Quotes About Power

Prisoners, slaves, women and children, the sick, weak, disabled, animals, the earth itself – all were fair game for the cruel sport of those who had power. It was wrong, it was evil, but it was a fact of life.

if he conquers, he obtains power and good fortune. If he perishes, he obtains paradise and bliss.' The outcome of the battle therefore did not matter much to him.

Architecture of Time       Technical civilization is man's conquest of space. It is a triumph frequently achieved by sacrificing an essential ingredient of existence, namely, time. In technical civilization, we expend time to gain space. To enhance our power in the world of space is our main objective. Yet to have more does not mean to be more. The power we attain in the world of space terminates abruptly at the borderline of time. But time is the heart of existence.

Abraham Joshua Heschel

All we own is a passing intention, but what comes about will outlive and surpass our power.

Technical civilization is man's conquest of space. It is a triumph frequently achieved by sacrificing an essential ingredient of existence, namely, time. In technical civilization, we expend time to gain space. To enhance our power in the world of space is our main objective. Yet to have more does not mean to be more. The power we attain in the world of space terminates abruptly at the borderline of time. But time is the heart of existence.

Philosophers do not expend their power and passion unless they themselves are affected. The soul only communes with itself when the heart is stirred.

The prophetic word creates, shapes, changes, builds, and destroys (see Jeremiah 1:10).

Freedom does not mean the right to live as we please. It means the power to live spiritually, to rise to a higher level of existence.

Elections belong to the people. It's their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they will just have to sit on their blisters.

From whence shall we expect the approach of danger? Shall some trans-Atlantic military giant step the earth and crush us at a blow? Never. All the armies of Europe and Asia...could not by force take a drink from the Ohio River or make a track on the Blue Ridge in the trial of a thousand years. No, if destruction be our lot we must ourselves be its author and finisher. As a nation of free men we will live forever or die by suicide.

The ballot is stronger than the bullet.

Force is all conquering, but it's victories are short lived.

In this age, in this country, public sentiment is everything. With it, nothing can fail; against it, nothing can succeed. Whoever molds public sentiment goes deeper than he who enacts statutes, or pronounces judicial decisions.

Semua orang bisa tahan dengan kesengsaraan, tapi bila kau ingin mengetahui karakter seseorang, berilah dia kekuasaan.

Military glory--that attractive rainbow, that rises in showers of blood--that serpent's eye, that charms to destroy...

There has never been but one question in all civilization-how to keep a few men from saying to many men: You work and earn bread and we will eat it.

They [the signers of the Declaration of Independence] did not mean to assert the obvious untruth that all were then actually enjoying that equality, nor yet that they were about to confer it immediately upon them. In fact, they had no power to confer such a boon. They meant simply to declare the right; so that the enforcement of it might follow as fast as circumstances should permit.

If you want to test a man's character, give him power.

The money powers prey upon the nation in times of peace and conspire against it in times of adversity. It is more despotic than a monarchy, more insolent than autocracy, and more selfish than bureaucracy. It denounces as public enemies, all who question its methods or throw light upon its crimes.

I will not say that we may not sooner or later be compelled to meet force by force; but the time has not yet come, and if we are true to ourselves, may never come. Do not mistake that the ballot is stronger than the bullet. Therefore let the legions of slavery use bullets; but let us wait patiently till November, and fire ballots at them in return; and by that peaceful policy, I believe we shall ultimately win.

September] 27th [1862] If I had had my way, this war would never have been commenced.

He who moulds public sentiment goes deeper than ehe who enacts statutes or pronounces decisions. He makes statutes and decisions possible or impossible to be executed.

Our government rests in public opinion. Whoever can change public opinion can change the government.