Corruption is perceived as a cause of vice and tyranny. There are many definitions on corruption, this article is first to describe some famous scholars to define it and induce the basic conception. Second, to explore the typologies of corruption is conductive to understand the basics for it. I will discuss the transactional corruption versus unilateral corruption, individual corruption versus systemic corruption, administrative wrongdoing versus political scandal, and the political- machine- based culture perspective versus the modern civic culture perspective. Third, understanding the sources of corruption is the prerequisite of the cure for it. It is necessary to search some basic causes of corruption. And finally, the way to cure corruption in the modern state is explored. The main cure ways include crafting the specific legislative regulations, establishing the independent supervisory agencies, promoting the transparency mechanisms, advocating the professional codes of ethics, encouraging the whistle-blowing, reinforcing the personal responsibility of morality, and shaping the healthy political culture.Keywords:corruption, systemic corruption, the whistle-blowing, civic culture, the personal responsibility of morality