--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is supposed that power corrupts,' the…" description: "\"It is supposed that power corrupts,' the caterpillar said in a voice as untroubled as time itself. \"yet the powerful are often corrupt before they are ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c1/frank-beddor-8556_caterpillars_it-is-supposed-that-power-corrupts-the-c_2664933.jpg" --- # It is supposed that power corrupts,' the caterpillar said… ![“It is supposed that power corrupts,' the caterpillar said in a voice as untroubled as time itself. "yet the powerful are often corrupt before they are powerful. In fact, I find that they too often become powerful by being corrupt. Whether real or perceived, a lack of power can also corrupt.” quote by Frank Beddor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c1/frank-beddor-8556_caterpillars_it-is-supposed-that-power-corrupts-the-c_2664933.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c1/frank-beddor-8556_caterpillars_it-is-supposed-that-power-corrupts-the-c_2664933.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c1/frank-beddor-8556_caterpillars_it-is-supposed-that-power-corrupts-the-c_2664933.jpg) > “It is supposed that power corrupts,' the caterpillar said in a voice as untroubled as time itself. "yet the powerful are often corrupt before they are powerful. In fact, I find that they too often become powerful by being corrupt. Whether real or perceived, a lack of power can also corrupt.” [Frank Beddor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-beddor/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Power can corrupt before it’s attained; lack of power can also corrupt. **In simple terms:** Both having and lacking power can corrupt. Key Takeaway Guard against corruption in all states. Themes corruption power ethics Mood cautionary thoughtful Type philosophical literary When to use this quote - leadership - activism - organizational culture - personal ambition Key Concepts moral philosophy political theory Questions to Reflect On - How does power affect your decisions? - Can you stay ethical without authority? A Different Perspective Power dynamics are complex and context‑dependent. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Corruption](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corruption/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) [Power corrupts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power-corrupts/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Voice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/voice/) ## Related quotes > [If knowledge is power and power corrupt, does knowledge corrupt?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-moore/if-knowledge-is-power-and-power-corrupt-does-knowledge-corrupt/) [James Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-moore/) > [These international bankers and Rockefeller Standard Oil interests control the majority of newspapers and the columns of these papers to club into submission or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/these-international-bankers-and-rockefeller-standard-oil-interests-2/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [I promise, before God and my community, to seek reforms so that the powerful and corrupt are no longer above the law.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-thomas/i-promise-before-god-and-my-community-to-seek-reforms-so-that-the/) [Andrew Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-thomas/) > [Power does not corrupt men; fools, however, if they get into a position of power, corrupt power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/power-does-not-corrupt-men-fools-however-if-they-get-into-a-position/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [“This is about a very few very rich, very greedy individuals getting ever richer, at the expense of human misery and suffering throughout the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-befumo/this-is-about-a-very-few-very-rich-very-greedy-individuals-getting/) [Joseph Befumo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-befumo/) > [If we go to school to learn, and knowledge is power and power is corrupt and corruption is crime and crime doesn't pay then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-we-go-to-school-to-learn-and-knowledge-is-power-and-power-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Our government says people must not take law in their own hands, But has given the law in the hands of people who in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/de-philosopher-dj-kyos/our-government-says-people-must-not-take-law-in-their-own-hands-but/) De philosopher DJ Kyos > [“The power of a corrupt government is located in the ignorance and indifference of its people - rjs”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rassool-jibraeel-snyman/the-power-of-a-corrupt-government-is-located-in-the-ignorance-and/) [rassool jibraeel snyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rassool-jibraeel-snyman/) > [What assurance have we that our masters will or can keep the promise which induced us to sell ourselves? 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McChrystal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-a-mcchrystal/) > [This bill, by vesting the power to withhold or terminate Federal funds, creates a concentration of power of economic coercion unequaled in the history…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/strom-thurmond/this-bill-by-vesting-the-power-to-withhold-or-terminate-federal-funds/) [Strom Thurmond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/strom-thurmond/) > [“Power will always corrupt those who have not learned to serve it properly" -Lurline”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-paige/power-will-always-corrupt-those-who-have-not-learned-to-serve-it/) [Danielle Paige](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-paige/) > [“Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. 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/) > [“Many of the greatest tyrants on the records of history have begun their reigns in the fairest manner. But the truth is, this unnatural…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/many-of-the-greatest-tyrants-on-the-records-of-history-have-begun/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) ## More by Frank Beddor > [“You say halfer as if it's a terrible thing," he said. "But everyone I've ever known has been a halfer; if old enough t-to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-beddor/you-say-halfer-as-if-it-s-a-terrible-thing-he-said-but-everyone-i-ve/) [Frank Beddor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-beddor/) > [After a long silence, Dodge cleared his throat. "I think I speak for all of us when I say, 'Huh?'" -Dodge(obviously)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-beddor/after-a-long-silence-dodge-cleared-his-throat-i-think-i-speak-for-all/) [Frank Beddor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-beddor/) > [I'd had a cold that day and wasn't as powerful as usual, otherwise Alyss would never have done so well," Redd said as, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-beddor/i-d-had-a-cold-that-day-and-wasn-t-as-powerful-as-usual-otherwise/) [Frank Beddor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-beddor/) > [“I would find no value in the allegiance of a fool ready to give himself up to any old hag of Black Imagination who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-beddor/i-would-find-no-value-in-the-allegiance-of-a-fool-ready-to-give/) [Frank Beddor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-beddor/) > [“When I give the go ahead, go ahead." --Alyss”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-beddor/when-i-give-the-go-ahead-go-ahead-alyss/) [Frank Beddor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-beddor/) > [Well now," the scholar went on, "I'm just an old fuddy-duddy who could use a tan, so you needn't grant my opinion any authority,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-beddor/well-now-the-scholar-went-on-i-m-just-an-old-fuddy-duddy-who-could/) [Frank Beddor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-beddor/) > [“I miss you, dad.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-beddor/i-miss-you-dad/) [Frank Beddor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-beddor/) > [A Glass Eye leaped out from behind a parcked smail-trasport, blocked thier way. "Did you drop something?" Dodge asked the assassian. "Caus I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-beddor/a-glass-eye-leaped-out-from-behind-a-parcked-smail-trasport-blocked/) [Frank Beddor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-beddor/) > [“Suffering the nasty twisting of body parts that should never be twisted, the card soldiers fell, lifeless, and Arch's bodyguards were soon pushing through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-beddor/suffering-the-nasty-twisting-of-body-parts-that-should-never-be/) [Frank Beddor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-beddor/) > [Redd Towers Apartments, whose advertising slogan, 'If you lived here, you'd be home by now,' did little to fill vacancies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-beddor/redd-towers-apartments-whose-advertising-slogan-if-you-lived-here-you/) [Frank Beddor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-beddor/) > [Redd's face contorted with a sudden realization. "How could I have been so stupid?" The Cat was trying to decide if this was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-beddor/redd-s-face-contorted-with-a-sudden-realization-how-could-i-have-been/) [Frank Beddor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-beddor/) > [“What. Are. Thooooooose?" the walrus moaned. On the holo-screen airing the happenings in Genevieve Square, a swarm of scorpspitters released by the Glass Eyes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-beddor/what-are-thooooooose-the-walrus-moaned-on-the-holo-screen-airing-the/) [Frank Beddor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-beddor/) > [Redd shed caution like an outgrown skin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-beddor/redd-shed-caution-like-an-outgrown-skin/) [Frank Beddor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-beddor/) > [Hatter!" She would have hugged him if she hadn't thought he'd be bothered by the dislay of affection. Pterry good timing." Dodge smiled. "A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-beddor/hatter-she-would-have-hugged-him-if-she-hadn-t-thought-he-d-be/) [Frank Beddor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-beddor/) > [“We're family," Alyss said. Redd snorted. "Is that supposed to mean something?" Family," Alyss said again, trying to convince herself more than Redd. Don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-beddor/we-re-family-alyss-said-redd-snorted-is-that-supposed-to-mean/) [Frank Beddor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-beddor/) [Explore all 80 Frank Beddor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-beddor/) ## More Caterpillars quotes > [Do you remember how you felt at seventeen? I do and I don't (...) Imagine you came from outer space and someone showed you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coupland/do-you-remember-how-you-felt-at-seventeen-i-do-and-i-don-t-imagine/) [Douglas Coupland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/) > [Why is Caterpillar bad if we create a new job in India or China to receive U.S. exports? It makes no sense to me.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-r-oberhelman/why-is-caterpillar-bad-if-we-create-a-new-job-in-india-or-china-to/) [Douglas R. Oberhelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-r-oberhelman/) > [“...the summer of the gypsy moths when all the trees in their yard were bare, the leaves chewed by caterpillars. You could hear crunching…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-hoffman/the-summer-of-the-gypsy-moths-when-all-the-trees-in-their-yard-were/) [Alice Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-hoffman/) > [Afraid? Me? A man who's licked his weight in wild caterpillars?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/groucho-marx/afraid-me-a-man-who-s-licked-his-weight-in-wild-caterpillars/) [Groucho Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/groucho-marx/) > [I will defend the absolute value of Mozart over Miley Cyrus, of course I will, but we should be wary of false dichotomies. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-fry/i-will-defend-the-absolute-value-of-mozart-over-miley-cyrus-of-course/) [Stephen Fry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-fry/) > [James Davison took me out to show me where Karl is living right now and where hes going to build. Karl wasnt at home.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-bradshaw/james-davison-took-me-out-to-show-me-where-karl-is-living-right-now/) [Terry Bradshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-bradshaw/) > [On every stem, on every leaf,... and at the root of everything that grew, was a professional specialist in the shape of grub, caterpillar,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/on-every-stem-on-every-leaf-and-at-the-root-of-everything-that-grew/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/) > [True transformation occurs only when we can look at ourselves squarely and face our attachments and inner demons, free from the buzz of commercial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-hill/true-transformation-occurs-only-when-we-can-look-at-ourselves/) [Julia Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-hill/) > [You are afraid to die?' Yes, everyone is.' But to die as lovers may - to die together, so that they may live together.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-sheridan-le-fanu/you-are-afraid-to-die-yes-everyone-is-but-to-die-as-lovers-may-to-die/) [Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-sheridan-le-fanu/) > [I like - it's not that I want to be someone different from me, but I suppose it partly is that. I love creating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-wilder/i-like-it-s-not-that-i-want-to-be-someone-different-from-me-but-i/) [Gene Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-wilder/) > [The great loneliness- like the loneliness a caterpillar endures when she wraps herself in a silky shroud and begins the long transformation from chrysalis…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-lesser/the-great-loneliness-like-the-loneliness-a-caterpillar-endures-when/) [Elizabeth Lesser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-lesser/) > [Look, I guess it's natural, you're teenagers, its springtime,everyone's thoughts are turning to birds and bees and caterpillars and moths… - Iggy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/look-i-guess-it-s-natural-you-re-teenagers-its-springtime-everyone-s/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) > [You cannot use butterfly language to communicate with caterpillars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-leary/you-cannot-use-butterfly-language-to-communicate-with-caterpillars/) [Timothy Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-leary/) > [“Caterpillars can fly, if they just lighten up.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-j-simmerman-ph-d/caterpillars-can-fly-if-they-just-lighten-up/) Scott J. Simmerman Ph.D > [That author who draws a character, even though to common view incongruous in its parts, as the flying-squirrel, and, at differentperiods, as much at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/that-author-who-draws-a-character-even-though-to-common-view/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) Browse all 154 Caterpillars quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It is supposed that power corrupts,' the caterpillar said in a voice as untroubled as time itself. \"yet the powerful are often corrupt before they are powerful. In fact, I find that they too often become powerful by being corrupt. 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