--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A teacher told me this story some time…" description: "\"A teacher told me this story some time ago: She asked her students to line up in order of how much power they thought they had relative to the others i..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e83/frances-moore-lapp-4271_acknowledge_a-teacher-told-me-this-story-some-time-a_2423837.png" --- # A teacher told me this story some time ago: She asked her… ![“A teacher told me this story some time ago: She asked her students to line up in order of how much power they thought they had relative to the others in the class, and they all fought to be last in line. They didn't want to acknowledge that they had personal power.” quote by Frances Moore Lappé](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e83/frances-moore-lapp-4271_acknowledge_a-teacher-told-me-this-story-some-time-a_2423837.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e83/frances-moore-lapp-4271_acknowledge_a-teacher-told-me-this-story-some-time-a_2423837.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e83/frances-moore-lapp-4271_acknowledge_a-teacher-told-me-this-story-some-time-a_2423837.png) > “A teacher told me this story some time ago: She asked her students to line up in order of how much power they thought they had relative to the others in the class, and they all fought to be last in line. They didn't want to acknowledge that they had personal power.” [Frances Moore Lappé](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-moore-lapp/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Students avoid acknowledging personal power, preferring to be seen as powerless, which reveals discomfort with responsibility. **In simple terms:** People fear recognizing their own power. Key Takeaway Embrace and use personal power wisely. Themes power self‑awareness responsibility Mood insightful encouraging Type psychological motivational When to use this quote - classroom dynamics - leadership training - team building - personal growth Key Concepts psychology of status social hierarchy Questions to Reflect On - Why do we hide our influence? - How can power be used ethically? A Different Perspective Some may view power as inherently negative. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acknowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acknowledge/) [Asked Students](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asked-students-1139544/) [Class](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/class/) [Class Fought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/class-fought-2869329/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Lasts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lasts/) [Lines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lines/) [Order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/order/) [Order Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/order-power-664951/) [Personal power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/personal-power/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) [Relative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relative/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Students](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/students/) [Students Line](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/students-line-6143396/) [Teacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teacher/) [Teacher Told](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teacher-told-707289/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) ## Related quotes > [Order is power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-frederic-amiel/order-is-power/) [Henri Frederic Amiel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-frederic-amiel/) > [Order means light and peace, inward liberty and free command over one's self; order is power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-frederic-amiel/order-means-light-and-peace-inward-liberty-and-free-command-over-one/) [Henri Frederic Amiel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-frederic-amiel/) > [“The condescension was rooted in class. 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