--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The taint inherent in absolute power is…" description: "\"The taint inherent in absolute power is not its inhumanity but its antihumanity.\" — Eric Hoffer" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/29d/eric-hoffer-343_absolute-power_the-taint-inherent-in-absolute-power-is_2072313.jpg" --- # The taint inherent in absolute power is not its inhumanity… ![“The taint inherent in absolute power is not its inhumanity but its antihumanity.” quote by Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/29d/eric-hoffer-343_absolute-power_the-taint-inherent-in-absolute-power-is_2072313.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/29d/eric-hoffer-343_absolute-power_the-taint-inherent-in-absolute-power-is_2072313.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/29d/eric-hoffer-343_absolute-power_the-taint-inherent-in-absolute-power-is_2072313.jpg) > “The taint inherent in absolute power is not its inhumanity but its antihumanity.” [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Absolute power dehumanizes by denying humanity, not just cruelty. **In simple terms:** Power erodes humanity. Key Takeaway Guard against dehumanizing authority. Themes power humanity ethics Mood cautionary analytical Type philosophical political When to use this quote - government leadership - corporate control - social movements Key Concepts dehumanization authoritarianism Questions to Reflect On - What signs show power is stripping humanity? - How can societies preserve human values? A Different Perspective Even well-meaning leaders can become inhuman. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Absolute power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absolute-power/) [Absolutes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absolutes/) [Inherent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inherent/) [Inhumanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inhumanity/) [Inhumanity Antihumanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inhumanity-antihumanity-4006441/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Power corrupts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power-corrupts/) [Power Inhumanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power-inhumanity-3163393/) [Taint Inherent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taint-inherent-4006442/) ## Related quotes > [Absolute power corrupts even when exercised for humane purposes. The benevolent despot who sees himself as a shepherd of the people still demands from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/absolute-power-corrupts-even-when-exercised-for-humane-purposes-the/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [There are similarities between absolute power and absolute faith: a demand for absolute obedience, a readiness to attempt the impossible, a bias for simple…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/there-are-similarities-between-absolute-power-and-absolute-faith-a/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [There is no evidence to support the belief that Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev ever questioned Americas power. 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Absolute powerlessness corrupts absolutely. 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Great men are almost always bad men, even when they exercise influence and not authority,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-emerich-edward-dalberg-acton/power-tends-to-corrupt-and-absolute-power-corrupts-absolutely-great/) [John Emerich Edward Dalberg-Acton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-emerich-edward-dalberg-acton/) ## More by Eric Hoffer > [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [When grubbing for necessities man is still an animal. He becomes uniquely human when he reaches out for the superfluous and extravagant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/when-grubbing-for-necessities-man-is-still-an-animal-he-becomes/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [“We lie the loudest when we lie to ourselves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/we-lie-the-loudest-when-we-lie-to-ourselves/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Our originality shows itself most strikingly not in what we wholly originate but in what we do with that which we borrow from others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/our-originality-shows-itself-most-strikingly-not-in-what-we-wholly/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [The creative mind is the playful mind. 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The desire for praise is more imperative than the desire for food and shelter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/this-food-and-shelter-theory-concerning-man-s-efforts-is-without/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) [Explore all 658 Eric Hoffer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) ## More Absolute power quotes > [“Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. 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Reality always creeps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvin-d-yalom/absolute-power-as-we-have-always-known-corrupts-absolutely-it/) [Irvin D. Yalom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvin-d-yalom/) > [A nation of slaves is always prepared to applaud the clemency of their master who, in the abuse of absolute power, does not proceed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/a-nation-of-slaves-is-always-prepared-to-applaud-the-clemency-of/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [Unlimited power is apt to corrupt the minds of those who possess it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-pitt-1st-earl-of-chatham/unlimited-power-is-apt-to-corrupt-the-minds-of-those-who-possess-it/) [William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-pitt-1st-earl-of-chatham/) > [The Book of Job is advice on how to live in terms of the absolute power of nature. 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