The imagination is never governed, it is always the ruling and divine power.
—John Ruskin (1819–1900) English Writer, Art Critic
We do not believe any group of men adequate enough or wise enough to operate without scrutiny or without criticism.
—J. Robert Oppenheimer (1904–67) American Nuclear Physicist
There are some whom the applause of the multitude has deluded into the belief that they are really statesmen.
—Plato (428 BCE–347 BCE) Greek Philosopher, Mathematician, Educator
We cannot live by power, and a culture that seeks to live by it becomes brutal and sterile. But we can die without it.
—Max Lerner (1902–92) American Journalist, Educator, Author
Madness in great ones must not unwatched go.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
The most exquisite paradox? As soon as you give it all up, you can have it all. As long as you want power, you can’t have it. The minute you don’t want power, you’ll have more than you ever dreamed possible.
—Ram Dass (1931–2019) American Hindu, New Age Pioneer
Faith—not a faith in one’s self or in one’s own powers but faith in principle; in the Something Great which upholds right, and which may be relied upon to give us the victory in due time. Without this faith it is not possible for any one to rise to real greatness.
—Wallace Wattles (1860–1911) American New Thought Author
You must lay aside your greed; have no unworthy motive in your desire to become rich and powerful. It is legitimate and right to desire riches, if you want them for the sake of your soul, but not if you desire them for the lists of the flesh.
—Wallace Wattles (1860–1911) American New Thought Author
Into the hands of every individual is given a marvelous power for good or evil-the silent, unconscious, unseen influence of his life. This is simply the constant radiation of what man really is, not what he pretends to be.
—William George Jordan (1864–1928) American Editor, Essayist
The look of a king is itself a deed.
—Jean Paul (1763–1825) German Novelist, Philosopher
I love power. But it is as an artist that I love it. I love it as a musician loves his violin, to draw out its sounds and chords and harmonies.
—Napoleon I (1769–1821) Emperor of France
It is a strange desire, to seek power and lose liberty, or to seek power over others and to lose power over a man’s self. The rising unto place is laborious, and by pains men come to greater pains, and it is sometimes base; and by indignities men come to dignities. The standing is slippery, and the regress is either a downfall or at least an eclipse, which is a melancholy thing.
—Francis Bacon (1561–1626) English Philosopher
Powerful men in particular suffer from the delusion that human beings have no memories. I would go so far as to say that the distinguishing trait of powerful men is the psychotic certainty that people forget acts of infamy as easily as their parent’s birth.
—Stephen Vizinczey (1933–2021) Hungarian-Canadian Writer
Our ultimate freedom is the right and power to decide how anybody or anything outside ourselves will affect us.
—Stephen Covey (1932–2012) American Self-help Author
Alexander at the head of the world never tasted the true pleasure that boys of his own age have enjoyed at the head of a school.
—Hugh Walpole (1884–1941) English Novelist, Short Story Writer, Dramatist
Our sense of power is more vivid when we break a man’s spirit than when we win his heart. For we can win a man’s heart one day and lose it the next. But when we break a proud spirit we achieve something that is final and absolute.
—Eric Hoffer (1902–83) American Philosopher, Author
Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.
—Abraham Lincoln (1809–65) American Head of State
The renown of great men should always be
measured by the means which they have used to acquire it.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
Victims may be defensive, submissive, over-accommodating to others, passive-aggressive in conflict, dependent on others for self-worth, overly sensitive, even manipulative. They’re often angry, resentful, and envious, feeling unworthy or ashamed about their circumstances. Have you ever felt or acted this way?
—David Emerald
Knowledge is the most democratic source of power.
—Alvin Toffler (1928–2016) American Writer, Futurist, Businessman
If you haven’t the strength to impose your own terms upon life, then you must accept the terms it offers you.
—T. S. Eliot (1888–1965) American-British Poet, Dramatist, Literary Critic
Justice without power is inefficient; power without justice is tyranny. Justice without power is opposed, because there are always wicked men. Power without justice is soon questioned. Justice and power must therefore be brought together, so that whatever is just may be powerful, and whatever is powerful may be just.
—Blaise Pascal (1623–62) French Mathematician, Physicist, Theologian
All we have to do is to receive what we are given…We are given the naturalness to love someone, to be calm in crisis, to ignore self-defeating suggestions, to be pleasant, forgiving, tender, helpful, unworried, brave, energetic.
—Vernon Howard (1918–92) American Author, Philosopher
Whatever needs to be maintained through force is doomed.
—Henry Miller (1891–1980) American Novelist
There exists a special self which takes every event as if it were the very thing you wanted to happen. That self is the Supermind, which is never upset by anything. Your goal is to nourish it into greater strength. Then, every step is sunlit.
—Vernon Howard (1918–92) American Author, Philosopher
Wherever there is power there is age.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
I am not alone at all, I thought. I was never alone at all. And that, of course, is the message of Christmas. We are never alone. Not when the night is darkest, the wind coldest, the word seemingly most indifferent. For this is still the time God chooses.
—Taylor Caldwell (1900–85) American Novelist
No one can tell you what is right for you except yourself. So start telling yourself what to do. If you blunder for ten years while thinking for yourself, that is rich treasure when compared with living these ten years under the mental domination of another.
—Vernon Howard (1918–92) American Author, Philosopher
Even in war moral power is to physical as three parts out of four.
—Napoleon I (1769–1821) Emperor of France
Authority’s for sharing only when the sharer is sure of his (or hers).
—Malcolm S. Forbes (1919–1990) American Publisher, Businessperson
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