--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Power can be hoarded by the mighty or…" description: "\"“Power can be hoarded by the mighty or stolen from the innocent.Power provides the ability to choose. But has a proclivity for corruption. The use of p..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1a/emily-thorne-11079_consequence_power-can-be-hoarded-by-the-mighty-or-st_820775.jpg" --- # Power can be hoarded by the mighty or stolen from the… ![“Power can be hoarded by the mighty or stolen from the innocent.Power provides the ability to choose. But has a proclivity for corruption. The use of power is not to be taken lightly, for it is never without consequence.” quote by Emily Thorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1a/emily-thorne-11079_consequence_power-can-be-hoarded-by-the-mighty-or-st_820775.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1a/emily-thorne-11079_consequence_power-can-be-hoarded-by-the-mighty-or-st_820775.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1a/emily-thorne-11079_consequence_power-can-be-hoarded-by-the-mighty-or-st_820775.jpg) > ““Power can be hoarded by the mighty or stolen from the innocent.Power provides the ability to choose. But has a proclivity for corruption. The use of power is not to be taken lightly, for it is never without consequence.”” [Emily Thorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-thorne/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Power grants choice but also invites corruption; misuse leads to inevitable consequences. **In simple terms:** Power gives choice but can corrupt. Key Takeaway Use power responsibly and anticipate outcomes. Themes responsibility ethics corruption consequence choice Mood cautious reflective Type philosophical warning When to use this quote - leadership decisions - policy making - personal relationships - legal judgments - financial control Key Concepts political theory human nature morality Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance authority with humility? - What safeguards can prevent abuse? A Different Perspective Power can be limited by systemic checks, reducing individual impact. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Consequence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consequence/) [Corruption](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corruption/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) [Revenge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/revenge/) [Revenge-tv-series](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/revenge-tv-series/) [Use of power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/use-of-power/) ## Related quotes > [Leadership is the wise use of power. Power is the capacity to translate intention into reality and sustain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/leadership-is-the-wise-use-of-power-power-is-the-capacity-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Power, as human beings exercise power, to me means the ability to change: the ability to change oneself, the ability to change one's community.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-jefferts-schori/power-as-human-beings-exercise-power-to-me-means-the-ability-to/) Katharine Jefferts Schori > [Use power to help people. For we are given power not to advance our own purposes nor to make a great show in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/use-power-to-help-people-for-we-are-given-power-not-to-advance-our/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [The ultimate use of power is to empower others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-glasser/the-ultimate-use-of-power-is-to-empower-others/) [William Glasser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-glasser/) > [Nothing discloses real character like the use of power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/nothing-discloses-real-character-like-the-use-of-power/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [So the intelligent use of power is to never interfere with anyone else's success. Use the power you get to just be more successful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/so-the-intelligent-use-of-power-is-to-never-interfere-with-anyone/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [There is but one just use of power and it is to serve people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/there-is-but-one-just-use-of-power-and-it-is-to-serve-people/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [ \[On power:\] Some people really have almost a disdain for that word. They feel it is alien to conscience. Power for power's sake, no.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-dole/on-power-some-people-really-have-almost-a-disdain-for-that-word-they/) [Elizabeth Dole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-dole/) > [Nothing discloses character like the use of power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/nothing-discloses-character-like-the-use-of-power/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [I would define the proper use of power as something that creates happiness for yourself and others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/i-would-define-the-proper-use-of-power-as-something-that-creates/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [The media's the most powerful entity on earth. They have the power to make the innocent guilty and to make the guilty innocent, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/the-media-s-the-most-powerful-entity-on-earth-they-have-the-power-to/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [God and the people are the source of all power. I have twice been given the power. I have taken it, and damn it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-duvalier/god-and-the-people-are-the-source-of-all-power-i-have-twice-been/) [Francois Duvalier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-duvalier/) > [Power is not a material possession that can be given, it is the ability to act. Power must be taken, it is never given.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-powell/power-is-not-a-material-possession-that-can-be-given-it-is-the/) [William Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-powell/) > [Power, such a destructive force. While it's easy to gain, it's not easy to contain the constant temptation that comes with it. If you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-cole/power-such-a-destructive-force-while-it-s-easy-to-gain-it-s-not-easy/) [Alex Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-cole/) > [Once the new power has taken over they have to establish a new status quo just to keep the factories and trains running.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/once-the-new-power-has-taken-over-they-have-to-establish-a-new-status/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) ## More by Emily Thorne > [“Just as there are two sides to every story, there are two sides to every person. One that we reveal to the world and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-thorne/just-as-there-are-two-sides-to-every-story-there-are-two-sides-to/) [Emily Thorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-thorne/) > [“Defence lawyers use the term "duress" to describe the use of force, coercion or psychological pressure exerted on a client in the commission of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-thorne/defence-lawyers-use-the-term-duress-to-describe-the-use-of-force/) [Emily Thorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-thorne/) > [“To carry a secret is to play with fire. Try to pass it on and you'd risk hurting someone else. Hold on to it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-thorne/to-carry-a-secret-is-to-play-with-fire-try-to-pass-it-on-and-you-d/) [Emily Thorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-thorne/) > [“In the art of war, if you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the approaching battles. But if you know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-thorne/in-the-art-of-war-if-you-know-the-enemy-and-know-yourself-you-need/) [Emily Thorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-thorne/) > [“Clarence Darrow, one of history's greatest lawyers, once noted "There is no such thing as justice, in or out of court." Perhaps because justice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-thorne/clarence-darrow-one-of-history-s-greatest-lawyers-once-noted-there-is/) [Emily Thorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-thorne/) > [“Engagement can be a commitment to love or a declaration of war. One must enter every battle without hesitation, willing to fully engage the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-thorne/engagement-can-be-a-commitment-to-love-or-a-declaration-of-war-one/) [Emily Thorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-thorne/) > [“They say the best laid plans often go a lie, Because no matter how detailed the preparation, A plan will always have a weak…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-thorne/they-say-the-best-laid-plans-often-go-a-lie-because-no-matter-how/) [Emily Thorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-thorne/) > [“Trust is a difficult thing, whether it's finding the right people to trust...Or trusting the right people will do the wrong thing. But trusting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-thorne/trust-is-a-difficult-thing-whether-it-s-finding-the-right-people-to/) [Emily Thorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-thorne/) > [“To properly do penance one must express contrition for one’s sins and perform acts to repair the damage caused by those transgressions. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-thorne/to-properly-do-penance-one-must-express-contrition-for-one-s-sins-and/) [Emily Thorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-thorne/) > [“The greatest weapon anyone can use against us is our own mind. By preying upon the doubts and uncertainities that already lurk there. Are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-thorne/the-greatest-weapon-anyone-can-use-against-us-is-our-own-mind-by/) [Emily Thorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-thorne/) > [“We all have secrets we keep locked away from the rest of the world... Friendships we pretend... Relationships we hide... But worst of all...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-thorne/we-all-have-secrets-we-keep-locked-away-from-the-rest-of-the-world/) [Emily Thorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-thorne/) > [“Penance is a sacrifice, a voluntary punishment to show remorse for a sin. The more grievous the sin, the greater the self-inflicted suffering. For…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-thorne/penance-is-a-sacrifice-a-voluntary-punishment-to-show-remorse-for-a/) [Emily Thorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-thorne/) > [“In every life, there comes a day of reckoning - a time when unsettled scores demand retribution, and our own lies and transgressions are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-thorne/in-every-life-there-comes-a-day-of-reckoning-a-time-when-unsettled/) [Emily Thorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-thorne/) > [“For the righteous, the revelation is a joyous event, the realization of a divine truth. But for the wicked, revelations can be far more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-thorne/for-the-righteous-the-revelation-is-a-joyous-event-the-realization-of/) [Emily Thorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-thorne/) > [“All too often, we mask truth in artifice, concealing ourselves for fear of losing the ones we love or prolonging a deception for those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-thorne/all-too-often-we-mask-truth-in-artifice-concealing-ourselves-for-fear/) [Emily Thorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-thorne/) [Explore all 62 Emily Thorne quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-thorne/) ## More Consequence quotes > [I hope that the Palestinians don't make the mistake of unleashing a new intifada. They've tried it twice before, and the consequences were bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-segev/i-hope-that-the-palestinians-don-t-make-the-mistake-of-unleashing-a/) [Tom Segev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-segev/) > [The world's problems are, by and large, human problems-the unavoidable consequence of egoic sleepwalking. If we care to look, all the signs are present…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adyashanti/the-world-s-problems-are-by-and-large-human-problems-the-unavoidable/) [Adyashanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adyashanti/) > [The prediction of nuclear winter is drawn not, of course, from any direct experience with the consequences of global nuclear war, but rather from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/the-prediction-of-nuclear-winter-is-drawn-not-of-course-from-any/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [When the first Superman movie came out I was frequently asked "What is a hero?" ...My answer was that a hero is someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/when-the-first-superman-movie-came-out-i-was-frequently-asked-what-is/) [Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/) > [It's easy to make mistakes. It's living with the consequences of them that's the hardest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/it-s-easy-to-make-mistakes-it-s-living-with-the-consequences-of-them/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [Actions have consequences... first rule of life. And the second rule is this - you are the only one responsible for your own actions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/actions-have-consequences-first-rule-of-life-and-the-second-rule-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The contempt for law and the contempt for the human consequences of lawbreaking go from the bottom to the top of American society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/the-contempt-for-law-and-the-contempt-for-the-human-consequences-of/) [Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/) > [Cultivate the habit of thinking ahead, and of anticipating the necessary and immediate consequences of all your actions… Likewise in your pleasures, ask yourself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/cultivate-the-habit-of-thinking-ahead-and-of-anticipating-the/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) > [There is no silver bullet. There are always options and the options have consequences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-horowitz/there-is-no-silver-bullet-there-are-always-options-and-the-options/) [Ben Horowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-horowitz/) > [“Each day I learn that every single action we take has its own consequence – for either good or bad.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ginny-dye/each-day-i-learn-that-every-single-action-we-take-has-its-own/) Ginny Dye > [Washington bureaucrats have classified the very air we exhale as a pollutant and have gone unchallenged in this incredible assertion. The logical consequence is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-paul/washington-bureaucrats-have-classified-the-very-air-we-exhale-as-a/) [Ron Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-paul/) > [If you wish to be a lawyer, attach no consequence to the place you are in, or the person you are with; but get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/if-you-wish-to-be-a-lawyer-attach-no-consequence-to-the-place-you-are/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Any kind of restrictions put on free speech would have worse consequences than bullying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lady-starlight/any-kind-of-restrictions-put-on-free-speech-would-have-worse/) [Lady Starlight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lady-starlight/) > [So, I'm not the only one who believes that there is such a thing as "the law of gravity," and if it's a law,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-comfort/so-i-m-not-the-only-one-who-believes-that-there-is-such-a-thing-as/) [Ray Comfort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-comfort/) > [The average American expends more time becoming informed about choosing a car than choosing a candidate. But, then, the consequences of the former choice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-will/the-average-american-expends-more-time-becoming-informed-about/) [George Will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-will/) [Browse all 3,099 Consequence quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consequence/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Power can be hoarded by the mighty or stolen from the innocent.Power provides the ability to choose. But has a proclivity for corruption. The use of power is not to be taken lightly, for it is never without consequence.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Emily Thorne" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-thorne/power-can-be-hoarded-by-the-mighty-or-stolen-from-the-innocent-power/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Consequence" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-thorne/power-can-be-hoarded-by-the-mighty-or-stolen-from-the-innocent-power/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1a/emily-thorne-11079_consequence_power-can-be-hoarded-by-the-mighty-or-st_820775.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1a/emily-thorne-11079_consequence_power-can-be-hoarded-by-the-mighty-or-st_820775.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1a/emily-thorne-11079_consequence_power-can-be-hoarded-by-the-mighty-or-st_820775.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Power can be hoarded by the mighty or stolen from the innocent.Power provides the ability to choose. But has…” — Emily Thorne", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Emily Thorne", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-thorne/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Power can be hoarded by the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-thorne/power-can-be-hoarded-by-the-mighty-or-stolen-from-the-innocent-power/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-thorne/power-can-be-hoarded-by-the-mighty-or-stolen-from-the-innocent-power/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```