--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Power can be very addictive, and it can…" description: "\"Power can be very addictive, and it can be corrosive. And it's important for the media to call to account people who abuse their power, whether it be h..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a1/george-h-w-bush-1459_abuse_power-can-be-very-addictive-and-it-can-b_1198232.png" --- # Power can be very addictive, and it can be corrosive. And… ![“Power can be very addictive, and it can be corrosive. And it's important for the media to call to account people who abuse their power, whether it be here or elsewhere.” quote by George H. W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a1/george-h-w-bush-1459_abuse_power-can-be-very-addictive-and-it-can-b_1198232.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a1/george-h-w-bush-1459_abuse_power-can-be-very-addictive-and-it-can-b_1198232.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a1/george-h-w-bush-1459_abuse_power-can-be-very-addictive-and-it-can-b_1198232.png) > “Power can be very addictive, and it can be corrosive. And it's important for the media to call to account people who abuse their power, whether it be here or elsewhere.” [George H. W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-h-w-bush/) ## 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; media must hold abusers accountable everywhere **In simple terms:** Power corrupts; media must call out abuse Key Takeaway Demand accountability for power misuse Themes politics ethics media Mood concerned determined Type advocacy informative When to use this quote - government oversight - journalism - civil society activism Key Concepts corruption accountability Questions to Reflect On - How can media stay impartial? - What mechanisms ensure accountability? A Different Perspective Media may be biased or constrained ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Abuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abuse/) [Media](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/media/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) ## Related quotes > [Some people abuse their power and the effects of that can be crippling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raye/some-people-abuse-their-power-and-the-effects-of-that-can-be-crippling/) [Raye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raye/) > [Most people abuse power. They use power to dominate others. They use power to destroy others. Ultimately when you do this, you lose it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/most-people-abuse-power-they-use-power-to-dominate-others-they-use/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Anyone who said power was not addictive had never really experienced it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-brown/anyone-who-said-power-was-not-addictive-had-never-really-experienced/) [Dan Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-brown/) > [Every person in the AA program who's successful is living proof that he or she does have power over addictive drugs and alcohol- the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-prentiss/every-person-in-the-aa-program-who-s-successful-is-living-proof-that/) [Chris Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-prentiss/) > [There are no important media outlets in the US that are not owned or controlled by Jews.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israel-shamir/there-are-no-important-media-outlets-in-the-us-that-are-not-owned-or/) [Israel Shamir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israel-shamir/) > [“It wasn't that she was shallow, exactly, but everyone knows, looks are important for media work...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/faith-hogan/it-wasn-t-that-she-was-shallow-exactly-but-everyone-knows-looks-are/) Faith Hogan > [Relationships with the media are really important. The media has a more important voice today than it has ever had. We don't advertise. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-benioff/relationships-with-the-media-are-really-important-the-media-has-a/) [Marc Benioff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-benioff/) > [ \[Donald \] Trump is more important than all of us. He's more important than the media. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-kristol/donald-trump-is-more-important-than-all-of-us-he-s-more-important/) [William Kristol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-kristol/) > [I feel that if entertainment is that important, the media, then it's my duty, not only to mankind but to God, to fulfill the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liberace/i-feel-that-if-entertainment-is-that-important-the-media-then-it-s-my/) [Liberace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liberace/) > [“Representation is important. Media”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-maggs/representation-is-important-media/) [Sam Maggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-maggs/) > ['Why do people abuse animals? Is there somthing f'd up in there head?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-bernard/why-do-people-abuse-animals-is-there-somthing-f-d-up-in-there-head/) Andrew Bernard > [People abuse their own friends and family, but it is only after performing many meritorious acts that one gets a human birth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sathya-sai-baba/people-abuse-their-own-friends-and-family-but-it-is-only-after/) [Sathya Sai Baba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sathya-sai-baba/) > [I don't need to be on any micro-blogging site, because people don't think about what they say there. At times, people abuse, and it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allu-arjun/i-don-t-need-to-be-on-any-micro-blogging-site-because-people-don-t/) [Allu Arjun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allu-arjun/) > [I think people Abuse The Word Love, That Love Starts To Mistreat Them,Thats why Some People Say They are Scared to Love again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/itsretrophresh/i-think-people-abuse-the-word-love-that-love-starts-to-mistreat-them/) itsRetrophresh > [People abuse for no reason, because they can do it anonymously. There's a lot of negativity, criticism and hatred as an artist grows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhuvan-bam/people-abuse-for-no-reason-because-they-can-do-it-anonymously-there-s/) [Bhuvan Bam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhuvan-bam/) ## More by George H. W. Bush > [America's freedom is the example to which the world expires.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-h-w-bush/america-s-freedom-is-the-example-to-which-the-world-expires/) [George H. W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-h-w-bush/) > [I am not one who - who flamboyantly believes in throwing a lot of words around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-h-w-bush/i-am-not-one-who-who-flamboyantly-believes-in-throwing-a-lot-of-words/) [George H. W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-h-w-bush/) > [Be bold in your caring, and be bold in your dreaming.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-h-w-bush/be-bold-in-your-caring-and-be-bold-in-your-dreaming/) [George H. W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-h-w-bush/) > [We can find meaning and reward by serving some higher purpose than ourselves, a shining purpose, the illumination of a Thousand Points of Light...We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-h-w-bush/we-can-find-meaning-and-reward-by-serving-some-higher-purpose-than/) [George H. W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-h-w-bush/) > [International exchanges are not a great tide to sweep away all differences, but they will slowly wear away at the obstacles to peace as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-h-w-bush/international-exchanges-are-not-a-great-tide-to-sweep-away-all/) [George H. W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-h-w-bush/) > [Well, I think everybody is frustrated by the finances of the U.N. and the inability to solve problems of war and peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-h-w-bush/well-i-think-everybody-is-frustrated-by-the-finances-of-the-u-n-and/) [George H. W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-h-w-bush/) > [No, I'm not anguished and tormented.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-h-w-bush/no-i-m-not-anguished-and-tormented/) [George H. W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-h-w-bush/) > [You know I vowed when I became President not to talk about the loneliest toughest job in the world and I didn't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-h-w-bush/you-know-i-vowed-when-i-became-president-not-to-talk-about-the/) [George H. W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-h-w-bush/) > [I think it's very hard to fight the war on terrorism if we're in retreat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-h-w-bush/i-think-it-s-very-hard-to-fight-the-war-on-terrorism-if-we-re-in/) [George H. W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-h-w-bush/) > [I firmly believed we should not march into Baghdad ...To occupy Iraq would instantly shatter our coalition, turning the whole Arab world against us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-h-w-bush/i-firmly-believed-we-should-not-march-into-baghdad-to-occupy-iraq/) [George H. W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-h-w-bush/) > [Ozone Man, Ozone. He's crazy, way out, far out, man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-h-w-bush/ozone-man-ozone-he-s-crazy-way-out-far-out-man/) [George H. W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-h-w-bush/) > [What's wrong with being a boring kind of guy?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-h-w-bush/what-s-wrong-with-being-a-boring-kind-of-guy/) [George H. W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-h-w-bush/) > [The liberation of Kuwait has begun. In conjunction with the forces of our coalition partners, the United States has moved under the code name…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-h-w-bush/the-liberation-of-kuwait-has-begun-in-conjunction-with-the-forces-of/) [George H. W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-h-w-bush/) > [The United States will continue its efforts to improve our understanding of climate change - to seek hard data, accurate models, and new ways…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-h-w-bush/the-united-states-will-continue-its-efforts-to-improve-our/) [George H. W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-h-w-bush/) > [If you believe that there's a being superior to yourself and that will guide you, strengthen you that helps a lot but, you know,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-h-w-bush/if-you-believe-that-there-s-a-being-superior-to-yourself-and-that/) [George H. W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-h-w-bush/) [Explore all 239 George H. W. Bush quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-h-w-bush/) ## More Abuse quotes > [I wrote when I was a young teen, but I didn't put an eye on the available markets until I was seventeen. The next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reed/i-wrote-when-i-was-a-young-teen-but-i-didn-t-put-an-eye-on-the/) [Robert Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reed/) > [Amongst the financial Twitterati, the term 'muppets' has come to describe any client used and abused by some financial predator. I've adopted the term…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-ritholtz/amongst-the-financial-twitterati-the-term-muppets-has-come-to/) [Barry Ritholtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-ritholtz/) > [Being nice is okay,but don't allow anybody to abuse it...try to fight for your self when you know your on the right way...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-nice-is-okay-but-don-t-allow-anybody-to-abuse-it-try-to-fight/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Build a bridge over shame by teaching kids about sexual abuse. Give them a chance to run to us should they encounter it. Be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-byers-ruch/build-a-bridge-over-shame-by-teaching-kids-about-sexual-abuse-give/) [Carolyn Byers Ruch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-byers-ruch/) > [It is sure that those are most desirous of honour or glory who cry out loudest of its abuse and the vanity of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baruch-spinoza/it-is-sure-that-those-are-most-desirous-of-honour-or-glory-who-cry/) [Baruch Spinoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baruch-spinoza/) > [“The sole reason I stand to open it up now is that lots of people who are in pain just like I was, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-dsouza/the-sole-reason-i-stand-to-open-it-up-now-is-that-lots-of-people-who/) [Patricia Dsouza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-dsouza/) > [Democracy must be built through open societies that share information. When there is information, there is enlightenment. When there is debate, there are solutions.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atifete-jahjaga/democracy-must-be-built-through-open-societies-that-share-information/) [Atifete Jahjaga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atifete-jahjaga/) > [I have a theory that all abuse, no matter what kind of abuse it is, is foremost an assault on the mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-westover/i-have-a-theory-that-all-abuse-no-matter-what-kind-of-abuse-it-is-is/) [Tara Westover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tara-westover/) > [“Blaming therapy, social work and other caring professions for the confabulation of testimony of 'satanic ritual abuse' legitimated a programme of political and social…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-salter/blaming-therapy-social-work-and-other-caring-professions-for-the/) [Michael Salter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-salter/) > [Finally, the scariest thing about abuse of any shape or form, is, in my opinion, not the abuse itself, but that if it continues…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-cumming/finally-the-scariest-thing-about-abuse-of-any-shape-or-form-is-in-my/) [Alan Cumming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cumming/) > [“Research on organised abuse emphasises the diversity of organised abuse cases, and the ways in which serious forms of child maltreatment cluster in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-salter/research-on-organised-abuse-emphasises-the-diversity-of-organised/) [Michael Salter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-salter/) > [“Stand up for yourself. Never give any one permission to abuse you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/stand-up-for-yourself-never-give-any-one-permission-to-abuse-you/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [All governments should be pressured to correct their abuses of human rights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-stallman/all-governments-should-be-pressured-to-correct-their-abuses-of-human/) [Richard Stallman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-stallman/) > [“Words are free. It does not mean you should abuse them. Be kind with them. They will mirror your actions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hadinet-tekie/words-are-free-it-does-not-mean-you-should-abuse-them-be-kind-with/) [Hadinet Tekie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hadinet-tekie/) > [My illness is one often characterized by dramatic overspending - in my case through frenzied shopping sprees, credit card abuse, excessive hoarding of unnecessary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-behrman/my-illness-is-one-often-characterized-by-dramatic-overspending-in-my/) [Andy Behrman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-behrman/) [Browse all 3,113 Abuse quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abuse/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Power can be very addictive, and it can be corrosive. And it's important for the media to call to account people who abuse their power, whether it be here or elsewhere.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "George H. W. 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