Power Corrupts Quotes - Page 2

• The story being told in 'Star Wars' is a classic one. Every few hundred years, the story is retold because we have a tendency to do the same things over and over again. Power corrupts, and when you're in charge, you start doing things that you think are right, but they're actually not.

  George Lucas

  Stars, War, Thinking

  "George Lucas on 'Star Wars,' 'Fahrenheit 9/11,' and his own legacy". Interview with Steve Silverman, www.wired.com. May 1, 2005.

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• What is true is that the idea of power corrupts. Power corrupts most rapidly those who believe in it, and it is they who will want it most. Obviously, our democratic system tends to give power to those who hunger for it and gives every opportunity to those who don't want power to avoid getting it. Not a very satisfactory arrangement if power corrupts those who believe in it and want it.

  Gregory Bateson

  Believe, Opportunity, Ideas

  Gregory Bateson (1972). “Steps to an Ecology of Mind: Collected Essays in Anthropology, Psychiatry, Evolution, and Epistemology”, p.494, University of Chicago Press

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• There are similarities between absolute power and absolute faith: a demand for absolute obedience, a readiness to attempt the impossible, a bias for simple solutionsto cut the knot rather than unravel it, the viewing of compromise as surrender. Both absolute power and absolute faith are instruments of dehumanization. Hence, absolute faith corrupts as absolutely as absolute power.

  Eric Hoffer

  Faith, Cutting, Power

  Eric Hoffer (1982). “Between the Devil and the Dragon: The Best Essays and Aphorisms of Eric Hoffer”, HarperCollins Publishers

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• Our country is now taking so steady a course as to show by what road it will pass to destruction, to wit: by consolidation of power first, and then corruption, its necessary consequence.

  Thomas Jefferson

  Country, Firsts, Corruption

  Letter to Nathaniel Macon, 1821.

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• The fight for justice against corruption is never easy. It never has been and never will be. It exacts a toll on our self, our families, our friends, and especially our children. In the end, I believe, as in my case, the price we pay is well worth holding on to our dignity.

  Frank Serpico

  Children, Believe, Fighting

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• Power corrupts the few, while weakness corrupts the many.

  Eric Hoffer

  Work, Power, Weakness

  Eric Hoffer (1996). “The Passionate State of Mind”

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• Great men are almost always bad men.

  Lord Acton

  Men, Corrupt Power, Absolute Power

  1887 Letter to Bishop Mandell Creighton, 3 Apr.

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• All governments suffer a recurring problem: Power attracts pathological personalities.

  Frank Herbert

  War, Government, Personality

  Frank Herbert (1987). “Chapterhouse: Dune”, p.60, Penguin

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• Absolute faith corrupts as absolutely as absolute power.

  Eric Hoffer

  Inspirational, Faith, Atheist

  Eric Hoffer (1982). “Between the Devil and the Dragon: The Best Essays and Aphorisms of Eric Hoffer”, HarperCollins Publishers

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• If absolute power corrupts absolutely, does absolute powerlessness make you pure?

  Harry Shearer

  Power, Political, Doe

  Biography/Personal Quotes, www.imdb.com.

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• Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men, even when they exercise influence and not authority: still more when you superadd the tendency or the certainty of corruption by authority.

  Lord Acton

  Exercise, Men, Influence And Power

  "Historical Essays and Studies". Book by John Emerich Edward Dalberg-Acton, oll.libertyfund.org. 1907.

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• Power doesn't corrupt. It's neutral. Someone always wants to corrupt power. It's the way a shotgun is not a deadly weapon until someone chooses to use it irrationally.

  Steve Ditko

  Gun, Power, Choices

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• Corruption is the enemy of development, and of good governance. It must be got rid of. Both the government and the people at large must come together to achieve this national objective.

  Pratibha Patil

  Inspirational, Government, People

  Pratibha Patils farewell speech to the nation, www.abplive.in. July 24, 2012.

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• Power does not corrupt. Fear corrupts... perhaps the fear of a loss of power.

  John Steinbeck

  Fear, Loss, Power

  "The Short Reign of Pippin IV". Book by John Steinbeck, p. 102, 1957.

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• Absolute truisms rot brains absolutely.[...]'Power corrupts' is useless as a tool for understanding the past, and gives us nothing as a guide to action.

  Steven Brust

  Past, Giving, Understanding

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• When power corrupts, poetry cleanses

  John F. Kennedy

  Diversity, Poetry, Arrogance

  Remarks upon receiving an honorary degree from Amherst College, Amherst, Mass., 26 Oct. 1963

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• I truly believe that all power corrupts. Such is probably the thinking behind every political film ever made in Hollywood.

  Elia Kazan

  Believe, Thinking, Political

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• Unlimited power corrupts the possessor.

  William Pitt

  Power, Politics, Unlimited

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• When power leads man toward arrogance, poetry reminds him of his limitations. When power narrows the area of man's concern, poetry reminds him of the richness and diversity of existence. When power corrupts, poetry cleanses.

  John F. Kennedy

  Patriotic, Power, Men

  Remarks upon receiving an honorary degree from Amherst College, Amherst, Mass., 26 Oct. 1963

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• Liberty is not a means to a higher political end. It is itself the highest political end...liberty is the only object which benefits all alike, and provokes no sincere opposition...The danger is not that a particular class is unfit to govern. ~ Every class is unfit to govern ... Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men.

  Lord Acton

  Mean, Men, Class

  "The History of Freedom in Antiquity". Book by John Emerich Edward Dalberg-Acton, 1907.

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• I no longer give Power Point presentations, because I've come to believe that power corrupts, and Power Point corrupts absolutely.

  Vinton Cerf

  Believe, Giving, Presentation

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• The sane are usually attracted by other things than power.

  David Brin

  Power, Belief, Corruption

  David Brin (1997). “The Postman”, GuildAmerica Books

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• We're taught Lord Acton's axiom: all power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely. I believed that when I started these books, but I don't believe it's always true any more. Power doesn't always corrupt. Power can cleanse. What I believe is always true about power is that power always reveals.

  Robert Caro

  Believe, Book, Taught

  "Robert Caro: a life with LBJ and the pursuit of power". Interview with Chris McGreal, www.theguardian.com. June 9, 2012.

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• In the United States, though power corrupts, the expectation of power paralyzes.

  John Kenneth Galbraith

  Power, Expectations, United States

  "The United States". New York magazine, November 15, 1971.

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• All power corrupts but some must govern.

  John le Carre

  John le Carre (2002). “Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy”, p.235, Simon and Schuster

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