--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A new understanding of power is replacing…" description: "\"A new understanding of power is replacing our old understanding of power as the ability to manipulate and control. The old understanding of power has b..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee0/gary-zukav-714_ability_a-new-understanding-of-power-is-replacin_1371834.png" --- # A new understanding of power is replacing our old… ![“A new understanding of power is replacing our old understanding of power as the ability to manipulate and control. The old understanding of power has become counterproductive to our evolution. What used to be good medicine has become poisonous. Pursuit of the ability to manipulate and control now…” quote by Gary Zukav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee0/gary-zukav-714_ability_a-new-understanding-of-power-is-replacin_1371834.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee0/gary-zukav-714_ability_a-new-understanding-of-power-is-replacin_1371834.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee0/gary-zukav-714_ability_a-new-understanding-of-power-is-replacin_1371834.png) > “A new understanding of power is replacing our old understanding of power as the ability to manipulate and control. The old understanding of power has become counterproductive to our evolution. What used to be good medicine has become poisonous. Pursuit of the ability to manipulate and control now produces only violence and destruction.” [Gary Zukav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-zukav/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Power is shifting from domination to collaborative influence, fostering evolution rather than conflict. **In simple terms:** Power now means collaboration, not control. Key Takeaway Embrace cooperative influence. Themes power collaboration evolution conflict influence Mood thoughtful critical Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - team projects - community building - conflict resolution - policy making Key Concepts systems thinking ethical leadership social dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How can you foster collaborative power in your sphere? - What barriers resist this shift? A Different Perspective Old power models can still dominate entrenched structures. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Control](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/control/) [Destruction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/destruction/) [Evolution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evolution/) [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [Medicine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/medicine/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) [Pursuit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pursuit/) [Replacing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/replacing/) [Understanding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understanding/) [Violence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/violence/) ## Related quotes > [Thinking is not the ability to manipulate language; it’s the ability to manipulate concepts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-lamport/thinking-is-not-the-ability-to-manipulate-language-it-s-the-ability/) [Leslie Lamport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-lamport/) > [I find this a fascinating phenomenon: the ability we have to manipulate ourselves so that the foundation of our beliefs is never shaken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muriel-barbery/i-find-this-a-fascinating-phenomenon-the-ability-we-have-to/) [Muriel Barbery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muriel-barbery/) > [He was an outsider who lived by his ability to manipulate the inside.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-didion/he-was-an-outsider-who-lived-by-his-ability-to-manipulate-the-inside/) [Joan Didion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-didion/) > [I've always had the ability to manipulate words and communicate ideas and thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nipsey-russell/i-ve-always-had-the-ability-to-manipulate-words-and-communicate-ideas/) [Nipsey Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nipsey-russell/) > [What women have done is developed a survival mechanism, and it's a fascinating one and it's been effective and justified, in my opinion. That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/what-women-have-done-is-developed-a-survival-mechanism-and-it-s-a/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Understanding one's own power is more interesting than someone being given something powerful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-winding-refn/understanding-one-s-own-power-is-more-interesting-than-someone-being/) [Nicolas Winding Refn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-winding-refn/) > [Fatherhood is a relationship of love and understanding It is power and action. It is counsel and instruction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-theodore-tuttle/fatherhood-is-a-relationship-of-love-and-understanding-it-is-power/) [A. Theodore Tuttle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-theodore-tuttle/) > [Language is inexorably tied to power and understanding. And power and understanding are the roots of magic. Just the act of writing something down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/language-is-inexorably-tied-to-power-and-understanding-and-power-and/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [When I run, I really need to make sure I'm engaging my core and understanding where my power comes from.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-darnold/when-i-run-i-really-need-to-make-sure-i-m-engaging-my-core-and/) [Sam Darnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-darnold/) > [I like to say understanding is the power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-katie/i-like-to-say-understanding-is-the-power/) [Byron Katie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-katie/) > ['Prison Notebooks' gives me a basic understanding of how power can influence people through cultural products and intellectual groups, so they will voluntarily support…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/okky-madasari/prison-notebooks-gives-me-a-basic-understanding-of-how-power-can/) [Okky Madasari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/okky-madasari/) > [Happiness is a process of understanding our power to attain a goal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kishore-bansal/happiness-is-a-process-of-understanding-our-power-to-attain-a-goal/) [Kishore Bansal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kishore-bansal/) > [Understanding both the power of compound interest and the difficulty of getting it is the heart and soul of understanding a lot of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/understanding-both-the-power-of-compound-interest-and-the-difficulty/) [Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/) > [The only trouble with this world today lies in our lack of understanding of the power of imagination.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/the-only-trouble-with-this-world-today-lies-in-our-lack-of/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [I hope somewhere to break down what seems to be a kind of robotic communication between those in power and those who are understanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-maitlis/i-hope-somewhere-to-break-down-what-seems-to-be-a-kind-of-robotic/) [Emily Maitlis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-maitlis/) ## More by Gary Zukav > [If you are not conscious of all of the different parts of yourself, the part of yourself that is the strongest will win out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-zukav/if-you-are-not-conscious-of-all-of-the-different-parts-of-yourself/) [Gary Zukav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-zukav/) > [When fear ceases to scare you, it cannot stay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-zukav/when-fear-ceases-to-scare-you-it-cannot-stay/) [Gary Zukav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-zukav/) > [Emotions are classes in the Earth school. Some classes are about fear, and some are about love. The Universe is your tutor, and your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-zukav/emotions-are-classes-in-the-earth-school-some-classes-are-about-fear/) [Gary Zukav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-zukav/) > [Reverence is an attitude of honoring life. Reverence automatically brings forth patience. Reverence permits non-judgemental justice. Reverence is a perception of the soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-zukav/reverence-is-an-attitude-of-honoring-life-reverence-automatically/) [Gary Zukav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-zukav/) > [Being harmless means being so strong, so empowered, that the idea of showing power through harm is not even a part of your consciousness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-zukav/being-harmless-means-being-so-strong-so-empowered-that-the-idea-of/) [Gary Zukav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-zukav/) > [I see the potential for a new world being born in front of me and all around me, and I feel the only way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-zukav/i-see-the-potential-for-a-new-world-being-born-in-front-of-me-and-all/) [Gary Zukav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-zukav/) > [The challenge to each human is creation. Will you create with reverence, or with neglect?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-zukav/the-challenge-to-each-human-is-creation-will-you-create-with/) [Gary Zukav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-zukav/) > [The coming and going of the seasons give us more than the springtimes, summers, autumns, and winters of our lives. It reflects the coming…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-zukav/the-coming-and-going-of-the-seasons-give-us-more-than-the-springtimes/) [Gary Zukav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-zukav/) > [Spiritual partnership is the partnership between equals for the purpose of spiritual growth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-zukav/spiritual-partnership-is-the-partnership-between-equals-for-the/) [Gary Zukav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-zukav/) > [The requirements for our evolution have changed. Survival is no longer sufficient. Our evolution now requires us to develop spiritually-to become emotionally aware and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-zukav/the-requirements-for-our-evolution-have-changed-survival-is-no-longer/) [Gary Zukav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-zukav/) > [Please... tell me who you are and what you want. And if you think those are simple questions, keep in mind that most people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-zukav/please-tell-me-who-you-are-and-what-you-want-and-if-you-think-those/) [Gary Zukav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-zukav/) > [The number of teachers and guides that a soul has depends upon what it seeks to accomplish and its level of awareness. Souls that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-zukav/the-number-of-teachers-and-guides-that-a-soul-has-depends-upon-what/) [Gary Zukav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-zukav/) > [“Pot do duše je skozi srce.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-zukav/pot-do-du-e-je-skozi-srce/) [Gary Zukav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-zukav/) > [Its not possible to do the wrong thing. You do what you do and you experience the consequences of what you do. If you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-zukav/its-not-possible-to-do-the-wrong-thing-you-do-what-you-do-and-you/) [Gary Zukav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-zukav/) > [Perfectionism is a perpetual flight into an illusory future that cannot be attained.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-zukav/perfectionism-is-a-perpetual-flight-into-an-illusory-future-that/) [Gary Zukav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-zukav/) [Explore all 365 Gary Zukav quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-zukav/) ## More Ability quotes > [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) > [“the importance of ability. The things that make a great job great, I discovered, are rare and valuable. If you want them in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/the-importance-of-ability-the-things-that-make-a-great-job-great-i/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [The youth of India has the strength to move the entire World with a click of a mouse, we have generated that ability!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-youth-of-india-has-the-strength-to-move-the-entire-world-with-a/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/an-absolutely-necessary-part-of-a-writer-s-equipment-almost-as/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [You can only do the work to the very best of your ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-baranski/you-can-only-do-the-work-to-the-very-best-of-your-ability/) [Christine Baranski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-baranski/) > [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [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/) > [Bobby had faith in my ability as a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-london/bobby-had-faith-in-my-ability-as-a-singer/) [Julie London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-london/) [Browse all 9,990 Ability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A new understanding of power is replacing our old understanding of power as the ability to manipulate and control. 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