--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think if I were to sit down in a bid…" description: "\"“I think if I were to sit down in a bid for power, I would ask myself what I should control if I want to control the people. The answer would be sex. M..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f31/dan-pearce-3496_afterlife_i-think-if-i-were-to-sit-down-in-a-bid-f_2644469.jpg" --- # I think if I were to sit down in a bid for power, I would… ![“I think if I were to sit down in a bid for power, I would ask myself what I should control if I want to control the people. The answer would be sex. Money. And definitive knowledge of the afterlife. Then I’d make fantastically pleasant rules surrounding every one of them.” quote by Dan Pearce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f31/dan-pearce-3496_afterlife_i-think-if-i-were-to-sit-down-in-a-bid-f_2644469.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f31/dan-pearce-3496_afterlife_i-think-if-i-were-to-sit-down-in-a-bid-f_2644469.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f31/dan-pearce-3496_afterlife_i-think-if-i-were-to-sit-down-in-a-bid-f_2644469.jpg) > ““I think if I were to sit down in a bid for power, I would ask myself what I should control if I want to control the people. The answer would be sex. Money. And definitive knowledge of the afterlife. Then I’d make fantastically pleasant rules surrounding every one of them.”” [Dan Pearce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-pearce/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Control over people hinges on influencing sex, money, and beliefs about the afterlife; shaping these domains yields power. **In simple terms:** Power comes from sex, money, and afterlife beliefs. Key Takeaway Consider ethical limits of influencing fundamental human drives. Themes power control ethics psychology society Mood cautious critical analytical Type advisory philosophical When to use this quote - political campaigns - marketing strategies - policy making - leadership training - social movements Key Concepts Political theory behavioral economics religion Questions to Reflect On - What ethical boundaries should limit such control? - How can societies protect against manipulation of afterlife beliefs? A Different Perspective Focusing only on these levers ignores other motivations like purpose or community. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Afterlife](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afterlife/) [Agnosticism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/agnosticism/) [Control People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/control-people/) [Control Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/control-want-922128/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Religion-and-philoshophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion-and-philoshophy/) [Think Sit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-sit-405579/) [Want Control](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want-control/) ## Related quotes > [People that try to mind your business don't really have their life's under control, they want to have yours under control.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francisco-a-domenech/people-that-try-to-mind-your-business-don-t-really-have-their-life-s/) [Francisco A Domenech](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francisco-a-domenech/) > [I don't care if it hurts … I want to have control. I want a perfect body, I want a perfect soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/radiohead/i-don-t-care-if-it-hurts-i-want-to-have-control-i-want-a-perfect-body/) [Radiohead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/radiohead/) > [There is some information that an actor doesn't need, and that's okay. I can't control everything. I don't want to control everything. Sometimes, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/javier-camara/there-is-some-information-that-an-actor-doesn-t-need-and-that-s-okay/) [Javier Camara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/javier-camara/) > [The reason I don't want anyone to control me is not because I want to be in control. I don't want anyone to control…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lady-gaga/the-reason-i-don-t-want-anyone-to-control-me-is-not-because-i-want-to/) [Lady Gaga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lady-gaga/) > [First you look for discipline and control. You want to exercise your will, bend the language your way, bend the world your way. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-delillo/first-you-look-for-discipline-and-control-you-want-to-exercise-your/) [Don DeLillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-delillo/) > [I didn't want anyone to have control over how people saw me. I wanted to have that power myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indya-moore/i-didn-t-want-anyone-to-have-control-over-how-people-saw-me-i-wanted/) [Indya Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indya-moore/) > [If you want to control other people, first control yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abu-bakr/if-you-want-to-control-other-people-first-control-yourself/) [Abu Bakr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abu-bakr/) > [“Don’t curse the gods; you will feel shame when you have to call on them for help”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bangambiki-habyarimana/don-t-curse-the-gods-you-will-feel-shame-when-you-have-to-call-on/) [Bangambiki Habyarimana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bangambiki-habyarimana/) > [“God has not yet revealed himself to no one in no unclear terms. Religions are attempts to find him; on that level they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bangambiki-habyarimana/god-has-not-yet-revealed-himself-to-no-one-in-no-unclear-terms/) [Bangambiki Habyarimana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bangambiki-habyarimana/) > [“All religions are man-made; God has not yet revealed himself beyond doubt to anybody.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bangambiki-habyarimana/all-religions-are-man-made-god-has-not-yet-revealed-himself-beyond/) [Bangambiki Habyarimana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bangambiki-habyarimana/) > [“There is nothing behind the curtains of religions, people put there whatever their imaginations can fathom”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bangambiki-habyarimana/there-is-nothing-behind-the-curtains-of-religions-people-put-there/) [Bangambiki Habyarimana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bangambiki-habyarimana/) > [“Each mind conceives god in its own way. There may be as many variation of the god figure as there are people in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bangambiki-habyarimana/each-mind-conceives-god-in-its-own-way-there-may-be-as-many-variation/) [Bangambiki Habyarimana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bangambiki-habyarimana/) > [“Don't create unbelief or doubt in people's minds. When you do so you ruin their lives and you have nothing to give them in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bangambiki-habyarimana/don-t-create-unbelief-or-doubt-in-people-s-minds-when-you-do-so-you/) [Bangambiki Habyarimana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bangambiki-habyarimana/) > [“Once you believe that god is not a private property of anybody, you are on your way to becoming a new messiah. Maybe your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bangambiki-habyarimana/once-you-believe-that-god-is-not-a-private-property-of-anybody-you/) [Bangambiki Habyarimana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bangambiki-habyarimana/) > [“An atheist is someone who is disappointed in his search of god. He is a man who strongly needed god but couldn't find him.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bangambiki-habyarimana/an-atheist-is-someone-who-is-disappointed-in-his-search-of-god-he-is/) [Bangambiki Habyarimana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bangambiki-habyarimana/) ## More by Dan Pearce > [“I am, for some reason, actually happy with who I am and the muscle, the bones, and the flub that exist beneath these clothes.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-pearce/i-am-for-some-reason-actually-happy-with-who-i-am-and-the-muscle-the/) [Dan Pearce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-pearce/) > [“The skinnier and more toned I got, the fatter I felt. The more in shape I got, the more out of shape I felt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-pearce/the-skinnier-and-more-toned-i-got-the-fatter-i-felt-the-more-in-shape/) [Dan Pearce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-pearce/) > [“Dads. Do you not realize that your child needs to feel your skin on his? Do you not realize the incredible and powerful bond…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-pearce/dads-do-you-not-realize-that-your-child-needs-to-feel-your-skin-on/) [Dan Pearce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-pearce/) > [“I’m not going to pretend I’m something I’m not so that you like me more.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-pearce/i-m-not-going-to-pretend-i-m-something-i-m-not-so-that-you-like-me/) [Dan Pearce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-pearce/) > [“Be real. Embrace that you have weakness. Because everyone does. Embrace that your body is not perfect. Because nobody’s is. Embrace that you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-pearce/be-real-embrace-that-you-have-weakness-because-everyone-does-embrace/) [Dan Pearce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-pearce/) > [“Having a college degree does not make you educated. Always learning new things is what makes you educated.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-pearce/having-a-college-degree-does-not-make-you-educated-always-learning/) [Dan Pearce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-pearce/) > [“Don't hate the bullies. Experience tells me that hating them, or being angry with them, will always make it worse. Instead, put your arm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-pearce/don-t-hate-the-bullies-experience-tells-me-that-hating-them-or-being/) [Dan Pearce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-pearce/) > [“Having a religion doesn’t make a person love or not love others. It doesn’t make a person accept or not accept others. It doesn’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-pearce/having-a-religion-doesn-t-make-a-person-love-or-not-love-others-it/) [Dan Pearce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-pearce/) > [“Who do you want to surround yourself with? People who can pull you up to their level of greatness? Or people who will happily…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-pearce/who-do-you-want-to-surround-yourself-with-people-who-can-pull-you-up/) [Dan Pearce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-pearce/) > [“Fishing is much less about the fishing, and much more about the time alone with your kid, away from the hustle and bustle of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-pearce/fishing-is-much-less-about-the-fishing-and-much-more-about-the-time/) [Dan Pearce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-pearce/) > [“Every person is attractive to somebody. You are. I am. Jim Bob over there is, too. Every person is probably ugly to somebody, too.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-pearce/every-person-is-attractive-to-somebody-you-are-i-am-jim-bob-over/) [Dan Pearce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-pearce/) > [“What haunts me far more than anything I’ve ever done are the things I haven’t done.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-pearce/what-haunts-me-far-more-than-anything-i-ve-ever-done-are-the-things-i/) [Dan Pearce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-pearce/) > [“We all have to escape from this thing called life sometimes. Maybe we use substances to do it. Maybe we use religion. Maybe we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-pearce/we-all-have-to-escape-from-this-thing-called-life-sometimes-maybe-we/) [Dan Pearce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-pearce/) > [“While you're sitting there wondering why you've kept all the rules and you still haven't achieved everything you've been promised, someone else has been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-pearce/while-you-re-sitting-there-wondering-why-you-ve-kept-all-the-rules/) [Dan Pearce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-pearce/) > [“Do you not realize that your kids are going to make mistakes, and a lot of them? Do you not realize the damage you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-pearce/do-you-not-realize-that-your-kids-are-going-to-make-mistakes-and-a/) [Dan Pearce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-pearce/) [Explore all 129 Dan Pearce quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-pearce/) ## More Afterlife quotes > [I don't believe in an afterlife. I don't believe in a single or multiple godhead. I respect people who do, but I don't believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-judt/i-don-t-believe-in-an-afterlife-i-don-t-believe-in-a-single-or/) [Tony Judt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-judt/) > [“There was no attack on religion because people were generally indifferent to religion. They were neither hot nor cold. They were the tepid, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-day/there-was-no-attack-on-religion-because-people-were-generally/) [Dorothy Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-day/) > [I guess on one hand I believe it doesn't matter if there is life after death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-morton/i-guess-on-one-hand-i-believe-it-doesn-t-matter-if-there-is-life/) [Joe Morton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-morton/) > [“And what if there are only spiders there, or something of that sort”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoyevsky/and-what-if-there-are-only-spiders-there-or-something-of-that-sort/) [Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoyevsky/) > [“The obsession with the afterlife is born of a panic at not having memories of a before-life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-cavanagh/the-obsession-with-the-afterlife-is-born-of-a-panic-at-not-having/) [Dean Cavanagh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-cavanagh/) > [... the man in the violent situation reveals those qualities least dispensable in his personality, those qualities which are all he will have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flannery-o-connor/the-man-in-the-violent-situation-reveals-those-qualities-least/) [Flannery O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flannery-o-connor/) > [“Most people would probably call me a ghost. I am, after all, dead. But I don't think of myself that way. It wasn't so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-pike/most-people-would-probably-call-me-a-ghost-i-am-after-all-dead-but-i/) [Christopher Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-pike/) > [If critics and fanboys weren't suckers for simplistic nihilism and high-pressure marketing, Afterlife would be universally acclaimed as a visionary feat, superior to Inception…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/armond-white/if-critics-and-fanboys-weren-t-suckers-for-simplistic-nihilism-and/) [Armond White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/armond-white/) > [“People, I thought, wanted security. They couldn’t bare the idea of death being a big black nothing, couldn’t bear the thought of their loved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/people-i-thought-wanted-security-they-couldn-t-bare-the-idea-of-death/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“Some people are so stiff and inhumane as the dogma's they believe in”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bangambiki-habyarimana/some-people-are-so-stiff-and-inhumane-as-the-dogma-s-they-believe-in/) [Bangambiki Habyarimana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bangambiki-habyarimana/) > [Sometimes I think the resurrection of the body, unless much improved in construction, a mistake!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-underhill/sometimes-i-think-the-resurrection-of-the-body-unless-much-improved/) [Evelyn Underhill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-underhill/) > [It's my firm conclusion that human meaning comes from humans, not from a supernatural source. After we die, our hopes for an afterlife reside…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-graffin/it-s-my-firm-conclusion-that-human-meaning-comes-from-humans-not-from/) [Greg Graffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-graffin/) > [“One's past can't be erased, it can only be learned from, the child taught her.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-balcomb/one-s-past-can-t-be-erased-it-can-only-be-learned-from-the-child/) [H. L. Balcomb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-balcomb/) > [It was like I’d stepped out into an afterlife. Only there were no angels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-christopher/it-was-like-i-d-stepped-out-into-an-afterlife-only-there-were-no/) [Lucy Christopher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-christopher/) > [“death is predestined for all mortals. Souls live forever, but the body does not. Unless you are immortal, both the soul and body are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yelle-hughes/death-is-predestined-for-all-mortals-souls-live-forever-but-the-body/) [Yelle Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yelle-hughes/) [Browse all 844 Afterlife quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afterlife/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I think if I were to sit down in a bid for power, I would ask myself what I should control if I want to control the people. The answer would be sex. Money. And definitive knowledge of the afterlife. 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