Who said “Life is a corrupting process from the time a child learns to play his mother off against…”?

Verified

Saul Alinsky. A published source records them saying or writing it.

SourceRules for Radicals: A Practical Primer for Realistic Radicals (1971)

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“Life is a corrupting process from the time a child learns to play his mother off against his father in the politics of when to go to bed; he who fears corruption fears life.”
— Saul Alinsky
VerifiedRules for Radicals: A Practical Primer for Realistic Radicals (1971) · evidenceCorruption

Cite this quote

For academic work, cite the original where you can: Rules for Radicals: A Practical Primer for Realistic Radicals (1971).

APA

Alinsky, S. (n.d.). Life is a corrupting process from the time a child learns to play his mother off against his father in the politics of when to go to bed; he who fears corruption fears life. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/11857-life-is-a-corrupting-process-from-the-time/

MLA

Alinsky, Saul. “Life is a corrupting process from the time a child learns to play his mother off against his father in the politics of when to go to bed; he who fears corruption fears life.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/11857-life-is-a-corrupting-process-from-the-time/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Alinsky, Saul. “Life is a corrupting process from the time a child learns to play his mother off against his father in the politics of when to go to bed; he who fears corruption fears life.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/11857-life-is-a-corrupting-process-from-the-time/.

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