--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Power, most power anyway, was the fly…" description: "\"“Power, most power anyway, was the fly that called itself a hawk. It could only govern those who agreed to call it a hawk instead of a fly, a tiger ins..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/192/dennis-lehane-1503_hawk_power-most-power-anyway-was-the-fly-that_3152112.jpg" --- # Power, most power anyway, was the fly that called itself a… ![“Power, most power anyway, was the fly that called itself a hawk. It could only govern those who agreed to call it a hawk instead of a fly, a tiger instead of a cat, a king instead of a man.” quote by Dennis Lehane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/192/dennis-lehane-1503_hawk_power-most-power-anyway-was-the-fly-that_3152112.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/192/dennis-lehane-1503_hawk_power-most-power-anyway-was-the-fly-that_3152112.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/192/dennis-lehane-1503_hawk_power-most-power-anyway-was-the-fly-that_3152112.jpg) > ““Power, most power anyway, was the fly that called itself a hawk. It could only govern those who agreed to call it a hawk instead of a fly, a tiger instead of a cat, a king instead of a man.”” [Dennis Lehane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-lehane/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Power is a label; those who accept it shape reality, often masking true nature. **In simple terms:** Labels shape power. Key Takeaway Question the labels you accept. Themes power perception authority Mood critical thoughtful Type philosophical analytical When to use this quote - political campaigns - corporate culture - personal relationships Key Concepts social constructs psychology of authority Questions to Reflect On - Who defines the labels you follow? - What happens when labels are challenged? A Different Perspective Labels can be manipulated for control. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Called Hawk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/called-hawk-4400164/) [Fly Called](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fly-called-5663452/) [Hawk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hawk/) [Hawk Govern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hawk-govern-5663450/) [Hawk Instead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hawk-instead-5663451/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) ## Related quotes > [“Butterfly?" Will said. "Why Butterfly?" "I believe it's a term of great respect," Selethen said gravely. He was very obviously not laughing. Too obviously,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flanagan/butterfly-will-said-why-butterfly-i-believe-it-s-a-term-of-great/) [John Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flanagan/) > [You want to know what makes me tick, I'll tell you what makes me tick. I was a boy growing up in Brooklyn; I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buddy-hackett/you-want-to-know-what-makes-me-tick-i-ll-tell-you-what-makes-me-tick/) [Buddy Hackett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buddy-hackett/) > [The reality is, is that the military is full of native nomenclature. That's what we would call it. You've got Black Hawk helicopters, Apache…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winona-laduke/the-reality-is-is-that-the-military-is-full-of-native-nomenclature/) [Winona LaDuke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winona-laduke/) > [“Hawk was on the dark side, walking a fine line when his body responded to just how he wanted to ruin the girl.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/v-theia/hawk-was-on-the-dark-side-walking-a-fine-line-when-his-body-responded/) [V. Theia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/v-theia/) > [“few shots, too,” Hawk added. “He could use the”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dahlia-west/few-shots-too-hawk-added-he-could-use-the/) [Dahlia West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dahlia-west/) > [“For what it was worth he already knew he resembled a pissed off serial killer most of the time, he was completely fine about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/v-theia/for-what-it-was-worth-he-already-knew-he-resembled-a-pissed-off/) [V. Theia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/v-theia/) > [“That's obviously, isn't it?' she said. 'A hawk is always a hawk, except'- and here she raised on heavy eyebrow and gave a mysterious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-mclain/that-s-obviously-isn-t-it-she-said-a-hawk-is-always-a-hawk-except-and/) [Paula McLain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-mclain/) > [“Hawk was a motherfucking asshole.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-ashley/hawk-was-a-motherfucking-asshole/) [Kristen Ashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-ashley/) > [When I bestride him, I soar, I am a hawk: he trots the air; the earth sings when he touches it; the basest horn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/when-i-bestride-him-i-soar-i-am-a-hawk-he-trots-the-air-the-earth/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“the ferret, hunting, eyes on the ground, never hears footsteps of the hawk”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-vachss/the-ferret-hunting-eyes-on-the-ground-never-hears-footsteps-of-the/) [Andrew Vachss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-vachss/) > [“Then he noted softly, "You're pissed." Was he for real? "Uh...yeah," I verified. "Don't be pissed," he ordered. No, seriously, he couldn't be for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-ashley/then-he-noted-softly-you-re-pissed-was-he-for-real-uh-yeah-i-verified/) [Kristen Ashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-ashley/) > [Everyone probably says this, but my favorite athlete is Tony Hawk. I'd really love to meet him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cook/everyone-probably-says-this-but-my-favorite-athlete-is-tony-hawk-i-d/) [Mason Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cook/) > [I am a deficit hawk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cheney/i-am-a-deficit-hawk/) [Dick Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cheney/) > [In some parts of the ancient world, the hawk symbolized the sun. Back when I got this, I figured if I always had the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/in-some-parts-of-the-ancient-world-the-hawk-symbolized-the-sun-back/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“Jesus fuck. I’m sitting right fucking here, Prez. Maybe shelve the porn a little, yeah?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/v-theia/jesus-fuck-i-m-sitting-right-fucking-here-prez-maybe-shelve-the-porn/) [V. Theia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/v-theia/) ## More by Dennis Lehane > [He wondered if this was what clinical depression felt like, a total numbness, a weary lack of hope.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-lehane/he-wondered-if-this-was-what-clinical-depression-felt-like-a-total/) [Dennis Lehane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-lehane/) > [I held her, he wanted to say, and if I knew for certain that all it would take to hold her again would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-lehane/i-held-her-he-wanted-to-say-and-if-i-knew-for-certain-that-all-it/) [Dennis Lehane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-lehane/) > [“Everyone I know lies, breaks their word, and has perfectly legitimate excuses for why they do. Except you. Haven't you ever noticed that? Two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-lehane/everyone-i-know-lies-breaks-their-word-and-has-perfectly-legitimate/) [Dennis Lehane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-lehane/) > [“If a man was lucky, he was moving toward something his whole life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-lehane/if-a-man-was-lucky-he-was-moving-toward-something-his-whole-life/) [dennis lehane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-lehane/) > [“After my daughter was born, I'd considered buying a shotgun to ward off potention suitors fourteen or so years up the road. Now, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-lehane/after-my-daughter-was-born-i-d-considered-buying-a-shotgun-to-ward/) [Dennis Lehane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-lehane/) > [“I once again felt an odd flush of admiration for my partner's faith in a religion I had long ago abandoned. She doesn't advertise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-lehane/i-once-again-felt-an-odd-flush-of-admiration-for-my-partner-s-faith/) [Dennis Lehane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-lehane/) > [“And she was-definitely-a woman who did not shrink from gauntlets, but stepped up to them, and said, Okay, bring it. Bring your worst. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-lehane/and-she-was-definitely-a-woman-who-did-not-shrink-from-gauntlets-but/) [Dennis Lehane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-lehane/) > [“Jimmy looked back over at his wife, and Celeste could feel the tenderest of aches in the look. She could feel another teardrop piece…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-lehane/jimmy-looked-back-over-at-his-wife-and-celeste-could-feel-the/) [Dennis Lehane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-lehane/) > [“She told him that he had the most beautiful voice she'd ever heard, that it sounded like whiskey and wood smoke.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-lehane/she-told-him-that-he-had-the-most-beautiful-voice-she-d-ever-heard/) [Dennis Lehane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-lehane/) > [My daughter squealed again and both Bubba and I winced. It’s not an attractive sound, that. It’s high-pitched and it enters your ear canals…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-lehane/my-daughter-squealed-again-and-both-bubba-and-i-winced-it-s-not-an/) [Dennis Lehane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-lehane/) > [“It’s been a complicated decade for me.” She”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-lehane/it-s-been-a-complicated-decade-for-me-she/) [Dennis Lehane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-lehane/) > [“The only people who ask questions like ‘Did he want to be something besides a bartender?’ are people who can become whatever they want.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-lehane/the-only-people-who-ask-questions-like-did-he-want-to-be-something/) [Dennis Lehane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-lehane/) > [“Love, impossible, yet there was no mistaking it”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-lehane/love-impossible-yet-there-was-no-mistaking-it/) [Dennis Lehane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-lehane/) > [“She blew a stream of smoke up at the empty clotheslines. 'These silly dreams you have when you're young. I mean, what, Katie and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-lehane/she-blew-a-stream-of-smoke-up-at-the-empty-clotheslines-these-silly/) [Dennis Lehane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-lehane/) > [“He looked back at the page, got one last glimpse before the match blew itself out. Going to find you today, Andrew. If I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-lehane/he-looked-back-at-the-page-got-one-last-glimpse-before-the-match-blew/) [Dennis Lehane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-lehane/) [Explore all 231 Dennis Lehane quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-lehane/) ## More Hawk quotes > [“Jesus fuck. I’m sitting right fucking here, Prez. Maybe shelve the porn a little, yeah?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/v-theia/jesus-fuck-i-m-sitting-right-fucking-here-prez-maybe-shelve-the-porn/) [V. Theia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/v-theia/) > [In some parts of the ancient world, the hawk symbolized the sun. Back when I got this, I figured if I always had the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/in-some-parts-of-the-ancient-world-the-hawk-symbolized-the-sun-back/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [I am a deficit hawk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cheney/i-am-a-deficit-hawk/) [Dick Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cheney/) > [Everyone probably says this, but my favorite athlete is Tony Hawk. I'd really love to meet him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cook/everyone-probably-says-this-but-my-favorite-athlete-is-tony-hawk-i-d/) [Mason Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cook/) > [“Then he noted softly, "You're pissed." Was he for real? "Uh...yeah," I verified. "Don't be pissed," he ordered. No, seriously, he couldn't be for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-ashley/then-he-noted-softly-you-re-pissed-was-he-for-real-uh-yeah-i-verified/) [Kristen Ashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-ashley/) > [“the ferret, hunting, eyes on the ground, never hears footsteps of the hawk”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-vachss/the-ferret-hunting-eyes-on-the-ground-never-hears-footsteps-of-the/) [Andrew Vachss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-vachss/) > [When I bestride him, I soar, I am a hawk: he trots the air; the earth sings when he touches it; the basest horn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/when-i-bestride-him-i-soar-i-am-a-hawk-he-trots-the-air-the-earth/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“Hawk was a motherfucking asshole.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-ashley/hawk-was-a-motherfucking-asshole/) [Kristen Ashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-ashley/) > [“That's obviously, isn't it?' she said. 'A hawk is always a hawk, except'- and here she raised on heavy eyebrow and gave a mysterious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-mclain/that-s-obviously-isn-t-it-she-said-a-hawk-is-always-a-hawk-except-and/) [Paula McLain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-mclain/) > [“For what it was worth he already knew he resembled a pissed off serial killer most of the time, he was completely fine about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/v-theia/for-what-it-was-worth-he-already-knew-he-resembled-a-pissed-off/) [V. Theia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/v-theia/) > [“few shots, too,” Hawk added. “He could use the”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dahlia-west/few-shots-too-hawk-added-he-could-use-the/) [Dahlia West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dahlia-west/) > [“Hawk was on the dark side, walking a fine line when his body responded to just how he wanted to ruin the girl.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/v-theia/hawk-was-on-the-dark-side-walking-a-fine-line-when-his-body-responded/) [V. Theia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/v-theia/) > [The reality is, is that the military is full of native nomenclature. That's what we would call it. You've got Black Hawk helicopters, Apache…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winona-laduke/the-reality-is-is-that-the-military-is-full-of-native-nomenclature/) [Winona LaDuke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winona-laduke/) > [Do I really believe that my work is crucial to the planet's survival? Of course not. But it's as important to me as catching…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pressfield/do-i-really-believe-that-my-work-is-crucial-to-the-planet-s-survival/) [Steven Pressfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pressfield/) > [“Farid, you are keeping a hawk; don't expect her to lay eggs like a chicken.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gruber/farid-you-are-keeping-a-hawk-don-t-expect-her-to-lay-eggs-like-a/) [Michael Gruber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gruber/) [Browse all 151 Hawk quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hawk/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Power, most power anyway, was the fly that called itself a hawk. 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