taking the lead in robbery.
Far indeed is this from the Way.
Tao Te Ching 53 (Taoism)

There is no vice more detestable than avarice, more especially in great men and such as bear sway in the government of a state.
Cicero (Hellenism)

Teachings of Sun Myung Moon

Whether religious leaders or politicians, their greatest weakness is selfishness.
(299:105, February 6, 1999)

Among two people, the one who willingly works for the sake of others—for something greater transcending himself—stands on the side of good, while the other who does whatever is expedient for his own self-interest is evil. Government officials should live for the sake of the nation. If instead they use their office only to benefit their own families, they are evil.
(170:175-76, November 15, 1987)

Do not rob from your organization’s funds for your personal use. It is destroying the public environment and every bit as unlawful as robbing the state. Anyone who does such things, no matter how they try to live a good life, will not succeed.
(347:85, July 3, 2001)

If you value your personal property more than public property, you are violating heavenly law. If you value your private life more than your public responsibility, you are violating God’s will.
(51:291, November 28, 1971)

When you [leaders] arrive in the spirit world, what will be reckoned as the most serious sins you committed on earth? The first is misusing public funds; the second, not doing your very best for your public mission; the third, violating the Principle. These are the three major sins.⁸
(97:155-56, March 12, 1978)

You ministers, be careful. Using the church for your selfish purpose is the same as using God. Therefore, when guests visit your church or when you are out evangelizing, you should never occupy your mind with the question, “Would this person donate a lot of money?”
(33:164, August 11, 1970)