Theodor W. Adorno Quotes

Each new power won by man is a power over man as well.

We must tame these fellows and make them useful to us.

Instead of respecting things, we want to use them for ourselves and if it is difficult to use them, we want to conquer them.

We reduce things to mere Nature in order that we may "conquer" them.

Nobody will admit to playing power games in relationships, but they do.

Power over others is weakness disguised as strength.

It's possible for people to gain control of every facet of your life.

The ruling idea of the politician - stated rather bluntly - is that those who are opposed to him exist for the purpose of being made to serve his ends, if he can get power enough in his hands to force these ends upon them.

To get power over is to defile. To possess is to defile.

Powerlessness also corrupts.

I have never been able to conceive how any rational being could propose happiness to himself from the exercise of power over others.

People who are divided are easier to control.

I don't need handcuffs to enslave a woman.

Man is always exploited through fear.

Arriane sized her up, tapping one finger against her lips. "Perfect," she said, stepping forward to loop her arm through Luce's. "I was just thinking I could really use a new slave.

You keep folks so intimidated. You can give them money, access, but they're still scared. And as long as you're scared, you're on the plantation.

Who owns a man, Durnik?” the blond young man asked sadly. “The one who rules him, or the one who pays him?

Next to enjoying ourselves, the next greatest pleasure consists in preventing others from enjoying themselves, or, more generally, in the acquisition of power.

It was easier to conquer it than to know what to do with it.

I call the discourse of power any discourse that engenders blame, hence guilt, in its recipient.

Beware the tyranny of the weak. They just suck you dry.

Once they get their hooks into you, you're a dead pigeon.

You think you know her. Just wait and see the change. I'll have her trained in no time.

In 'Fifty Shades,' seemingly, Christian has all the power and control - but actually, Anastasia does.

There is nothing more corrupting, nothing more destructive of the noblest and finest feelings of our nature, than the exercise of unlimited power.