dirty hands, n.All

Dirty hands (n.) are ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠the price of governing: I have dirty hands, right up to the elbows — do you think you can govern innocently?