Power Quotes

"The control of information about ourselves is one of the most important tools we have in social life."

"We use social tokens—titles, uniforms, and artifacts—to establish and maintain our positions."

"The presentation of self is constrained by what others are willing to accept and believe about us."

"We maintain our sense of self by controlling information about ourselves that might damage our image."

"There is no greater curse than that of ignorance combined with power."

"Power without wisdom becomes tyranny."

"Violence is often rooted in threatened egotism and the need to restore a damaged self-image."

"The need for control is fundamental to human psychology."

"Power corrupts because it frees people from the constraints of social feedback."

"Power without wisdom leads to destruction."

"Power is the ability to impose one's will upon others."

"The problem of power is not its existence but its justification."

"Power that cannot justify itself will eventually collapse under its own weight."

"Power flows to those who can convincingly narrate the world to others."

"The intellect can analyze power, but only the will can resist it."

"Attention is like energy - it can be invested or wasted."

"The ability to manage one's attention is the foundation of all other skills."

"The measure of power is not control over others, but ability to shape one's own experience."

"To be a power in the world, one must act with power."

"Man can act as though his future were entirely within his own control."

"Power used ethically serves the common good."

"True power lies in your influence on others for good."

"Authority derives its power from representing the will of the collectivity, not from coercion alone."

"The state exists to maintain social cohesion and prevent the dissolution into anomie."

"The illusion of control is stronger for familiar situations."

"Status is relative, not absolute."

"The greatest power we possess is the ability to choose our response."

"Power is only meaningful when used for good."

"Power corrupts those who do not question it."

"A man's power is his will and the application of it."