Manipulation of Power Quotes

Power does not corrupt men; fools, however, if they get into a position of power, corrupt power.

It was not power that corrupted people, but fools who corrupted power.

Beware the abuse of Power. Both by those we disagree with, as well as those we may agree with

I met many Russians over the years who were convinced my brothers and I were a cabal, pulling strings behind the scenes to shape American policy. The Soviets had no conception of how a pluralistic democracy works and believed elected officials, up to and including the president of the United States, were only figureheads acting out the roles dictated to them by the real "powers that be" - in this case, my family.

All the common people want is to be left alone. All the ordinary soldier wants is to collect his pay and not get killed. That's why the great forces of history can be manipulated by astonishingly small groups of determined people.

I've been saying, even against me, the system is rigged. When I ran as a - well, for president, I could see what was going on with the system, and the system is rigged. What I'm saying is they're not necessarily wrong. I mean, there are certainly people where unfortunately that comes into play. And I'm not saying that, I can really relate it very much to myself.

Bad ideas flourish because they are in the interest of powerful groups.

Never take over the world to tamper with it. Those who want to tamper with it are not fit to take over the world.

To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history; but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.

A ruler of men faces two possible misfortunes: if he employs the worthy, the ministers will use worthiness as a pretext to rob their ruler of his power, but if he promotes men recklessly, his affairs will be neglected, and he will not prevail.

the instruments of power - arms, gold, machines, magical or technical secrets - always exist independently of him who disposes of them, and can be taken up by others. Consequently all power is unstable.

Women deluded by these sentiments, sometimes boast of their weakness, cunningly obtaining power by playing on the weakness of men; and they may well glory in their illicit sway, for, like Turkish bashaws, they have more real power than their masters: but virtue is sacrificed to temporary gratifications, and the respectability of life to the triumph of an hour.