--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: People want power but not wisdom. Power…" description: "\"People want power but not wisdom. Power without wisdom is a very dangerous thing. Better to have wisdom first.\" — Frederick Lenz" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ba/frederick-lenz-8_buddhism_people-want-power-but-not-wisdom-power-w_2891306.jpg" --- # People want power but not wisdom. Power without wisdom is… ![“People want power but not wisdom. Power without wisdom is a very dangerous thing. Better to have wisdom first.” quote by Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ba/frederick-lenz-8_buddhism_people-want-power-but-not-wisdom-power-w_2891306.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ba/frederick-lenz-8_buddhism_people-want-power-but-not-wisdom-power-w_2891306.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ba/frederick-lenz-8_buddhism_people-want-power-but-not-wisdom-power-w_2891306.jpg) > “People want power but not wisdom. Power without wisdom is a very dangerous thing. Better to have wisdom first.” [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Power without wisdom is dangerous; wisdom should precede the pursuit of power. **In simple terms:** Wisdom before power. Key Takeaway Seek wisdom first. Themes power wisdom responsibility Mood cautionary reflective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - politics - corporate management - personal development - education Key Concepts ethical leadership philosophy Questions to Reflect On - How can societies ensure wisdom guides power? - What practices develop wisdom before seeking influence? A Different Perspective Power can be misused even with some wisdom. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Buddhism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buddhism/) [Dangerous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dangerous/) [Dangerous things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dangerous-things/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Power Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power-wisdom-1370679/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [Want Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want-power/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) [Wisdom Dangerous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom-dangerous-2267526/) [Wisdom Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom-power/) ## Related quotes > [“Knowledge is power, wisdom is power with a purpose.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/solitaire-parke/knowledge-is-power-wisdom-is-power-with-a-purpose/) [Solitaire Parke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/solitaire-parke/) > [“Wisdom without power would be pathetic, a broken reed; power without wisdom would be merely frightening; but in God boundless wisdom and endless power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-i-packer-2/wisdom-without-power-would-be-pathetic-a-broken-reed-power-without/) [J.I. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer-2/) > [Power without wisdom is tyranny; wisdom without power is pointless,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iain-pears/power-without-wisdom-is-tyranny-wisdom-without-power-is-pointless/) [Iain Pears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iain-pears/) > [Kundalini Yoga is the yoga of power. Without wisdom, a powerful person does not become more powerful. Their power will turn back on them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/kundalini-yoga-is-the-yoga-of-power-without-wisdom-a-powerful-person/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Compassion without wisdom is dangerous. It's what enables people to support the 'underdog,' even if the underdog is evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/compassion-without-wisdom-is-dangerous-it-s-what-enables-people-to/) [Dennis Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/) > [“Knowledge without wisdom can be dangerous.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debasish-mridha/knowledge-without-wisdom-can-be-dangerous/) [Debasish Mridha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debasish-mridha/) > [“A leader, without wisdom, is dangerous. A wise person, without leadership, is useless. But if they work together, they are unstoppable.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charbel-tadros/a-leader-without-wisdom-is-dangerous-a-wise-person-without-leadership/) [Charbel Tadros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charbel-tadros/) > [Knowledge without wisdom is dangerous!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tassel-daley/knowledge-without-wisdom-is-dangerous/) [Tassel Daley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tassel-daley/) > [Without balance and wisdom, power becomes very destructive. It creates unhappiness and not happiness. To simply see a teacher to gain power is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/without-balance-and-wisdom-power-becomes-very-destructive-it-creates/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Without wisdom, power tends to destroy the one who wields it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/without-wisdom-power-tends-to-destroy-the-one-who-wields-it/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [People who want to go to power places all of the time and want to be around powerful people, they don't last long in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/people-who-want-to-go-to-power-places-all-of-the-time-and-want-to-be/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Some people just chase the glittery stuff and they have no substance to their life whatsoever. Actually all they really want is power. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/some-people-just-chase-the-glittery-stuff-and-they-have-no-substance/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [If we continue to accumulate only power and not wisdom, we will surely destroy ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/if-we-continue-to-accumulate-only-power-and-not-wisdom-we-will-surely/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [There is no wisdom of man that can change men or change nations; it is the power and wisdom of God that can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yemi-osinbajo/there-is-no-wisdom-of-man-that-can-change-men-or-change-nations-it-is/) [Yemi Osinbajo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yemi-osinbajo/) > [Fill yourself with the power of wisdom and enlightenment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morihei-ueshiba/fill-yourself-with-the-power-of-wisdom-and-enlightenment/) [Morihei Ueshiba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morihei-ueshiba/) ## More by Frederick Lenz > [There are places that are very draining. There are places where there is another dimensional crossover but to a dimension that is not powerful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/there-are-places-that-are-very-draining-there-are-places-where-there/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [You can draw power from everything in your life. In order to do that, everything has to be set up in a proper way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/you-can-draw-power-from-everything-in-your-life-in-order-to-do-that/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Everyone will admire you when you do well. What a horrible thing to do to someone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/everyone-will-admire-you-when-you-do-well-what-a-horrible-thing-to-do/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Nirvana is a word that means enlightenment, being beyond the illusion of birth and death, the illusion of pain, the illusion of love, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/nirvana-is-a-word-that-means-enlightenment-being-beyond-the-illusion/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [I think the most miraculous thing is learning. I get out of the way and let the students learn. Then you get to watch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/i-think-the-most-miraculous-thing-is-learning-i-get-out-of-the-way/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [If you choose to draw from the inner well of free will, then you can make choices that are outside your current karmic patterns.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/if-you-choose-to-draw-from-the-inner-well-of-free-will-then-you-can/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [A human being can only absorb a small amount of the mystical kundalini, you can be exposed again and again to it, but it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/a-human-being-can-only-absorb-a-small-amount-of-the-mystical/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Enlightened people live in very charged states of attention, with a tremendous power circuiting through them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/enlightened-people-live-in-very-charged-states-of-attention-with-a/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Only alone can you go into eternity. Only alone can you feel the transcendental light. It is not a shared experience because if it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/only-alone-can-you-go-into-eternity-only-alone-can-you-feel-the/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [The sound man, immune as to a sacrifice of straw dogs, faces the passing human generations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/the-sound-man-immune-as-to-a-sacrifice-of-straw-dogs-faces-the/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Karma means changing planes of reality or changing fields of attention. There will be perhaps a resulting physical action stemming from the change of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/karma-means-changing-planes-of-reality-or-changing-fields-of/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [You and I are both life. There's just the experience of every moment. We like to call them moments. There isn't really such a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/you-and-i-are-both-life-there-s-just-the-experience-of-every-moment/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Why waste your time being around people who drag you down? You don't live forever, at least in this life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/why-waste-your-time-being-around-people-who-drag-you-down-you-don-t/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Everybody here is so caught up in the game of life they don't see death. They don't see beyond their deaths. They are on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/everybody-here-is-so-caught-up-in-the-game-of-life-they-don-t-see/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) [Explore all 4,399 Frederick Lenz quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) ## More Buddhism quotes > [There are places that are very draining. There are places where there is another dimensional crossover but to a dimension that is not powerful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/there-are-places-that-are-very-draining-there-are-places-where-there/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Enlightenment is lightening up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-myers/enlightenment-is-lightening-up/) [Mike Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-myers/) > [The very best players, when they are practicing, put everything they've got into it. But then they leave it for a while. And it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tenzin-palmo/the-very-best-players-when-they-are-practicing-put-everything-they-ve/) [Tenzin Palmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tenzin-palmo/) > [Everyone will admire you when you do well. What a horrible thing to do to someone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/everyone-will-admire-you-when-you-do-well-what-a-horrible-thing-to-do/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Nirvana is a word that means enlightenment, being beyond the illusion of birth and death, the illusion of pain, the illusion of love, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/nirvana-is-a-word-that-means-enlightenment-being-beyond-the-illusion/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [I think the most miraculous thing is learning. I get out of the way and let the students learn. Then you get to watch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/i-think-the-most-miraculous-thing-is-learning-i-get-out-of-the-way/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [“Exactly. I think the original tantric Buddhists took notice of was some very wise old people who never studied in their youth, but took…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-niemczura/exactly-i-think-the-original-tantric-buddhists-took-notice-of-was/) [Joe Niemczura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-niemczura/) > [A human being can only absorb a small amount of the mystical kundalini, you can be exposed again and again to it, but it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/a-human-being-can-only-absorb-a-small-amount-of-the-mystical/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [One of the things I regret about not putting in that book or I think it's there but I didn't really elaborate on it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-warner/one-of-the-things-i-regret-about-not-putting-in-that-book-or-i-think/) [Brad Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-warner/) > [My mom and my aunties are really devout Christians. My mom married a Muslim when I was 12, so I got teachings from both…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tech-n9ne/my-mom-and-my-aunties-are-really-devout-christians-my-mom-married-a/) [Tech N9ne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tech-n9ne/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [“The extraction of discrete parts of Chöd teachings from their broader philosophical contexts is symptomatic of how Chöd has been incorporated into and transmitted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-sorensen/the-extraction-of-discrete-parts-of-ch-d-teachings-from-their-broader/) [Michelle Sorensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-sorensen/) > [Buddhism advises you not to implant feelings that you don’t really have or avoid feelings that you do have. 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