--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Someone asked me once at a talk why I so…" description: "\"“Someone asked me once at a talk why I so stress the positive with my students yet am such an unstinting critic of those who run our culture and who ar..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3fd/derrick-jensen-2824_authority_someone-asked-me-once-at-a-talk-why-i-so_41208.png" --- # Someone asked me once at a talk why I so stress the… ![“Someone asked me once at a talk why I so stress the positive with my students yet am such an unstinting critic of those who run our culture and who are killing the planet. I answered immediately, “Power. If I’ve got power or authority over someone, it’s my responsibility to use that only to help…” quote by Derrick Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3fd/derrick-jensen-2824_authority_someone-asked-me-once-at-a-talk-why-i-so_41208.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3fd/derrick-jensen-2824_authority_someone-asked-me-once-at-a-talk-why-i-so_41208.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3fd/derrick-jensen-2824_authority_someone-asked-me-once-at-a-talk-why-i-so_41208.png) > ““Someone asked me once at a talk why I so stress the positive with my students yet am such an unstinting critic of those who run our culture and who are killing the planet. I answered immediately, “Power. If I’ve got power or authority over someone, it’s my responsibility to use that only to help them. It’s my job to accept and praise them into becoming who they are.”” [Derrick Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derrick-jensen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker argues that having authority obligates one to uplift others, not merely critique the broader system. **In simple terms:** Authority carries a duty to empower. Key Takeaway Power should be used for positive growth. Themes responsibility leadership empowerment critique environmentalism education Mood inspirational reflective determined Type philosophical motivational educational When to use this quote - teaching students - leading a team - coaching athletes - mentoring interns - guiding community groups Key Concepts authority ethical duty personal development systemic critique Practical Applications - leadership training - educational workshops Questions to Reflect On - How does authority shape your interactions? - What limits should be placed on power? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Authority](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/authority/) [Authority Responsibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/authority-responsibility-456620/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) [Responsibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responsibility/) [Responsibility Use](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responsibility-use-456621/) ## Related quotes > [Nobody wants a job where they don't have authority to go along with the responsibility. Quite the contrary. The more authority you give people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bloomberg/nobody-wants-a-job-where-they-don-t-have-authority-to-go-along-with/) [Michael Bloomberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bloomberg/) > [I feel like it's actually everybody's responsibility to use whatever platform they have to do good in the world, basically, and to try to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-rapinoe/i-feel-like-it-s-actually-everybody-s-responsibility-to-use-whatever/) [Megan Rapinoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-rapinoe/) > [“If you find yourself in a situation where you are neither learning nor contributing, it is your responsibility to use The Law of Two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-leith/if-you-find-yourself-in-a-situation-where-you-are-neither-learning/) [Martin Leith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-leith/) > [It doesn't matter if I've been wronged - I still have a responsibility to use my influence in a way that never causes harm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-king/it-doesn-t-matter-if-i-ve-been-wronged-i-still-have-a-responsibility/) [Shaun King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-king/) > [“Both for practical reasons and for mathematically verifiable moral reasons, authority and responsibility must be equal - else a balancing takes place as surely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/both-for-practical-reasons-and-for-mathematically-verifiable-moral/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [“The oldest rule in the book is that you can delegate authority, but never responsibility—not even to higher authority.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-anderson/the-oldest-rule-in-the-book-is-that-you-can-delegate-authority-but/) [Taylor Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-anderson/) > [You can delegate authority, but not responsibility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-w-comiskey/you-can-delegate-authority-but-not-responsibility/) [Stephen W Comiskey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-w-comiskey/) > [The attorney general of New York state has a special authority and responsibility to preserve the integrity of businesses and nonprofits in New York…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zephyr-teachout/the-attorney-general-of-new-york-state-has-a-special-authority-and/) [Zephyr Teachout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zephyr-teachout/) > [There is no power or authority without responsibility, and he who accepts the one cannot escape or evade the other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haile-selassie/there-is-no-power-or-authority-without-responsibility-and-he-who/) [Haile Selassie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haile-selassie/) > [Management means, in the last analysis, the substitution of thought for brawn and muscle, of knowledge for folkways and superstition, and of cooperation for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/management-means-in-the-last-analysis-the-substitution-of-thought-for/) [Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/) > [The script for this film was written 52 years ago by Edward R. Murrow, who taught us many valuable lessons about responsibility and always,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-clooney/the-script-for-this-film-was-written-52-years-ago-by-edward-r-murrow/) [George Clooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-clooney/) > [“The idea of authority, which they represented, was associated in our minds with a greater insight and a more humane wisdom. But the first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-maria-remarque/the-idea-of-authority-which-they-represented-was-associated-in-our/) [Erich Maria Remarque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-maria-remarque/) > [Sometimes it's easier for people who are in authority to be authoritarian, because people know where you stand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-streep/sometimes-it-s-easier-for-people-who-are-in-authority-to-be/) [Meryl Streep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meryl-streep/) > [“I'm of the age and immaturity level that I cannot give you my respect solely because you are older or ranked higher on an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-goros/i-m-of-the-age-and-immaturity-level-that-i-cannot-give-you-my-respect/) [Erica Goros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-goros/) > [At a distance, we cannot conceive of the authority of a despot who knows all his subjects on sight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stendhal/at-a-distance-we-cannot-conceive-of-the-authority-of-a-despot-who/) [Stendhal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stendhal/) ## More by Derrick Jensen > [The global industrial economy is the engine for massive environmental degradation and massive human (and nonhuman) impoverishment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derrick-jensen/the-global-industrial-economy-is-the-engine-for-massive-environmental/) [Derrick Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derrick-jensen/) > [“In sum, one of the primary things I learned was how to kill time. I learned also to wish away my life. I learned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derrick-jensen/in-sum-one-of-the-primary-things-i-learned-was-how-to-kill-time-i/) [Derrick Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derrick-jensen/) > [“I had broken the most basic commandment of our culture: Thou shalt pretend there is nothing wrong.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derrick-jensen/i-had-broken-the-most-basic-commandment-of-our-culture-thou-shalt/) [Derrick Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derrick-jensen/) > [If the world is presented as resources to be exploited, then, more than likely, you're going to exploit the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derrick-jensen/if-the-world-is-presented-as-resources-to-be-exploited-then-more-than/) [Derrick Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derrick-jensen/) > [It's no wonder we don't defend the land where we live. We don't live here. We live in television programs and movies and books…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derrick-jensen/it-s-no-wonder-we-don-t-defend-the-land-where-we-live-we-don-t-live/) [Derrick Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derrick-jensen/) > [“ISOLATION DOES STRANGE THINGS to a person’s mind. This is true for any social creature, human or otherwise. Monkeys taken from their mothers at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derrick-jensen/isolation-does-strange-things-to-a-person-s-mind-this-is-true-for-any/) [Derrick Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derrick-jensen/) > [My great-grandmother grew up in a sod house in Nebraska. When she was a tiny girl - in other words, only four human generations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derrick-jensen/my-great-grandmother-grew-up-in-a-sod-house-in-nebraska-when-she-was/) [Derrick Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derrick-jensen/) > [Where will you drive your own picket stake? Where will you choose to make your stand? Give me a threshold, a specific point at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derrick-jensen/where-will-you-drive-your-own-picket-stake-where-will-you-choose-to/) [Derrick Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derrick-jensen/) > [“So often, environmentalists and others working to slow the destruction are capable of plainly describing the problems (Who wouldn’t be? The problems are neither…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derrick-jensen/so-often-environmentalists-and-others-working-to-slow-the-destruction/) [Derrick Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derrick-jensen/) > [Forests precede us and deserts dog our heels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derrick-jensen/forests-precede-us-and-deserts-dog-our-heels/) [Derrick Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derrick-jensen/) > [“The condition of alienation, of being asleep, of being unconscious, of being out of one’s mind, is the condition of the normal man. Society…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derrick-jensen/the-condition-of-alienation-of-being-asleep-of-being-unconscious-of/) [Derrick Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derrick-jensen/) > [So many indigenous people have said to me that the fundamental difference between Western and indigenous ways of being is that even the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derrick-jensen/so-many-indigenous-people-have-said-to-me-that-the-fundamental/) [Derrick Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derrick-jensen/) > [When dams were erected on the Columbia, salmon battered themselves against the concrete, trying to return home. I expect no less from us. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derrick-jensen/when-dams-were-erected-on-the-columbia-salmon-battered-themselves/) [Derrick Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derrick-jensen/) > [People say 'what do you mean' when you talk about 'bringing down civilization.' What I really mean is depriving the rich of the ability…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derrick-jensen/people-say-what-do-you-mean-when-you-talk-about-bringing-down/) [Derrick Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derrick-jensen/) > [If you only had a limited time to life (which is of course the case), how would you spend your time?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derrick-jensen/if-you-only-had-a-limited-time-to-life-which-is-of-course-the-case/) [Derrick Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derrick-jensen/) [Explore all 149 Derrick Jensen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derrick-jensen/) ## More Authority quotes > [I don't believe in competitions between artists. This is insane. 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Coyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-a-coyne/) > [Every wife ought to answer for her man. If the husband be engaged in a seditious club, or drinks mysterious healths, or be frugal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/every-wife-ought-to-answer-for-her-man-if-the-husband-be-engaged-in-a/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [Miracles are like candles lit up until the sun rises, and then blown out. Therefore, I am amused when I hear sects and churches…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/miracles-are-like-candles-lit-up-until-the-sun-rises-and-then-blown/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [The execution was set for the 29th of March, at nine in the morning. 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Hamas has a vision and a program, and this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ismail-haniyeh/the-victory-of-hamas-is-not-only-based-on-the-corruption-of-the/) [Ismail Haniyeh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ismail-haniyeh/) [Browse all 4,003 Authority quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/authority/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Someone asked me once at a talk why I so stress the positive with my students yet am such an unstinting critic of those who run our culture and who are killing the planet. I answered immediately, “Power. If I’ve got power or authority over someone, it’s my responsibility to use that only to help them. 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