Perhaps the punishment of his existence lay precisely in the rapidity with which the words "Rhodesian finance" and "Rhodesian politics" came to signify corruption and bribery.

Even though he may not have been actually guilty of either, he most certainly profited by both.

He instituted in South Africa an utter want of respect for one's neighbour's property, which in time was a prime cause of the Transvaal War.

Hated as he was by some, distrusted as he remained by almost everybody, yet there was nothing mean about Cecil Rhodes.

Though one felt inclined to detest him at times, yet one could not help liking and even loving him when he allowed one to see the real man behind the veil of cynicism and irony which he constantly assumed.
With Rhodes' death the whole system of Rhodesian politics perished.