BRIBERY

Addison, Joseph
A man who is furnished with arguments from the mint, will convince his antagonist much sooner than one who draws them from reason and philosophy.—Gold is a wonderful clearer of the understanding; it dissipates every doubt and scruple in an instant; accommodates itself to the meanest capacities; silences the loud and clamorous, and cringes over the most obstinate and inflexible.— Philip of Macedon was a man of most invincible reason this way. He refuted by it all the wisdom of Athens; confounded their statesmen; struck their orators dumb; and at length argued them out of all their liberties.

Gregory the Great
The universe is not rich enough to buy the vote of an honest man.

Marston, John
Who thinketh to buy villainy with gold, shall find such faith so bought, so sold.

Massinger, Philip
Petitions not sweetened with gold, are but unsavory, and often refused; or if received, are pocketed, not read.

Pope, Alexander
Judges and senators have been bought with gold.

Shakespeare, William
Though authority be a stubborn bear, yet he is oft led by the nose with gold.