--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The most awful thing about power is not…" description: "\"The most awful thing about power is not that it corrupts absolutely but that it makes people so utterly boring, so predictable.\" — Chinua Achebe" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/60e/chinua-achebe-781_awful_the-most-awful-thing-about-power-is-not_377896.png" --- # The most awful thing about power is not that it corrupts… ![“The most awful thing about power is not that it corrupts absolutely but that it makes people so utterly boring, so predictable.” quote by Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/60e/chinua-achebe-781_awful_the-most-awful-thing-about-power-is-not_377896.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/60e/chinua-achebe-781_awful_the-most-awful-thing-about-power-is-not_377896.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/60e/chinua-achebe-781_awful_the-most-awful-thing-about-power-is-not_377896.png) > “The most awful thing about power is not that it corrupts absolutely but that it makes people so utterly boring, so predictable.” [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) ## 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 strip individuals of creativity and spontaneity, making them predictable and dull. **In simple terms:** Power can make people boring. Key Takeaway Guard against complacency when gaining influence. Themes power corruption predictability Mood cautious reflective Type philosophical critical When to use this quote - corporate leadership - political office - social activism Key Concepts political theory human behavior psychology Questions to Reflect On - How does power affect personal authenticity? - Can power be used creatively? A Different Perspective Power can also inspire positive change if used wisely. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) [Power corrupts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power-corrupts/) ## Related quotes > [Beauty is boring because it is predictable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umberto-eco/beauty-is-boring-because-it-is-predictable/) [Umberto Eco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umberto-eco/) > [Running became boring because it's so predictable. I got to a point where I knew what my competition could do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-snell/running-became-boring-because-it-s-so-predictable-i-got-to-a-point/) [Peter Snell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-snell/) > [The great secret behind classified projects is that most of them are so utterly boring and uninteresting that James Bond wouldn't even take a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-j-anderson/the-great-secret-behind-classified-projects-is-that-most-of-them-are/) [Kevin J. Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-j-anderson/) > [Absolute power corrupts absolutely .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/absolute-power-corrupts-absolutely/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We have all been told that power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely. I have long thought this is nonsense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bret-weinstein/we-have-all-been-told-that-power-tends-to-corrupt-and-absolute-power/) [Bret Weinstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-weinstein/) > [If absolute power corrupts absolutely, where does that leave God??](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-deacon/if-absolute-power-corrupts-absolutely-where-does-that-leave-god/) George Deacon > [Absolute power corrupts absolutely; and if you surrender your personal responsibility to a government which promises to take care of you, they will only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-nemerov/absolute-power-corrupts-absolutely-and-if-you-surrender-your-personal/) [Howard Nemerov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-nemerov/) > [It is not power itself, but the legitimation of the lust for power, which corrupts absolutely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/it-is-not-power-itself-but-the-legitimation-of-the-lust-for-power/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [“I know, better than anyone else, that there are no heroes coming to save us. There are no good Epics. None of them protect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-sanderson/i-know-better-than-anyone-else-that-there-are-no-heroes-coming-to/) [Brandon Sanderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-sanderson/) > [It has been said that absolute power corrupts absolutely, but many it not be truer to say that to be absolutely powerful a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-rattigan/it-has-been-said-that-absolute-power-corrupts-absolutely-but-many-it/) [Terence Rattigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-rattigan/) > [“Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” Thus”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-boaz/power-tends-to-corrupt-and-absolute-power-corrupts-absolutely-thus/) [David Boaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-boaz/) > [Power corrupts, but lack of power corrupts absolutely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adlai-stevenson-i/power-corrupts-but-lack-of-power-corrupts-absolutely/) [Adlai Stevenson I](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adlai-stevenson-i/) > [Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-acton/power-corrupts-and-absolute-power-corrupts-absolutely/) [Lord Acton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-acton/) > [Power corrupts.Absolute power corrupts absolutely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-acton/power-corrupts-absolute-power-corrupts-absolutely/) [Lord Acton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-acton/) > [“Absolute power corrupts absolutely, and no power is more absolute than parenthood.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-solomon/absolute-power-corrupts-absolutely-and-no-power-is-more-absolute-than/) [Andrew Solomon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-solomon/) ## More by Chinua Achebe > [“In such a regime, I say you died a good death if your life had inspired someone to come forward and shoot your murdered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/in-such-a-regime-i-say-you-died-a-good-death-if-your-life-had/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) > [“Do not despair. I know you will not despair. You have a manly and a proud heart. A proud heart can survive a general…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/do-not-despair-i-know-you-will-not-despair-you-have-a-manly-and-a/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) > [My son even if you want to fall, at least fall where your bones can be gathered](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/my-son-even-if-you-want-to-fall-at-least-fall-where-your-bones-can-be/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) > [“And so Mr. Brown came to be respected even by the clan, because he trod softly on its faith.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/and-so-mr-brown-came-to-be-respected-even-by-the-clan-because-he-trod/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) > [“I have learned that a man who makes trouble for others is also making it for himself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/i-have-learned-that-a-man-who-makes-trouble-for-others-is-also-making/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) > [In fact, I thought that Christianity was very a good and a very valuable thing for us. But after a while, I began to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/in-fact-i-thought-that-christianity-was-very-a-good-and-a-very/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) > [I find Nigeria very frustrating. I am not alone in this. There are many Nigerians abroad. As you know, the brain drain is just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/i-find-nigeria-very-frustrating-i-am-not-alone-in-this-there-are-many/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) > [I do not actually see how art, literature can be anything other that being in that domain of trying to tell us, trying to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/i-do-not-actually-see-how-art-literature-can-be-anything-other-that/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) > [Democracy is not something you put away for ten years, and then in the 11th year you wake up and start practicing again. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/democracy-is-not-something-you-put-away-for-ten-years-and-then-in-the/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) > [When there is a big tree small ones climb on its back to reach the sun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/when-there-is-a-big-tree-small-ones-climb-on-its-back-to-reach-the-sun/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) > [When I began going to school and learned to read, I encountered stories of other people and other lands. In one of my essays,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/when-i-began-going-to-school-and-learned-to-read-i-encountered/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) > [Almost nobody dances sober, unless they happen to be insane. H. P. LOVECRAFT, attributed, Telling It Like It Is Dancing is very important nowadays.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/almost-nobody-dances-sober-unless-they-happen-to-be-insane-h-p/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) > [This is why I find racism impossible, because this is against humanity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/this-is-why-i-find-racism-impossible-because-this-is-against-humanity/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) > [“Then listen to me,' he said and cleared his throat. 'It's true that a child belongs to its father. 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Some Lib Dems wear the most shockingly awful ties.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-fox/no-one-with-a-bad-tie-is-getting-my-vote-some-lib-dems-wear-the-most/) [Freddie Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-fox/) > [“Here she was back in the brightly lit world she had been avoiding for twenty years, and it was exactly as awful as she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-charles-wilson/here-she-was-back-in-the-brightly-lit-world-she-had-been-avoiding-for/) [Robert Charles Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-charles-wilson/) > [I'm pretty indiscriminating, and I have awful taste, generally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nellie-mckay/i-m-pretty-indiscriminating-and-i-have-awful-taste-generally/) [Nellie McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nellie-mckay/) > [The blessed Religion revealed in the word of God will remain an eternal and awful monument to prove that the best Institution may be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/the-blessed-religion-revealed-in-the-word-of-god-will-remain-an/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [“I am awful. 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