QUOTATION: Spiritual Corruption

Corrupt people do not notice their own corruption. It is the same as when people have bad breath: they seldom realize it themselves. Others realize it and need to tell them. Hence, also, it would be hard for someone who is corrupt to escape from that state through inner repentance. Their good spirit in this regard is anesthetized. Generally, our Lord saves them through means of trials that come from situations they experience (illness, loss of money, loss of loved ones, and so forth), and these are what pierce the armor of their corruption and enable grace to enter. Then they can be cured.

--Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio (Pope Francis), "Corruption and Sin", The Way of Humility, 2005

QUOTATION: Spiritual Corruption

It would be fair to say that sins are forgiven but corruption cannot be forgiven. This is simply because at the bottom of every corrupt attitude is a weariness with the transcendent: instead of God, who never tires of forgiving, the corrupt person sets himself up as sufficient for his own salvation-- he has tired of asking for forgiveness.

--Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio (Pope Francis), "Corruption and  Sin",  The Way of Humility, 2005

QUOTATION: Corruption

The first sign of corruption in a society that is still alive is that the end justifies the means.

--Georges Bernanos