There is almost no country in Africa where it is not essential to know to which tribe, or which subgroup of which tribe, the president belongs. From this single piece of information you can trace the lines of patronage and allegiance that define the state.

~ Christopher Hitchens

Christopher Hitchens Africa Allegiance Loyalty Patronage Politics Tribalism

This week, Zuma was quoted as saying, 'When the British came to our country, they said everything we are doing was barbaric, was wrong, inferior in whatever way.' But the serious critique of Zuma is not about who is a barbarian and who is civilised. It is about good governance, and this is a universal value, as relevant to an African village as it is to Westminster. If you are unable to keep your appetites in check, you are inevitably going to live beyond your means. And this means you are going to become vulnerable to patronage and even corruption. That is why Jacob Zuma's 'polygamy' is his achilles heel.

~ Mark Gevisser

Mark Gevisser 2010 Africa Britain British Civilisation Corruption Culture Of Africa Good Governance Jacob Zuma Patronage Politics Polygamy Racism Self Control Sex South Africa Superiority Complex Westminster

Connection was the cement of the governing class.

~ Barbara W. Tuchman

Barbara W. Tuchman Leadership Loyalty Patronage

Of all public figures and benefactors of mankind, no one is loved by history more than the literary patron. Napoleon was just a general of forgotten battles compared with the queen who paid for Shakespeare's meals and beer in the tavern. The statesman who in his time freed the slaves, even he has a few enemies in posterity, whereas the literary patron has none. We thank Gaius Maecenas for the nobility of soul we attribute to Virgil; but he isn’t blamed for the selfishness and egocentricity that the poet possessed. The patron creates 'literature through altruism,' something not even the greatest genius can do with a pen.

~ Roman Payne

Roman Payne Altruism Battles Beer Gaius Maecenas Help Helping Others Literary Patrons Maecenas Mecene Money Napoleon Napoleon Boneparte Patron Patron Of The Arts Patronage Queen Queen Elizabeth Respect Selfless Love Selfless Service Selflessness Shakespeare Sponsorship Statesman Tribute Tributes Virgil

We cherish reprobates, not for their cruelty, but for their little show of patronage.

~ Michael Bassey Johnson

Michael Bassey Johnson Bad People Brute Cherish Cruel Cruelty Enemies Enemy Givers Giving Greed Greedy Kill Killers Love For Money Michael Bassey Johnson Money Patron Patronage Reprobates Value Villian Worth Worthy

Reform or no reform, he never ceased to promote the interests of St. Denis and the Royal House of France with the same naive, and in his case not entirely unjustified, conviction of their identity with those of the nation and with the Will of God as a modern oil or steel magnate may promote legislation favorable to his company and to his bank as something beneficial to the welfare of this country and to the progress of mankind.

~ Erwin Panofsky

Erwin Panofsky Abbot Suger Aristocracy Capitalism France Gothic Patronage Royalty Sponsorship St Denis

I used to ask myself, ‘Sergei, would you rather spend your money on drink or women?’ and thanks to the club, I spend it on both and am called a patron of the arts.

~ Melika Dannese Lux

Melika Dannese Lux 1894 Cabarets Dancehall Fin De Siecle Humor Ilyse Charpentier Paris Paris Patronage Parisian Club Patron Of The Arts Patronage Sergei Rakmanovich Witty Wisdom