--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: For \"as great a blessing as government…" description: "\"“For \"as great a blessing as government is,\" the Rev. Peter Whitney explained, \"like other blessings, it may become a scourge, a curse, and severe puni..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/156/bernard-bailyn-20777_blessing_for-as-great-a-blessing-as-government-is_3198889.png" --- # For "as great a blessing as government is," the Rev. Peter… ![“For "as great a blessing as government is," the Rev. Peter Whitney explained, "like other blessings, it may become a scourge, a curse, and severe punishment to a people." What made it so, what turned power into a malignent force, was not its own nature so much as the nature of man—his…” quote by Bernard Bailyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/156/bernard-bailyn-20777_blessing_for-as-great-a-blessing-as-government-is_3198889.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/156/bernard-bailyn-20777_blessing_for-as-great-a-blessing-as-government-is_3198889.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/156/bernard-bailyn-20777_blessing_for-as-great-a-blessing-as-government-is_3198889.png) > ““For "as great a blessing as government is," the Rev. Peter Whitney explained, "like other blessings, it may become a scourge, a curse, and severe punishment to a people." What made it so, what turned power into a malignent force, was not its own nature so much as the nature of man—his susceptibility to corruption and his lust for self-aggrandizement.”” [Bernard Bailyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-bailyn/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Power itself is neutral, but human greed and corruption can turn it into a curse. **In simple terms:** Power can become harmful due to human flaws. Key Takeaway Guard against corruption in leadership. Themes politics ethics corruption Mood cautionary critical Type historical philosophical When to use this quote - government policy - corporate governance - public office - activism Key Concepts human nature political theory Questions to Reflect On - What safeguards can prevent power from becoming corrupt? - How does personal ambition affect public service? A Different Perspective Even well-intentioned leaders can be swayed by personal ambition. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Blessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blessing/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Human nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-nature/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) ## Related quotes > [“in every state is a blessing, but government even in its best state is but a necessary evil; in its worst state an intolerable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/in-every-state-is-a-blessing-but-government-even-in-its-best-state-is/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [“Society in every state is a blessing, but Government even in its best state is but a necessary evil. . . .”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/society-in-every-state-is-a-blessing-but-government-even-in-its-best-3/) [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) > [Society in every state is a blessing, but government, even in its best stage, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/society-in-every-state-is-a-blessing-but-government-even-in-its-best/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [As children of God we are somebody. He will build us, mold us, and magnify us if we will but hold our heads up,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-j-ashton/as-children-of-god-we-are-somebody-he-will-build-us-mold-us-and/) [Marvin J. Ashton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-j-ashton/) > [God always gives a great blessing to humble beginnings than to those that start with the chiming of bells.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-de-paul/god-always-gives-a-great-blessing-to-humble-beginnings-than-to-those/) [Vincent de Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-de-paul/) > [I'm able to really enjoy the wonderful things happening to me and that's a great blessing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-renner/i-m-able-to-really-enjoy-the-wonderful-things-happening-to-me-and/) [Jeremy Renner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-renner/) > [“Losing your job is a great blessing in disguise”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/losing-your-job-is-a-great-blessing-in-disguise/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [God rarely allows a person to see how great a blessing he is to others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/god-rarely-allows-a-person-to-see-how-great-a-blessing-he-is-to-others/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [“It is a great blessing to wake each day and give thanks to God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/it-is-a-great-blessing-to-wake-each-day-and-give-thanks-to-god/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [Health of body and mind is a great blessing, if we can bear it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/health-of-body-and-mind-is-a-great-blessing-if-we-can-bear-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Anytime you get a chance to play some extreme character, in any direction, it's always a great blessing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-bob-thornton/anytime-you-get-a-chance-to-play-some-extreme-character-in-any/) [Billy Bob Thornton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-bob-thornton/) > [Why has God given me such magnificent talent? It is a curse as well as a great blessing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albrecht-durer/why-has-god-given-me-such-magnificent-talent-it-is-a-curse-as-well-as/) [Albrecht Durer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albrecht-durer/) > [God will not permit any troubles to come upon us, unless He has a specific plan by which great blessing can come out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-marshall/god-will-not-permit-any-troubles-to-come-upon-us-unless-he-has-a/) [Peter Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-marshall/) > [My great blessing is my son, but I have daughters. I have white ones and Black ones and fat ones and thin ones and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/my-great-blessing-is-my-son-but-i-have-daughters-i-have-white-ones/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [The more I know you, the more I love you I am never regret the time we met. You come and make my world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/afh/the-more-i-know-you-the-more-i-love-you-i-am-never-regret-the-time-we/) [Afh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/afh/) ## More by Bernard Bailyn > [In England the practice of "virtual" representation provided reasonably well for the actual representation of the major interests of the society, and it raised…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-bailyn/in-england-the-practice-of-virtual-representation-provided-reasonably/) [Bernard Bailyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-bailyn/) > [Instantly available without continuous presence is probably the best role a mother can play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-bailyn/instantly-available-without-continuous-presence-is-probably-the-best/) [Bernard Bailyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-bailyn/) > [“For the primary goal of the American Revolution which transferred American life and introduced a new era in human history, was not the overthrow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-bailyn/for-the-primary-goal-of-the-american-revolution-which-transferred/) [Bernard Bailyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-bailyn/) > [The theory of politics that emerges from the political literature of the pre-Revolutionary years rests on the belief that what lay behind every political…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-bailyn/the-theory-of-politics-that-emerges-from-the-political-literature-of/) [Bernard Bailyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-bailyn/) > [The idea of sovereignty current in the English speaking world of the 1760's was scarcely more than a century old. It had first emerged…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-bailyn/the-idea-of-sovereignty-current-in-the-english-speaking-world-of-the/) [Bernard Bailyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-bailyn/) > [“Power always and everywhere had had a pernicious, corrupting effect upon men. It "converts a good man in private life to a tyrant in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-bailyn/power-always-and-everywhere-had-had-a-pernicious-corrupting-effect/) [Bernard Bailyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-bailyn/) > [In effect the people were present through their representatives, and were themselves, step by step and point by point, acting in the conduct of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-bailyn/in-effect-the-people-were-present-through-their-representatives-and/) [Bernard Bailyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-bailyn/) > [The wielders of power did not speak for it, nor did they naturally serve it. Their interest was to use and develop power, no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-bailyn/the-wielders-of-power-did-not-speak-for-it-nor-did-they-naturally/) [Bernard Bailyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-bailyn/) > [Defiance to constituted authority leaped like a spark from one flammable area to another, growing in heat as it went.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-bailyn/defiance-to-constituted-authority-leaped-like-a-spark-from-one/) [Bernard Bailyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-bailyn/) > [Whatever deficiencies the leaders of the American Revolution may have had, reticence, fortunately, was not one of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-bailyn/whatever-deficiencies-the-leaders-of-the-american-revolution-may-have/) [Bernard Bailyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-bailyn/) > [The classics of the ancient world are everywhere in the literature of the Revolution, but thet are everywhere illustrative, not determinative, of thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-bailyn/the-classics-of-the-ancient-world-are-everywhere-in-the-literature-of/) [Bernard Bailyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-bailyn/) > [Incorporating in their colorful, slashing, superbly readable pages, the major themes of the "left" opposition under Walpole, these libertarian tracts, emerging first in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-bailyn/incorporating-in-their-colorful-slashing-superbly-readable-pages-the/) [Bernard Bailyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-bailyn/) > [The full bibliography of pamphlets relating to the Anglo-American struggle published in the colonies through the year 1776 contains not a dozen or so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-bailyn/the-full-bibliography-of-pamphlets-relating-to-the-anglo-american/) [Bernard Bailyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-bailyn/) > [Everyone knew that democracy - direct rule by all the people - required such spartan, soul-denying virtue on the part of all the people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-bailyn/everyone-knew-that-democracy-direct-rule-by-all-the-people-required/) [Bernard Bailyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-bailyn/) > [What Americans were really objecting to had nothing to do with constitutional principles. their objection was not to Parliament's constitutional right to levy certain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-bailyn/what-americans-were-really-objecting-to-had-nothing-to-do-with/) [Bernard Bailyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-bailyn/) [Explore all 29 Bernard Bailyn quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-bailyn/) ## More Blessing quotes > [Being a new mother is a blessing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phaedra-parks/being-a-new-mother-is-a-blessing/) [Phaedra Parks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phaedra-parks/) > [God loves to glorify himself by suspending his gifts and blessings on our asking him for them. We should never presume to receive from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-storms/god-loves-to-glorify-himself-by-suspending-his-gifts-and-blessings-on/) [Sam Storms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-storms/) > [When Allah puts barakah (His blessings) in something, it will come beyond your expectations- never underestimate the power of one good deed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nouman-ali-khan/when-allah-puts-barakah-his-blessings-in-something-it-will-come/) [Nouman Ali Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nouman-ali-khan/) > [Life is all about experiences and being able to work with good people is a blessing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhumika-chawla/life-is-all-about-experiences-and-being-able-to-work-with-good-people/) [Bhumika Chawla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhumika-chawla/) > [Whatever your conscious mind assumes and believes to be true, your subconscious mind will accept and bring to pass. Believe in good fortune, divine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-murphy/whatever-your-conscious-mind-assumes-and-believes-to-be-true-your/) [Joseph Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-murphy/) > [“When Jesus finished teaching in a synagogue one day, a woman called out from the audience, 'God bless your mother—the womb from which you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-bessey/when-jesus-finished-teaching-in-a-synagogue-one-day-a-woman-called/) [Sarah Bessey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-bessey/) > [“I've never felt a pain that didn't bear a blessing. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-knudsen-hoffman/i-ve-never-felt-a-pain-that-didn-t-bear-a-blessing/) Gene Knudsen Hoffman > [Mechanical instruments, potentially a vehicle of rational human purposes, are scarcely a blessing when they enable the gossip of the village idiot and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-mumford/mechanical-instruments-potentially-a-vehicle-of-rational-human/) [Lewis Mumford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-mumford/) > [One of the noblest words in our language is "grace," defined as "unearned blessing." We live by grace far more than by anything else.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-elton-trueblood/one-of-the-noblest-words-in-our-language-is-grace-defined-as-unearned/) [D. Elton Trueblood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-elton-trueblood/) > [The only men who become Gods, even the Sons of God, are those who enter into polygamy. Others attain unto a glory and may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigham-young/the-only-men-who-become-gods-even-the-sons-of-god-are-those-who-enter/) [Brigham Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brigham-young/) > [Being of Indian heritage is a challenge - and it's a blessing as well sometimes - because being good isn't good enough. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sacha-dhawan/being-of-indian-heritage-is-a-challenge-and-it-s-a-blessing-as-well/) [Sacha Dhawan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sacha-dhawan/) > [“Time wasted can never be compensated”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/time-wasted-can-never-be-compensated/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [The Louvre! The Louvre has me in its clutches. Every time I'm there rich blessings rain down upon me. I am coming to understand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-modersohn-becker/the-louvre-the-louvre-has-me-in-its-clutches-every-time-i-m-there/) [Paula Modersohn-Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-modersohn-becker/) > [Life is such a very troublesome matter, when all is said and done, that it's as well even to take its blessings quietly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-elizabeth-braddon/life-is-such-a-very-troublesome-matter-when-all-is-said-and-done-that/) [Mary Elizabeth Braddon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-elizabeth-braddon/) > [Down where I grew up, able-bodied people do that which we believe God created them to do. Work is a blessing; it's not a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-southerland/down-where-i-grew-up-able-bodied-people-do-that-which-we-believe-god/) [Steve Southerland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-southerland/) [Browse all 4,617 Blessing quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blessing/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“For \"as great a blessing as government is,\" the Rev. 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