--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Formerly the master selected the slave…" description: "\"Formerly the master selected the slave; today the slave selects his master.\" — Albert Parsons" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d99/albert-parsons-65378_masters_formerly-the-master-selected-the-slave-t_1288514.jpg" --- # Formerly the master selected the slave; today the slave… ![“Formerly the master selected the slave; today the slave selects his master.” quote by Albert Parsons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d99/albert-parsons-65378_masters_formerly-the-master-selected-the-slave-t_1288514.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d99/albert-parsons-65378_masters_formerly-the-master-selected-the-slave-t_1288514.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d99/albert-parsons-65378_masters_formerly-the-master-selected-the-slave-t_1288514.jpg) > “Formerly the master selected the slave; today the slave selects his master.” Albert Parsons ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Power dynamics have inverted: those once oppressed now hold influence, reshaping authority structures. **In simple terms:** The oppressed now choose their leaders. Key Takeaway Recognize and responsibly wield new power. Themes power authority social change class dynamics empowerment Mood critical hopeful cautious Type political philosophical When to use this quote - activism - community organizing - policy advocacy - leadership roles Key Concepts political theory social justice leadership Questions to Reflect On - How can we ensure power remains accountable? - What safeguards prevent abuse of newly gained authority? A Different Perspective New power can be misused or replicate old hierarchies. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Slave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slave/) [Slavery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slavery/) [Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/today/) ## Related quotes > [“I am a human being; I am a woman; I am a black woman; I am an African. Once I was free; then I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manu-herbstein/i-am-a-human-being-i-am-a-woman-i-am-a-black-woman-i-am-an-african/) Manu Herbstein > [Women of a selected class, by the use of slaves and servants have become inactive, the mere recipients of values, no longer creators but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-garlin-spencer/women-of-a-selected-class-by-the-use-of-slaves-and-servants-have/) [Anna Garlin Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-garlin-spencer/) > [Everything is selected by the central government without good judgment or an understanding of culture to make it really safe. They will become nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ai-weiwei/everything-is-selected-by-the-central-government-without-good/) [Ai Weiwei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ai-weiwei/) > [Unerring wisdom ordained your lot, and selected for you the safest and best condition. Remember this, had any other condition been better for you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/unerring-wisdom-ordained-your-lot-and-selected-for-you-the-safest-and/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [Every person who invests in well-selected real estate in a growing section of a prosperous community adopts the surest and safest method of becoming…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/every-person-who-invests-in-well-selected-real-estate-in-a-growing/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [Think of it! A second chamber selected by the Whips. A seraglio of eunuchs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-foot/think-of-it-a-second-chamber-selected-by-the-whips-a-seraglio-of/) [Michael Foot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-foot/) > [God could not have chosen anyone less qualified, or more of a sinner, than myself. And so, for this wonderful work He intends to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-of-assisi/god-could-not-have-chosen-anyone-less-qualified-or-more-of-a-sinner/) [Francis of Assisi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-of-assisi/) > [Science is composed of laws which were originally based on a small, carefully selected set of observations, often not very accurately measured originally; but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-hamming/science-is-composed-of-laws-which-were-originally-based-on-a-small/) [Richard Hamming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-hamming/) > [Way back in 1989, I got lucky with my first published story when it was selected for the Journey Prize anthology. Then I got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bergen/way-back-in-1989-i-got-lucky-with-my-first-published-story-when-it/) [David Bergen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bergen/) > [We’ve all selected the wrong partners, all gotten hurt, and hopefully all moved on wiser for the experience. But there are those who, even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-dini/we-ve-all-selected-the-wrong-partners-all-gotten-hurt-and-hopefully/) [Paul Dini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-dini/) > [I spend a long time casting, but once I've cast a film there's a reason why I selected those people. So I'm hands-on in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-payne/i-spend-a-long-time-casting-but-once-i-ve-cast-a-film-there-s-a/) [Alexander Payne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-payne/) > [The difference is that we have the hardest and most painful evidence that there was a Holocaust. But, for the global warming scenario that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-difference-is-that-we-have-the-hardest-and-most-painful-evidence/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [Some of God's noblest sons, I think, will be selected from those that know how to take wealth, with all its temptations, and maintain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/some-of-god-s-noblest-sons-i-think-will-be-selected-from-those-that/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [I've said multiple times that the world's first trillionaire is going to be the person who exploits the resources of asteroids, the natural resources…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/i-ve-said-multiple-times-that-the-world-s-first-trillionaire-is-going/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [I've used Twitter now and again to try to figure something out; it's an amazing resource. But I think you have to use it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-orlean/i-ve-used-twitter-now-and-again-to-try-to-figure-something-out-it-s/) [Susan Orlean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-orlean/) ## More by Albert Parsons > [Let the voice of the people be heard!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-parsons/let-the-voice-of-the-people-be-heard/) Albert Parsons > [Every great robbery that was ever perpetrated upon a people has been by virtue of an in-the-name-of law.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-parsons/every-great-robbery-that-was-ever-perpetrated-upon-a-people-has-been/) Albert Parsons > [I have made some enemies. My enemies in the southern states consisted of those who oppressed the black slave. My enemies in the north…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-parsons/i-have-made-some-enemies-my-enemies-in-the-southern-states-consisted/) Albert Parsons Explore all 4 Albert Parsons quotes ## More Masters quotes > [The man who can master his time can master nearly anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/the-man-who-can-master-his-time-can-master-nearly-anything/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [We are reaching deep within ourselves to adjust the master knob.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-kelly/we-are-reaching-deep-within-ourselves-to-adjust-the-master-knob/) [Kevin Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-kelly/) > [We must master our egoism, and through this mastery, step outside ourselves and educate ourselves in giving. Fasting requires that we rediscover all that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ramadan/we-must-master-our-egoism-and-through-this-mastery-step-outside/) [Tariq Ramadan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ramadan/) > [In relations between the rich and the strong, between the rich and the poor, between the master and the servant, it's liberty that grinds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-relations-between-the-rich-and-the-strong-between-the-rich-and-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [There are so many great artists, I think, who kind of suffer from being icons, legends, acknowledged masters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-linklater/there-are-so-many-great-artists-i-think-who-kind-of-suffer-from-being/) [Richard Linklater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-linklater/) > [“But young men have not only this frivolous ambition of being thought masters of execution, inciting them on the one hand, but also their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/but-young-men-have-not-only-this-frivolous-ambition-of-being-thought/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There is no one who can change My course or affect My conduct to the slightest extent. I am the Master over all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sathya-sai-baba/there-is-no-one-who-can-change-my-course-or-affect-my-conduct-to-the/) [Sathya Sai Baba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sathya-sai-baba/) > [Laws are not masters but servants, and he rules them who obey them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/laws-are-not-masters-but-servants-and-he-rules-them-who-obey-them/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [I was a full time student either at Stony Brook or NYU getting my masters degree. After I graduated with my masters I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-algieri/i-was-a-full-time-student-either-at-stony-brook-or-nyu-getting-my/) [Chris Algieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-algieri/) > [Search for the seed of good in every adversity. Master that principle and you will own a precious shield that will guard you well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/og-mandino/search-for-the-seed-of-good-in-every-adversity-master-that-principle/) [Og Mandino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/og-mandino/) > [In art, all who have done something other than their predecessors have merited the epithet of revolutionary; and it is they alone who are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-gauguin/in-art-all-who-have-done-something-other-than-their-predecessors-have/) [Paul Gauguin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-gauguin/) > [We may be masters of our every lot By bearing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virgil/we-may-be-masters-of-our-every-lot-by-bearing-it/) [Virgil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virgil/) > [The first responsibility of the Muslim is as teacher. That is his job, to teach. His first school, his first classroom is within the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-rap-brown/the-first-responsibility-of-the-muslim-is-as-teacher-that-is-his-job/) [H. Rap Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-rap-brown/) > [God has often given His people favor in the sight of heathen masters (as Joseph and Daniel), and has magnified the sufficiency of His…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-w-pink/god-has-often-given-his-people-favor-in-the-sight-of-heathen-masters/) [Arthur W. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-w-pink/) Browse all 4,282 Masters quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Formerly the master selected the slave; today the slave selects his master.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Albert Parsons" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-parsons/formerly-the-master-selected-the-slave-today-the-slave-selects-his/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Masters" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-parsons/formerly-the-master-selected-the-slave-today-the-slave-selects-his/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d99/albert-parsons-65378_masters_formerly-the-master-selected-the-slave-t_1288514.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d99/albert-parsons-65378_masters_formerly-the-master-selected-the-slave-t_1288514.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d99/albert-parsons-65378_masters_formerly-the-master-selected-the-slave-t_1288514.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Formerly the master selected the slave; today the slave selects his master.” — Albert Parsons", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Albert Parsons", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-parsons/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Formerly the master selected the slave;...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-parsons/formerly-the-master-selected-the-slave-today-the-slave-selects-his/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-parsons/formerly-the-master-selected-the-slave-today-the-slave-selects-his/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```