Power Corrupts Quotes

49 quotes by 37 authors

Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. — Lord Acton
Because power corrupts, society's demands for moral authority and character increase as the importance of the position increases. — John Adams
It is said that power corrupts, but actually it's more true that power attracts the corruptible. The sane are usually attracted by other things than… — David Brin
The will to power, as the modern age from Hobbes to Nietzsche understood it, far from being a characteristic of the strong, is, like envy… — Hannah Arendt
It is not that power corrupts but that power is a magnet to the corruptible. — Frank Herbert
Absolute power corrupts even when exercised for humane purposes. The benevolent despot who sees himself as a shepherd of the people still demands from others… — Eric Hoffer
If absolute power corrupts absolutely, where does that leave God?? — George Deacon
Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men, even when they exercise influence and not authority: still… — Lord Acton
The mistakes (of leaders) are amplified by the numbers who follow them without question. Charismatic leaders tend to build up followings, power structures and these… — Frank Herbert
Many of the greatest tyrants on the records of history have begun their reigns in the fairest manner. But the truth is, this unnatural power… — Edmund Burke
If absolute power corrupts absolutely, does absolute powerlessness make you pure? — Harry Shearer
We're taught Lord Acton's axiom: all power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely. I believed that when I started these books, but I don't believe it's… — Robert Caro
Liberty is not a means to a higher political end. It is itself the highest political end...liberty is the only object which benefits all alike,… — Lord Acton
Power corrupts, and PowerPoint corrupts absolutely. — Vinton Cerf
Power corrupts, and there is nothing more corrupting than power exercised in secret. — Daniel Schorr
Then there is the worst part of Christianity, which is awful: power, corruption, manipulation... But then again, these feature are ever present in any organization. — Bruce Kent
Power corrupts the few, while weakness corrupts the many. — Eric Hoffer
It has been said that absolute power corrupts absolutely, but many it not be truer to say that to be absolutely powerful a man must… — Terence Rattigan
Power corrupts. Knowledge is power. Study hard. Be evil. — Eleanor Roosevelt
When power corrupts, poetry cleanses — John F. Kennedy

Who Wrote These Power Corrupts Quotes

37 authors contributed a total of 49 Power Corrupts Quotes, led by these top contributors: