We should not be content to say that power has a need for…
“We should not be content to say that power has a need for such-and-such a discovery, such-and-such a form of knowledge, but we should add that the exercise of power itself creates and causes to emerge new objects of knowledge and accumulates new bodies of information. ... The exercise of power perpetually creates knowledge and, conversely, knowledge constantly induces effects of power. ... It is not possible for power to be exercised without knowledge, it is impossible for knowledge not to engender power.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Power and knowledge are interdependent; each shapes and expands the other.
In simple terms: Power and knowledge feed each other.
Key Takeaway
Recognize their mutual influence.
Themes
power
knowledge
society
control
truth
Mood
analytical
critical
Type
philosophical
theoretical
When to use this quote
- academic research
- media analysis
- policy development
- organizational strategy
Key Concepts
Foucaultian theory
discursive formation
biopolitics
Questions to Reflect On
- In what ways does knowledge empower resistance?
- How does power manifest in everyday interactions?
A Different Perspective
Power can be exercised covertly, limiting transparency.