Chapter 1, Section 6, Treatise on Politics, Spinoza

This realist says the state cannot rely on government by good men but must be so organized as to provide no temptation to bad faith or evil-doing.

That is impossible.

But one needs to make the state, at least to some extent, assuming one can, proof against both.

And, as we know especially in our age, proof against fanaticism.

Though in our own country the greater danger is sinister interest, not so much individual as class, meaning the interest of the plutocracy. 

This is more harmful to everyone outside the plutocracy, usually, than mere individual corruption.

But less so than fanaticism.

And as to that, though perhaps only because of historic technological limits, religious fanaticism has been less horrific than secular.

I am not convinced that is possible, either.

To make the state proof against fanaticism, I mean.

And in any case the price might be too high.