--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Often the most powerful men were the most…" description: "\"“Often the most powerful men were the most desperate. They had the farthest to fall. They would do anything or kill anyone to keep the power they had a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/169/ethan-cross-18092_quote_often-the-most-powerful-men-were-the-mos_1949051.jpg" --- # Often the most powerful men were the most desperate. They… ![“Often the most powerful men were the most desperate. They had the farthest to fall. They would do anything or kill anyone to keep the power they had attained and gain more. “Where’s” quote by Ethan Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/169/ethan-cross-18092_quote_often-the-most-powerful-men-were-the-mos_1949051.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/169/ethan-cross-18092_quote_often-the-most-powerful-men-were-the-mos_1949051.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/169/ethan-cross-18092_quote_often-the-most-powerful-men-were-the-mos_1949051.jpg) > ““Often the most powerful men were the most desperate. They had the farthest to fall. They would do anything or kill anyone to keep the power they had attained and gain more. “Where’s”” [Ethan Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethan-cross/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Those with great power often act out of desperation, fearing loss and thus may resort to extreme measures to retain or expand it. **In simple terms:** Powerful people may act desperately to keep power. Key Takeaway Beware desperation in leadership. Themes power desperation ethics Mood cautionary analytical Type philosophical advice When to use this quote - corporate leadership - political office - social movements Key Concepts psychology politics Questions to Reflect On - What drives a leader to desperation? - How can societies check abusive power? A Different Perspective Not all powerful people are desperate; context matters. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Desperate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desperate/) [Desperate Farthest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desperate-farthest-3152320/) [Farthest Fall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/farthest-fall-3152321/) [Men Desperate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men-desperate-1672010/) [Powerful Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/powerful-men-818304/) ## Related quotes > [Desperate men do desperate things when you take hope away. And that's where the Palestinians are today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-hagel/desperate-men-do-desperate-things-when-you-take-hope-away-and-that-s/) [Chuck Hagel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-hagel/) > [Let it be told, that Men who are desperate for riches are not far from Prison.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ore-abayomi/let-it-be-told-that-men-who-are-desperate-for-riches-are-not-far-from/) [Ore Abayomi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ore-abayomi/) > [“And just what sort of gentlemen do you imagine now will be paying me court? ... I see ... In other words, social climbers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/connie-brockway/and-just-what-sort-of-gentlemen-do-you-imagine-now-will-be-paying-me/) [Connie Brockway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/connie-brockway/) > [A lot of black men get in desperate situations because they don't see any other avenues to make it. You make a couple of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-dogg/a-lot-of-black-men-get-in-desperate-situations-because-they-don-t-see/) [Nate Dogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-dogg/) > [As to what happened next, it is possible to maintain that the hand of heaven was involved, and also possible to say that when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xenophon/as-to-what-happened-next-it-is-possible-to-maintain-that-the-hand-of/) [Xenophon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xenophon/) > [“Six understood in that instant that he had something the ministers wanted and it had given him power among them. He had never been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayana-mathis/six-understood-in-that-instant-that-he-had-something-the-ministers/) [Ayana Mathis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayana-mathis/) > [The absence of effective State, and, especially, national, restraint upon unfair money-getting has tended to create a small class of enormously wealthy and economically…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/the-absence-of-effective-state-and-especially-national-restraint-upon/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [Powerful men who have powerful passions use much of their strength in forging chains for themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/powerful-men-who-have-powerful-passions-use-much-of-their-strength-in/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [Powerful men often succeed through the help of their wives. Powerful women only succeed in spite of their husbands.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynda-lee-potter/powerful-men-often-succeed-through-the-help-of-their-wives-powerful/) [Lynda Lee-Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynda-lee-potter/) > [As we get used to women in power, we are likely to discover that they behave much like powerful men - vain, entitled, always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hanna-rosin/as-we-get-used-to-women-in-power-we-are-likely-to-discover-that-they/) [Hanna Rosin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hanna-rosin/) > [Everything I do is going to contain the message that men who are going to be comfortable with powerful women are going to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-whedon/everything-i-do-is-going-to-contain-the-message-that-men-who-are/) [Joss Whedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-whedon/) > [The powerful men in my life have always believed in me: my husband, my son](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-collins/the-powerful-men-in-my-life-have-always-believed-in-me-my-husband-my/) [Judy Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-collins/) > [I built the most exclusive and decadent high-profile club for powerful men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-bloom/i-built-the-most-exclusive-and-decadent-high-profile-club-for/) [Molly Bloom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-bloom/) > [The most powerful men were those who most effectively used the power of adult competence to enforce childish agreements.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-s-trow/the-most-powerful-men-were-those-who-most-effectively-used-the-power/) [George W. S. Trow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-s-trow/) > [Control over a woman is the only form of dominance most men possess, for most men are merely subjects of more powerful men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-french/control-over-a-woman-is-the-only-form-of-dominance-most-men-possess/) [Marilyn French](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-french/) ## More by Ethan Cross > [“Sharp like a spoon, that one. Anyway,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethan-cross/sharp-like-a-spoon-that-one-anyway/) [Ethan Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethan-cross/) > [“Don’t think, react. Adapt. Improvise. Overcome.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethan-cross/don-t-think-react-adapt-improvise-overcome/) [Ethan Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethan-cross/) > [“After sixteen hours straight, she felt as if she had run two triathlons and given birth all in the same day. Mind,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethan-cross/after-sixteen-hours-straight-she-felt-as-if-she-had-run-two/) [Ethan Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethan-cross/) > [“People always seemed to be in awe of the infliction of pain.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethan-cross/people-always-seemed-to-be-in-awe-of-the-infliction-of-pain/) [Ethan Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethan-cross/) > [“After all, she had never been dead before and had no idea what to expect.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethan-cross/after-all-she-had-never-been-dead-before-and-had-no-idea-what-to/) [Ethan Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethan-cross/) > [“ignorance is never to be preferred over knowledge. No”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethan-cross/ignorance-is-never-to-be-preferred-over-knowledge-no/) [Ethan Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethan-cross/) > [“Maybe we all have a monster inside. Maybe we all have the same capacity for evil as we do for good. I”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethan-cross/maybe-we-all-have-a-monster-inside-maybe-we-all-have-the-same/) [Ethan Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethan-cross/) > [“Maybe we see what we want to see? I”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethan-cross/maybe-we-see-what-we-want-to-see-i/) [Ethan Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethan-cross/) > [“When in doubt, beat it out of them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethan-cross/when-in-doubt-beat-it-out-of-them/) [Ethan Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethan-cross/) > [“Everyone is always whining. ‘Why me?’ ‘Why did this happen to me?’ They think it’s the end of the world when their forty-thousand-dollar car…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethan-cross/everyone-is-always-whining-why-me-why-did-this-happen-to-me-they/) [Ethan Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethan-cross/) > [“While you were learning about Lincoln and Washington, I was learning about Jack the Ripper, Albert Fish, Ed Gein, the Zodiac. Those were just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethan-cross/while-you-were-learning-about-lincoln-and-washington-i-was-learning/) [Ethan Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethan-cross/) > [“It’s time to play a game, Francis . . . If you do as you’re told, the pain will stop . . . Kill...It’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethan-cross/it-s-time-to-play-a-game-francis-if-you-do-as-you-re-told-the-pain/) [Ethan Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethan-cross/) > [“Although the woman—like the countless victims that came before her—would never appreciate the gift, through death, he would give her immortality.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethan-cross/although-the-woman-like-the-countless-victims-that-came-before-her/) [Ethan Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethan-cross/) > [“Everyone scurrying around like cockroaches leading pointless, little lives, never taking the time to stop and consider why we’re here or what it all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethan-cross/everyone-scurrying-around-like-cockroaches-leading-pointless-little/) [Ethan Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethan-cross/) > [“In the darkness, he couldn’t see the monsters when they came for him. If”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethan-cross/in-the-darkness-he-couldn-t-see-the-monsters-when-they-came-for-him-if/) [Ethan Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethan-cross/) [Explore all 35 Ethan Cross quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethan-cross/) ## More Desperate quotes > [Marriage is a desperate thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-selden/marriage-is-a-desperate-thing/) [John Selden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-selden/) > [“I was ambitious and desperate to direct my first film, so I capitulated and blew it. Never again. Never fucking again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/i-was-ambitious-and-desperate-to-direct-my-first-film-so-i/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [“I am a desperate romantic. I love the idea of random collisions of the heart.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-thompson/i-am-a-desperate-romantic-i-love-the-idea-of-random-collisions-of-the/) [Jessica Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-thompson/) > [Worship isn't destructive, Martin. I know that. I don't. I only know it's the core of his life. What else has he got? He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-shaffer/worship-isn-t-destructive-martin-i-know-that-i-don-t-i-only-know-it-s/) [Peter Shaffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-shaffer/) > [“Really? I'm trying to place you. It seems like we've met before." Did I just issue him a pick up line? Fantastic, I've now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-mcguire/really-i-m-trying-to-place-you-it-seems-like-we-ve-met-before-did-i/) [Jamie McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-mcguire/) > [Never be desperate. Get rid of your insecurities. Know your worth. Believe in yourself and go get what you want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/never-be-desperate-get-rid-of-your-insecurities-know-your-worth/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“She was stupid and lonely. So desperate to be touched and loved with a good love. I need you, don't leave me, you're all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucian-bane/she-was-stupid-and-lonely-so-desperate-to-be-touched-and-loved-with-a/) [Lucian Bane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucian-bane/) > [You mostly know that you want to be funny, know that you have the desire. It's not like people who grow up beautiful and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-fey/you-mostly-know-that-you-want-to-be-funny-know-that-you-have-the/) [Tina Fey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-fey/) > [I had to smile when stories emerged questioning whether I was gay. Obviously I knew I wasn't but people were curiously desperate to suggest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-radcliffe/i-had-to-smile-when-stories-emerged-questioning-whether-i-was-gay/) [Daniel Radcliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-radcliffe/) > [The World Health Organisation has a lot of its medical experts sitting in Geneva while hospitals in Africa have no drugs and desperate patients…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pauline-hanson/the-world-health-organisation-has-a-lot-of-its-medical-experts/) [Pauline Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pauline-hanson/) > [There, in the center of that silence was not eternity but the death of time and a loneliness so profound the word itself had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-morrison/there-in-the-center-of-that-silence-was-not-eternity-but-the-death-of/) [Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/) > [I know it's a film and all of that, and it's a Hollywood film, but it kind of feels like this sometimes, when you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-marber/i-know-it-s-a-film-and-all-of-that-and-it-s-a-hollywood-film-but-it/) [Patrick Marber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-marber/) > [“you think I"m that desperate?" "The raging hard-on jabbing at me says yes." ~Creed/Annika”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-croft/you-think-i-m-that-desperate-the-raging-hard-on-jabbing-at-me-says/) [Sydney Croft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-croft/) > [Along with a livable wage, many parents are desperate for quality affordable child care.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-gillibrand/along-with-a-livable-wage-many-parents-are-desperate-for-quality/) [Kirsten Gillibrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-gillibrand/) > [As a player, if a club is desperate to sign you, then you can benefit from that. Desperate clubs are prepared to pay more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diego-forlan/as-a-player-if-a-club-is-desperate-to-sign-you-then-you-can-benefit/) [Diego Forlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diego-forlan/) [Browse all 1,618 Desperate quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desperate/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Often the most powerful men were the most desperate. They had the farthest to fall. 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