--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When a man may whisper in a close ear…" description: "\"“When a man may whisper in a close ear, and that whisper be repeated far away and many moons later, then he has power. When a many may speak against an..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/237/brian-ruckley-42433_power_when-a-man-may-whisper-in-a-close-ear-an_1368079.jpg" --- # When a man may whisper in a close ear, and that whisper be… ![“When a man may whisper in a close ear, and that whisper be repeated far away and many moons later, then he has power. When a many may speak against another, and that other be brought to ruin and rue by nothing more than those words, then he has power. And if a man can act without the appearance of…” quote by Brian Ruckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/237/brian-ruckley-42433_power_when-a-man-may-whisper-in-a-close-ear-an_1368079.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/237/brian-ruckley-42433_power_when-a-man-may-whisper-in-a-close-ear-an_1368079.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/237/brian-ruckley-42433_power_when-a-man-may-whisper-in-a-close-ear-an_1368079.jpg) > ““When a man may whisper in a close ear, and that whisper be repeated far away and many moons later, then he has power. When a many may speak against another, and that other be brought to ruin and rue by nothing more than those words, then he has power. And if a man can act without the appearance of action, and bring about great change without the appearance of desiring it, then he has power.”” [Brian Ruckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-ruckley/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Words and subtle actions wield influence; power lies in communication and unseen impact. **In simple terms:** Words and hidden actions create power. Key Takeaway Use language and subtle influence wisely. Themes power communication influence Mood thoughtful cautious Type political philosophical When to use this quote - public speaking - diplomacy - campaign planning - social media activism Key Concepts political theory psychology strategy Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance subtle influence with transparency? - When is overt action more effective than covert? A Different Perspective Manipulation can erode trust if discovered. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Desiring Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desiring-power-1302286/) [Man Whisper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-whisper-3858675/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) [Power Speak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power-speak-1448732/) [Words Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/words-power/) ## Related quotes > [“Hush, sir!” whispered the man, “Your voice. It is too loud. You will wake him up!” “Wake him up? Who?” “The man under the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susanna-clarke/hush-sir-whispered-the-man-your-voice-it-is-too-loud-you-will-wake/) [Susanna Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susanna-clarke/) > [Nearly all the evils in the Church have arisen from bishops desiring power more than light. They want authority, not outlook.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/nearly-all-the-evils-in-the-church-have-arisen-from-bishops-desiring/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [“I see only one hope for our country, and that is when white men and black men, desiring neither power nor money, but desiring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-paton/i-see-only-one-hope-for-our-country-and-that-is-when-white-men-and/) [Alan Paton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-paton/) > [“You communicate your inner power when you speak, that's how others know you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anyaele-sam-chiyson/you-communicate-your-inner-power-when-you-speak-that-s-how-others/) [Anyaele Sam Chiyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anyaele-sam-chiyson/) > [If a man has enough power, he can speak softly and everyone will listen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-roberts/if-a-man-has-enough-power-he-can-speak-softly-and-everyone-will-listen/) [Jake Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-roberts/) > [Words are real. Even if you can't see them, or hold them. Once you send them out in the world, they have power. Never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-frasier/words-are-real-even-if-you-can-t-see-them-or-hold-them-once-you-send/) [Anne Frasier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-frasier/) > [“I spoke on a panel once with a famous new age author/guru in leather pants and she said that the problem with women is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-valenti/i-spoke-on-a-panel-once-with-a-famous-new-age-author-guru-in-leather/) [Jessica Valenti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-valenti/) > [I don't speak because I have the power to speak; I speak because I don't have the power to remain silent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-isaac-kook/i-don-t-speak-because-i-have-the-power-to-speak-i-speak-because-i-don/) [Abraham Isaac Kook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-isaac-kook/) > [Your Words Carry Amazing Power. So When You Speak Make Sure You Uplift Someone And Never Put Them Down...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/your-words-carry-amazing-power-so-when-you-speak-make-sure-you-uplift/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Reese, honey, victims are victims when they remain quiet. They gain power when they speak out.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristine-kathryn-rusch/reese-honey-victims-are-victims-when-they-remain-quiet-they-gain/) [Kristine Kathryn Rusch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristine-kathryn-rusch/) > [“Every time you speak, you are either building up yourself for the better or you are limiting yourself for the worse. Words carry power,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/every-time-you-speak-you-are-either-building-up-yourself-for-the/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [For each person there is a sentence—a series of words—which has the power to destroy them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-dick/for-each-person-there-is-a-sentence-a-series-of-words-which-has-the/) [Philip K. Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-dick/) > [“Words have power, my son. Words can cut to the heart and soothe the deepest hurts. 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Every victory is inevitably succeeded by defeat. It is the nature of our lives.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-ruckley/if-a-man-feared-defeat-he-would-never-give-battle-every-victory-is/) [Brian Ruckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-ruckley/) > [“Power loves not the light of day, nor the attention of curious eyes. 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In order to do that, everything has to be set up in a proper way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/you-can-draw-power-from-everything-in-your-life-in-order-to-do-that/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [The one means that wins the easiest victory over reason is terror and force.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-hitler/the-one-means-that-wins-the-easiest-victory-over-reason-is-terror-and/) [Adolf Hitler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-hitler/) > [DECIDE, v.i. To succumb to the preponderance of one set of influences over another set.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/decide-v-i-to-succumb-to-the-preponderance-of-one-set-of-influences/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [Movies have power. Power to impact society and the choices we make. I want to entertain, but I also want to say something to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-prince-bythewood/movies-have-power-power-to-impact-society-and-the-choices-we-make-i/) [Gina Prince-Bythewood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-prince-bythewood/) > [Next to the assumption of power was the responsibility of relinquishing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/next-to-the-assumption-of-power-was-the-responsibility-of/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers. Pray for powers equal to your tasks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillips-brooks/do-not-pray-for-tasks-equal-to-your-powers-pray-for-powers-equal-to/) [Phillips Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillips-brooks/) > [With every product, the delta between the brand and the reality determines its power over the minds of consumers, and with Trump, that delta…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-wilson/with-every-product-the-delta-between-the-brand-and-the-reality/) [Rick Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-wilson/) > [If you have everything under control, you're not moving fast enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-andretti/if-you-have-everything-under-control-you-re-not-moving-fast-enough/) [Mario Andretti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-andretti/) > [“The power of imagination is strongest in the place of solitude.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/the-power-of-imagination-is-strongest-in-the-place-of-solitude/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [“Action is a powerful thing. When you smile through your sadness, it can completely change your outlook. Try it! Smile :) Now hold onto…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leticia-rae/action-is-a-powerful-thing-when-you-smile-through-your-sadness-it-can/) [Leticia Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leticia-rae/) > [Politics is about power. It is about the power of the state. It is about the power of the state as applied to individuals,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-rudd/politics-is-about-power-it-is-about-the-power-of-the-state-it-is/) [Kevin Rudd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-rudd/) [Browse all 17,893 Power quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“When a man may whisper in a close ear, and that whisper be repeated far away and many moons later, then he has power. 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