Quotes About Power

In the early days of his power, he is full of smiles, and he salutes everyone whom he meets.

He who steals a little steals with the same wish as he who steals much, but with less power.

Democracy, which is a charming form of government, full of variety and disorder, and dispensing a sort of equality to equals and unequals alike.

Rhetoric is the art of ruling the minds of men.

Democracy passes into despotism.

When the tyrant has disposed of foreign enemies by conquest or treaty, and there is nothing to fear from them, then he is always stirring up some war or other, in order that the people may require a leader.

How, then, might we contrive… one noble lie to persuade if possible the rulers themselves, but failing that the rest of the city?

For the introduction of a new kind of music must be shunned as imperiling the whole state since styles of music are never disturbed without affecting the most important political institutions.

There will be no end to the troubles of states, or of humanity itself, till philosophers become kings in this world, or till those we now call kings and rulers really and truly become philosophers, and political power and philosophy thus come into the same hands.

Let there be one man who has a city obedient to his will, and he might bring into existence the ideal polity about which the world is so incredulous.

The rulers of the state are the only persons who ought to have the privilege of lying, either at home or abroad they may be allowed to lie for the good of the state.

Democracy leads to anarchy, which is mob rule.

He who does not desire power is fit to hold it.

There are few people so stubborn in their atheism who when danger is pressing in will not acknowledge the divine power.

To the rulers of the state then, if to any, it belongs of right to use falsehood, to deceive either enemies or their own citizens, for the good of the state: and no one else may meddle with this privilege.

The heaviest penalty for declining to rule is to be ruled by someone inferior to yourself.

The measure of a man is what he does with power.

Those who tell the stories rule society.

No law or ordinance is mightier than understanding.

Creo que las mujeres sostienen al mundo en vilo, para que no se desbarajuste mientras los hombres tratan de empujar la historia. Al final uno se pregunta cuál de las dos cosas será la menos sensata

Pese a que en los estratos medios y altos hay los ingredientes culturales capaces de ver con toda lucidez las calamidades que produce el populismo, los sectores marginales de la sociedad, que en América Latina son mayoritarios, permanecen —gracias a las continuas prebendas que reciben— fieles a quienes dicen que ejercen el poder en su nombre y en contra de los privilegiados.

Nicolás Maduro empieza a padecer un delirio no exento de lapsus cómicos cada vez que se acerca el micrófono a la boca

Why do we believe that in all matters the odd numbers are more powerful?

Bad men rule by the feebleness of the ruled; and this is just; the triumph of weaklings would not be just.