The world is not designed to reward goodness, honesty, or hard work. It rewards value, power, leverage, and the ability to influence outcomes. Morality matters, but it does not guarantee success. Intelligence matters, but it does not guarantee opportunity. And hard work means very little when the system you operate in is designed to keep you disadvantaged.

One of the most dangerous effects of corruption is that it makes poverty look like a personal failure. People are blamed for their circumstances while the institutions that should create opportunities are being systematically weakened by those entrusted to manage them.