--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It seems to me virtually any ideology, no…" description: "\"It seems to me virtually any ideology, no matter how intrinsically benign, can be used to oppress. And any group with power, no matter how well-meaning..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e7/bryan-konietzko-10393_ideology_it-seems-to-me-virtually-any-ideology-no_2657769.jpg" --- # It seems to me virtually any ideology, no matter how… ![“It seems to me virtually any ideology, no matter how intrinsically benign, can be used to oppress. And any group with power, no matter how well-meaning, ultimately corrupts and ends up exploiting its advantage to some extent.” quote by Bryan Konietzko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e7/bryan-konietzko-10393_ideology_it-seems-to-me-virtually-any-ideology-no_2657769.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e7/bryan-konietzko-10393_ideology_it-seems-to-me-virtually-any-ideology-no_2657769.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e7/bryan-konietzko-10393_ideology_it-seems-to-me-virtually-any-ideology-no_2657769.jpg) > “It seems to me virtually any ideology, no matter how intrinsically benign, can be used to oppress. And any group with power, no matter how well-meaning, ultimately corrupts and ends up exploiting its advantage to some extent.” [Bryan Konietzko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-konietzko/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Ideologies, even benign ones, can become tools of oppression; power tends to corrupt regardless of intent. **In simple terms:** Power and ideas can be misused. Key Takeaway Beware how power and ideas are applied. Themes power corruption ideology oppression Mood cautious critical reflective Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - government policy - activism - leadership - community organizing Key Concepts political theory social dynamics ethics Questions to Reflect On - How do we safeguard institutions from corruption? - Can any ideology remain truly neutral? A Different Perspective Even well-meaning groups can become oppressive over time. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ideology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideology/) [Oppress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oppress/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) ## Related quotes > [We, the FBI, don't investigate ideology, no matter how repugnant. When it turns to violence, we're all over it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-a-wray/we-the-fbi-don-t-investigate-ideology-no-matter-how-repugnant-when-it/) [Christopher A. Wray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-a-wray/) > [“War is fought over futile and feudal things. War is not about ideology, no matter how artfully framed, but it’s simply about power and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/war-is-fought-over-futile-and-feudal-things-war-is-not-about-ideology/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [Empathy cannot by definition oppress anyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-baron-cohen/empathy-cannot-by-definition-oppress-anyone/) [Simon Baron-Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-baron-cohen/) > [The most important thing is the indigenous people are not vindictive by nature. We are not here to oppress anybody - but to join…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evo-morales/the-most-important-thing-is-the-indigenous-people-are-not-vindictive/) [Evo Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evo-morales/) > [Among those who dislike oppression are many who like to oppress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/among-those-who-dislike-oppression-are-many-who-like-to-oppress/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [“Solitude seems to oppress me. And so does the company of other people.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eug-ne-ionesco/solitude-seems-to-oppress-me-and-so-does-the-company-of-other-people/) [Eugène Ionesco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eug-ne-ionesco/) > [“Don't be a pepper on the eyes of people; Rather be the salt on their tongue and make a difference that influences their sense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/don-t-be-a-pepper-on-the-eyes-of-people-rather-be-the-salt-on-their/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [The right of the judge to inflict punishment gives him both power and opportunity to oppress the innocent; yet none but crazy men will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-ellsworth/the-right-of-the-judge-to-inflict-punishment-gives-him-both-power-and/) [Oliver Ellsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-ellsworth/) > [“Not only are you what you eat, but you also can be what's eating you. Don't become your problems or let them overtake you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-liccione/not-only-are-you-what-you-eat-but-you-also-can-be-what-s-eating-you/) [Anthony Liccione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-liccione/) > [I was traumatised in the medieval Afghan society at Sarana village by the local boys of Omar's Taliban who forced my in-laws to subjugate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sushmita-banerjee/i-was-traumatised-in-the-medieval-afghan-society-at-sarana-village-by/) Sushmita Banerjee > [Those that have so much power over others as to be able to oppress them have seldom so much over themselves as not to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/those-that-have-so-much-power-over-others-as-to-be-able-to-oppress/) [Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/) > [“Honey, I've lived long enough to know that begging your oppressors to spare you never works. You either fight back, or remind the ones…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/farah-naz-rishi/honey-i-ve-lived-long-enough-to-know-that-begging-your-oppressors-to/) Farah Naz Rishi > [Give all the power to the many, they will oppress the few. Give all the power to the few, they will oppress the many.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/give-all-the-power-to-the-many-they-will-oppress-the-few-give-all-the/) [Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/) > [“Do not injure, abuse, oppress, enslave, insult, torment, torture, or kill any creature or living being.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahavira/do-not-injure-abuse-oppress-enslave-insult-torment-torture-or-kill/) [Mahavira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahavira/) > [You cannot oppress the people who are not afraid anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesar-chavez/you-cannot-oppress-the-people-who-are-not-afraid-anymore/) [Cesar Chavez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesar-chavez/) ## More by Bryan Konietzko > [You've got to earn it; you're not just handed anything in life. That's why no one starts out as a perfect master.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-konietzko/you-ve-got-to-earn-it-you-re-not-just-handed-anything-in-life-that-s/) [Bryan Konietzko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-konietzko/) > [Korra and Aang ultimately stand for freedom, equality, and basic human rights, and I think Mike and I are fine with pushing that agenda.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-konietzko/korra-and-aang-ultimately-stand-for-freedom-equality-and-basic-human/) [Bryan Konietzko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-konietzko/) > [We feel like we're kind of movie guys working in TV. So we're looking forward to that day when we get to work in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-konietzko/we-feel-like-we-re-kind-of-movie-guys-working-in-tv-so-we-re-looking/) [Bryan Konietzko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-konietzko/) > [Aang was an airbending prodigy, but didn't even discover he could bend the other three elements on his own; whereas Korra was bending three…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-konietzko/aang-was-an-airbending-prodigy-but-didn-t-even-discover-he-could-bend/) [Bryan Konietzko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-konietzko/) > [I'll just say that America - us included - has a long way to go to catch up with the animated work being done…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-konietzko/i-ll-just-say-that-america-us-included-has-a-long-way-to-go-to-catch/) [Bryan Konietzko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-konietzko/) > [When you have a fully-realized Avatar, it's like Superman, and how do you make that interesting?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-konietzko/when-you-have-a-fully-realized-avatar-it-s-like-superman-and-how-do/) [Bryan Konietzko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-konietzko/) > [After 'Avatar' ended, I spent a lot of time watching MMA and kickboxing fights on UFC, WEC, DREAM, and K-1.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-konietzko/after-avatar-ended-i-spent-a-lot-of-time-watching-mma-and-kickboxing/) [Bryan Konietzko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-konietzko/) > [We wanted the elemental 'bending' to be based on authentic Chinese traditional martial arts, believing this would lend a beauty and resonance to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-konietzko/we-wanted-the-elemental-bending-to-be-based-on-authentic-chinese/) [Bryan Konietzko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-konietzko/) > [Hopefully, when we're done with the 'Korra' saga we can put our stamp on a movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-konietzko/hopefully-when-we-re-done-with-the-korra-saga-we-can-put-our-stamp-on/) [Bryan Konietzko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-konietzko/) > [Mike and I figured out a lot about the world, characters and story in the initial two weeks between creating 'Avatar' and pitching it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-konietzko/mike-and-i-figured-out-a-lot-about-the-world-characters-and-story-in/) [Bryan Konietzko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-konietzko/) > [We draw inspiration directly and indirectly from all sorts of things, like movies, documentaries, TV dramas, novels, non-fiction books, animation, science and nature shows,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-konietzko/we-draw-inspiration-directly-and-indirectly-from-all-sorts-of-things/) [Bryan Konietzko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-konietzko/) > [With 'Korra' we've really taken a lot of time to craft it. We're aiming pretty high, and in order to keep up the quality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-konietzko/with-korra-we-ve-really-taken-a-lot-of-time-to-craft-it-we-re-aiming/) [Bryan Konietzko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-konietzko/) > [In a lot of ways, their journeys are opposite of each other's: Aang was a peace-loving monk, through and through, whereas Korra is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-konietzko/in-a-lot-of-ways-their-journeys-are-opposite-of-each-other-s-aang-was/) [Bryan Konietzko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-konietzko/) > [We have always put the quest for balance at the center of our storytelling, whether it is the struggle to find it within one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-konietzko/we-have-always-put-the-quest-for-balance-at-the-center-of-our/) [Bryan Konietzko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-konietzko/) > [I thought Korra was 17 so Mike and I have to get our stories straight. The main characters are in their late teens, we've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-konietzko/i-thought-korra-was-17-so-mike-and-i-have-to-get-our-stories-straight/) [Bryan Konietzko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-konietzko/) [Explore all 66 Bryan Konietzko quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-konietzko/) ## More Ideology quotes > [I have a way to photograph. You work with space, you have a camera, you have a frame, and then a fraction of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastiao-salgado/i-have-a-way-to-photograph-you-work-with-space-you-have-a-camera-you/) [Sebastiao Salgado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastiao-salgado/) > [Every profession has an ideology and a drive for power that goes far beyond its achievements and it is the task of democracy to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-feyerabend/every-profession-has-an-ideology-and-a-drive-for-power-that-goes-far/) [Paul Feyerabend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-feyerabend/) > [We are in a world where globalization, which is an ideology, has forgotten and put aside the people, the people's interests, aspirations, and dreams.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marine-le-pen/we-are-in-a-world-where-globalization-which-is-an-ideology-has/) [Marine Le Pen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marine-le-pen/) > [Orthodox churches, autocracy and national traditions are supposed to form a new national ideology in Russia. This would mean that Russia would be overtaken…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-sorokin/orthodox-churches-autocracy-and-national-traditions-are-supposed-to/) [Vladimir Sorokin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-sorokin/) > [ \[Putin\] is a bully. And bullies only understand when we punch them in the nose, but we need to do that economically. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-ayotte/putin-is-a-bully-and-bullies-only-understand-when-we-punch-them-in/) [Kelly Ayotte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-ayotte/) > [My rap comes from a sociological standpoint rather than picking a particular side or dogma or ideology. I just want people to be free…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/killer-mike/my-rap-comes-from-a-sociological-standpoint-rather-than-picking-a/) [Killer Mike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/killer-mike/) > [Al Jazeera is a representation of, you know, diversity in the Arab world. In our newsroom, we have every single nationality, we have every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wadah-khanfar/al-jazeera-is-a-representation-of-you-know-diversity-in-the-arab/) [Wadah Khanfar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wadah-khanfar/) > [Not everyone likes the stable, gradual rise of our country. There are some who are using the democratic ideology to interfere in our internal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-putin/not-everyone-likes-the-stable-gradual-rise-of-our-country-there-are/) [Vladimir Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-putin/) > [I prefer to work for my country in a free and independent way. I was born free, and I want to die free. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-bocelli/i-prefer-to-work-for-my-country-in-a-free-and-independent-way-i-was/) [Andrea Bocelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-bocelli/) > [The Congress may have made mistakes, but their ideology is not wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahesh-bhatt/the-congress-may-have-made-mistakes-but-their-ideology-is-not-wrong/) [Mahesh Bhatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahesh-bhatt/) > [I have what I call an iron prescription that helps me keep sane when I naturally drift toward preferring one ideology over another and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/i-have-what-i-call-an-iron-prescription-that-helps-me-keep-sane-when/) [Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/) > [“Once you let them establish their ideology in you, they will drive you crazy”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bangambiki-habyarimana/once-you-let-them-establish-their-ideology-in-you-they-will-drive-you/) [Bangambiki Habyarimana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bangambiki-habyarimana/) > [The U.S. always needs an enemy. It comes and goes. Today it is Islam. According to this plan or ideology of the born-again Christians…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walid-jumblatt/the-u-s-always-needs-an-enemy-it-comes-and-goes-today-it-is-islam/) [Walid Jumblatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walid-jumblatt/) > [“What makes today’s popular atheism so depressing is neither its conceptual boorishness nor its self-righteousness but simply its cultural inevitability. It is the final,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bentley-hart/what-makes-today-s-popular-atheism-so-depressing-is-neither-its/) [David Bentley Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bentley-hart/) > [“The key to this translation of ideology to politics in both cases was an effective appeal to human experience at the crucial time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-snyder/the-key-to-this-translation-of-ideology-to-politics-in-both-cases-was/) [Timothy Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-snyder/) [Browse all 1,641 Ideology quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideology/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It seems to me virtually any ideology, no matter how intrinsically benign, can be used to oppress. 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