#pow

Who is wise? He that learns from everyone. Who is powerful? He that governs his passions. Who is rich? He that is content. Who is that? Nobody. ↗

— Benjamin Franklin

#everyone #governs #his #learns #nobody

The only purpose for which power can be rightfully exercised over any member of a civilized community, against his will, is to prevent harm to others. His own good, either physical or moral, is not a sufficient warrant. He cannot rightfully be compelled to do or forbear because it will be better for him to do so, because it will make him happier, because, in the opinions of others, to do so would be wise, or even right. These are good reasons for remonstrating with him, or reasoning with him, or persuading him, or entreating him, but not for compelling him, or visiting him with any evil, in case he do otherwise. ↗

— John Stuart Mill

#libertarian #liberty #power #community

I read in a book once that a rose by any other name would smell as sweet, but I've never been able to believe it. I don't believe a rose WOULD be as nice if it was called a thistle or a skunk cabbage. ↗

— L.M. Montgomery

#names #power-of-words #rose

Washing one's hands of the conflict between the powerful and the powerless means to side with the powerful, not to be neutral. ↗

— Paulo Freire

#conflict #hands #means #neutral #powerful

The real satanist is not quite so easily recognized as such ↗

— Anton Szandor LaVey

#politics #power #economy

It has always been the prerogative of children and half-wits to point out that the emperor has no clothes. But a half-wit remains a half-wit, and the emperor remains an emperor. ↗

— Neil Gaiman

#protest #truth-telling #wit

When one with honeyed words but evil mind Persuades the mob, great woes befall the state. ↗

— Euripides

#deceit #deception #elections #evil #false-promises

You are most powerful when you are most silent. People never expect silence. They expect words, motion, defense, offense, back and forth. They expect to leap into the fray. They are ready, fists up, words hanging leaping from their mouths. Silence? No. ↗

— Alison McGhee

#powerful #silence #silence

Writing has nothing to do with meaning. It has to do with landsurveying and cartography, including the mapping of countries yet to come. ↗

— Gilles Deleuze

#organized-chaos #power-of-words #writing #chaos

You are confused because the Bible describes God as an omnipotent and benevolent deity…Omnipotent-benevolent simply means that God is all-powerful and well-meaning.” I understand the concept. It’s just…there seems to be a contradiction.” Yes. The contradiction is pain. Man’s starvation, war, sickness…” Exactly!” Chartrand knew the camerlengo would understand. “Terrible things happen in this world. Human tragedy seems like proof that God could not possibly be both all-powerful and well-meaning. If He loves us and has the power to change our situation, He would prevent our pain, wouldn’t He?” The Camerlengo frowned. “Would He?” Chartrand felt uneasy. Had he overstepped his bounds? Was this one of those religious questions you just didn’t ask? “Well…if God loves us, and He can protect us, He would have to. It seems He is either omnipotent and uncaring, or benevolent and powerless to help.” Do you have children, Lieutenant?” Chartrand flushed. “No, signore.” Imagine you had an eight-year-old son…would you love him?” Of course.” Would you let him skateboard?” Chartrand did a double take. The camerlengo always seemed oddly “in touch” for a clergyman. “Yeah, I guess,” Chartrand said. “Sure, I’d let him skateboard, but I’d tell him to be careful.” So as this child’s father, you would give him some basic, good advice and then let him go off and make his own mistakes?” I wouldn’t run behind him and mollycoddle him if that’s what you mean.” But what if he fell and skinned his knee?” He would learn to be more careful.” The camerlengo smiled. “So although you have the power to interfere and prevent your child’s pain, you would choose to show your love by letting him learn his own lessons?” Of course. Pain is part of growing up. It’s how we learn.” The camerlengo nodded. “Exactly. ↗

— Dan Brown

#change