--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Power is a poison well known for…" description: "\"Power is a poison well known for thousands of years. If only no one were ever to acquire material power over others! But to the human being who has fai..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ee/anonymous-1_antidote_power-is-a-poison-well-known-for-thousan_1099024.jpg" --- # Power is a poison well known for thousands of years. If… ![“Power is a poison well known for thousands of years. If only no one were ever to acquire material power over others! But to the human being who has faith in some force that holds dominion over all of us, and who is therefore conscious of his own limitations, power is not necessarily fatal. For…” quote by Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ee/anonymous-1_antidote_power-is-a-poison-well-known-for-thousan_1099024.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ee/anonymous-1_antidote_power-is-a-poison-well-known-for-thousan_1099024.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ee/anonymous-1_antidote_power-is-a-poison-well-known-for-thousan_1099024.jpg) > “Power is a poison well known for thousands of years. If only no one were ever to acquire material power over others! But to the human being who has faith in some force that holds dominion over all of us, and who is therefore conscious of his own limitations, power is not necessarily fatal. For those, however, who are unaware of any higher sphere, it is a deadly poison. For them there is no antidote.” [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Power can be a destructive force, especially when unchecked, but those aware of higher limits may avoid its fatal effects. **In simple terms:** Power is dangerous, yet awareness of limits can protect us. Key Takeaway Recognize limits to mitigate power’s harm. Themes politics human nature ethics Mood cautious reflective Type ethical philosophical When to use this quote - leadership - personal development - social movements Key Concepts power dynamics self‑control spirituality Questions to Reflect On - How do personal beliefs influence the use of power? - What safeguards can prevent power’s abuse? A Different Perspective Power’s impact varies with personal awareness and moral framework. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dominion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dominion/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Limitation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/limitation/) [Poison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poison/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) ## Related quotes > [Legislative novelty is not necessarily fatal; there is a first time for everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-roberts/legislative-novelty-is-not-necessarily-fatal-there-is-a-first-time/) [John Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-roberts/) > [Power is poison. Its effect on Presidents had always been tragic, chiefly as an almost insane excitement at first, and a worse reaction afterwards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/power-is-poison-its-effect-on-presidents-had-always-been-tragic-2/) [Henry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-adams/) > [Power is poison. Its effect on Presidents had always been tragic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/power-is-poison-its-effect-on-presidents-had-always-been-tragic/) [Henry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-adams/) > [Power is poison. Its effect on Presidents has been always tragic, chiefly as an almost indecent excitement at first, and a worse reaction afterwards;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/power-is-poison-its-effect-on-presidents-has-been-always-tragic/) [Henry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-adams/) > [A dream has power to poison sleep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-bysshe-shelley/a-dream-has-power-to-poison-sleep/) [Percy Bysshe Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/percy-bysshe-shelley/) > [What will increase one person's personal power will not necessarily be the same for another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/what-will-increase-one-person-s-personal-power-will-not-necessarily/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [We cannot be held to what is beyond our strength and means; for at times the accomplishment and execution may not be in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/we-cannot-be-held-to-what-is-beyond-our-strength-and-means-for-at/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [We will not regard any great power as necessarily right in a given dispute unless we are convinced of this, yet at the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/errol-barrow/we-will-not-regard-any-great-power-as-necessarily-right-in-a-given/) Errol Barrow > [In all sincere speech there is power, not necessarily great power, but as much as the speaker is capable of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-henry-lewes/in-all-sincere-speech-there-is-power-not-necessarily-great-power-but/) [George Henry Lewes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-henry-lewes/) > [The responsible treatment of this particular Ring of Power is not necessarily to toss it into the Cracks of Doom. But we have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/the-responsible-treatment-of-this-particular-ring-of-power-is-not/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [The most deadly poison of our times is indifference. And this happens, although the praise of God should know no limits. 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It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-3-8/but-no-human-being-can-tame-the-tongue-it-is-a-restless-evil-full-of/) James 3:8 > [“I blew the horn a few times, hoping to call up an iguana. Get the buggers moving. They were out there, I knew, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/i-blew-the-horn-a-few-times-hoping-to-call-up-an-iguana-get-the/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) ## More by Anonymous > [And a tear rolled down her cheek, as she said goodbye; because she's walking away, and she's never looking back](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/and-a-tear-rolled-down-her-cheek-as-she-said-goodbye-because-she-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Scrabble - The game is available in Braille. That’s a nice fact. This makes me feel better about humanity for some reason. I can’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/scrabble-the-game-is-available-in-braille-that-s-a-nice-fact-this/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Everyone needs someone to love, and I choose you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everyone-needs-someone-to-love-and-i-choose-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“THIS tale of my sore-troubled life I write,    To thank the God of nature, who conveyed    My soul to me, and with such care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-tale-of-my-sore-troubled-life-i-write-to-thank-the-god-of-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Put on my J's and dance the whole night away Im naughty by nature like Im hip-hop hooray With my hands in the sky,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/put-on-my-j-s-and-dance-the-whole-night-away-im-naughty-by-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Me.. I have been through a lot, but I still manage to have a smile on my face. Im not worried about the past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/me-i-have-been-through-a-lot-but-i-still-manage-to-have-a-smile-on-my/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Distance is a test of love. many will fail for those who can't withstand it, but for those who can, theres only one answer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/distance-is-a-test-of-love-many-will-fail-for-those-who-can-t/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Im sorry I ever tried...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/im-sorry-i-ever-tried/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Being betrayed by the one you love is the worst feeling in the world...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-betrayed-by-the-one-you-love-is-the-worst-feeling-in-the-world/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The only person I've ever purposely caused pain here is myself...By simply sharing, caring too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-person-i-ve-ever-purposely-caused-pain-here-is-myself-by/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Start a business, not a startup”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/start-a-business-not-a-startup/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The truth is, of course, that the curtness of the Ten Commandments is an evidence, not of the gloom and narrowness of a religion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-truth-is-of-course-that-the-curtness-of-the-ten-commandments-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Explore all 162,899 Anonymous quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More Antidote quotes > [Every well-thought-out rebuttal to dogma, every scrap of intelligent logic, every absurdist reduction of some bullying stance is the antidote.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-sanders/every-well-thought-out-rebuttal-to-dogma-every-scrap-of-intelligent/) [George Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-sanders/) > [The safe and general antidote against sorrow is employment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-safe-and-general-antidote-against-sorrow-is-employment/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [FAITH is the only known antidote for FAILURE!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/faith-is-the-only-known-antidote-for-failure/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [Gratitude is the antidote to bitterness and resentment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-j-ryan/gratitude-is-the-antidote-to-bitterness-and-resentment/) [M. 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Chiropractors find the cause in the person ailing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-j-palmer/medical-men-have-searched-the-world-for-remedies-desiring-an-antidote/) [B. J. 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