--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have more influence now than when I had…" description: "\"I have more influence now than when I had the power.\" — Gough Whitlam" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/003/gough-whitlam-22463_influence_i-have-more-influence-now-than-when-i-ha_2908364.jpg" --- # I have more influence now than when I had the power. ![“I have more influence now than when I had the power.” quote by Gough Whitlam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/003/gough-whitlam-22463_influence_i-have-more-influence-now-than-when-i-ha_2908364.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/003/gough-whitlam-22463_influence_i-have-more-influence-now-than-when-i-ha_2908364.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/003/gough-whitlam-22463_influence_i-have-more-influence-now-than-when-i-ha_2908364.jpg) > “I have more influence now than when I had the power.” [Gough Whitlam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gough-whitlam/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Influence can outlive formal authority, as ideas and relationships persist beyond power. **In simple terms:** Influence survives after power ends. Key Takeaway Cultivate lasting impact. Themes leadership legacy influence Mood thoughtful hopeful Type political philosophical When to use this quote - public speaking - mentorship - community building - policy advocacy Key Concepts politics social capital Questions to Reflect On - What influence do you leave behind? - How can you sustain impact without authority? A Different Perspective Power can still dominate outcomes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Influence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/influence/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) ## Related quotes > [“Through our intentions, a place no power can influence, we have the power to oppose.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/through-our-intentions-a-place-no-power-can-influence-we-have-the/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [The Solyndra scandal occurred because of people with money who have influence and power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-bongino/the-solyndra-scandal-occurred-because-of-people-with-money-who-have/) [Dan Bongino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-bongino/) > [“The have influence, but no power." "In my experience, influence is power.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/the-have-influence-but-no-power-in-my-experience-influence-is-power/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [No man has any influence or power for good when angry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-golden-kimball/no-man-has-any-influence-or-power-for-good-when-angry/) [J. Golden Kimball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-golden-kimball/) > [If you have no power, talk about your influence. If you have power, talk about the constraints that hem you in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/if-you-have-no-power-talk-about-your-influence-if-you-have-power-talk/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [There is eternal influence and power in motherhood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-b-beck/there-is-eternal-influence-and-power-in-motherhood/) [Julie B. Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-b-beck/) > [Focusing on others will give you more influence and power than focusing on yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-eikenberry/focusing-on-others-will-give-you-more-influence-and-power-than/) [Kevin Eikenberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-eikenberry/) > [It takes tremendous discipline to control the influence, the power you have over other people's lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clint-eastwood/it-takes-tremendous-discipline-to-control-the-influence-the-power-you/) [Clint Eastwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clint-eastwood/) > [We are inadvertently in love with the Influence of Power and we need to be in love with the Power of Influence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-grinder/we-are-inadvertently-in-love-with-the-influence-of-power-and-we-need/) Michael Grinder > [Influence comes out of the work that you've done and the things you've stood for. Influence and power shouldn't be given to just anybody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/millicent-fenwick/influence-comes-out-of-the-work-that-you-ve-done-and-the-things-you/) [Millicent Fenwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/millicent-fenwick/) > [Bureaucracy is ever desirous of spreading its influence and its power. You cannot extend the mastery of the government over the daily working life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-hoover/bureaucracy-is-ever-desirous-of-spreading-its-influence-and-its-power/) [Herbert Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-hoover/) > [Trump's words do have power. Power to inspire and influence. Also power to intimidate and incite fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-stelter/trump-s-words-do-have-power-power-to-inspire-and-influence-also-power/) [Brian Stelter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-stelter/) > [I think there's a point at which money, influence, and power become so blinding that people believe they control the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iris-sawyer/i-think-there-s-a-point-at-which-money-influence-and-power-become-so/) Iris Sawyer > [When the primary people who have influence and power in our communities are not even really allowed to educate you on who to vote…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-king/when-the-primary-people-who-have-influence-and-power-in-our/) [Shaun King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-king/) > [Men have the influence and power in business and politics. It is the mother who can make the child's bedtime earlier, take away desserts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-farrell/men-have-the-influence-and-power-in-business-and-politics-it-is-the/) [Warren Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-farrell/) ## More by Gough Whitlam > [Poverty is a national waste as well as individual waste. We are all diminished when any of us are denied proper education. The nation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gough-whitlam/poverty-is-a-national-waste-as-well-as-individual-waste-we-are-all/) [Gough Whitlam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gough-whitlam/) > [A conservative government survives essentially by dampening expectations and subduing hopes. Conservatism is basically pessimistic, reformism is basically optimistic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gough-whitlam/a-conservative-government-survives-essentially-by-dampening/) [Gough Whitlam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gough-whitlam/) > [An education system where student selection is based on credit capacity and not merit capacity and where graduating students are no longer indebted to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gough-whitlam/an-education-system-where-student-selection-is-based-on-credit/) [Gough Whitlam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gough-whitlam/) > [Ladies and gentlemen, well may we say 'God Save the Queen', because nothing will save the Governor-General. The proclamation you have just heard was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gough-whitlam/ladies-and-gentlemen-well-may-we-say-god-save-the-queen-because/) [Gough Whitlam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gough-whitlam/) > [It is the first time the burglar has been appointed as caretaker.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gough-whitlam/it-is-the-first-time-the-burglar-has-been-appointed-as-caretaker/) [Gough Whitlam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gough-whitlam/) > [I've never said I'm immortal. I do believe in correct language. I'm eternal; I'm not immortal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gough-whitlam/i-ve-never-said-i-m-immortal-i-do-believe-in-correct-language-i-m/) [Gough Whitlam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gough-whitlam/) > [I was profoundly embarrassed by it (the White Australia Policy) and did all I could to change it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gough-whitlam/i-was-profoundly-embarrassed-by-it-the-white-australia-policy-and-did/) [Gough Whitlam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gough-whitlam/) > [Well may we say 'God save the Queen', because nothing will save the Governor-General'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gough-whitlam/well-may-we-say-god-save-the-queen-because-nothing-will-save-the/) [Gough Whitlam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gough-whitlam/) > [Vincent Lingiari, I solemnly hand to you these deeds as proof, in Australian law, that these lands belong to the Gurindji people and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gough-whitlam/vincent-lingiari-i-solemnly-hand-to-you-these-deeds-as-proof-in/) [Gough Whitlam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gough-whitlam/) > […he reveals that he has been a poor politician, a bad judge and a malevolent individual.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gough-whitlam/he-reveals-that-he-has-been-a-poor-politician-a-bad-judge-and-a/) [Gough Whitlam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gough-whitlam/) > [I'm the only P.M. of which that can be said - 'His legislation was never declared invalid in the High Court.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gough-whitlam/i-m-the-only-p-m-of-which-that-can-be-said-his-legislation-was-never/) [Gough Whitlam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gough-whitlam/) > [Dying will happen sometime. As you know, I plan for the ages, not just for this life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gough-whitlam/dying-will-happen-sometime-as-you-know-i-plan-for-the-ages-not-just/) [Gough Whitlam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gough-whitlam/) > [Maintain your rage and enthusiasm for the campaign for the election now to be held and until polling day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gough-whitlam/maintain-your-rage-and-enthusiasm-for-the-campaign-for-the-election/) [Gough Whitlam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gough-whitlam/) > [Men and women of western Sydney, it's appropriate, you apparently believe, that Australia's oldest surviving Prime Minister should make the concluding remarks in Australia's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gough-whitlam/men-and-women-of-western-sydney-it-s-appropriate-you-apparently/) [Gough Whitlam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gough-whitlam/) > [She was a remarkable person and the love of my life. We were married for almost 70 years. She encouraged and sustained me and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gough-whitlam/she-was-a-remarkable-person-and-the-love-of-my-life-we-were-married/) [Gough Whitlam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gough-whitlam/) [Explore all 27 Gough Whitlam quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gough-whitlam/) ## More Influence quotes > [My coach, Robert Allen, helped me a lot. He had more influence on my growth as a player than anyone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lamarcus-aldridge/my-coach-robert-allen-helped-me-a-lot-he-had-more-influence-on-my/) [LaMarcus Aldridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lamarcus-aldridge/) > [Life is not about how much you have but how much you have affect others life positively.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-not-about-how-much-you-have-but-how-much-you-have-affect/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [DECIDE, v.i. To succumb to the preponderance of one set of influences over another set.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/decide-v-i-to-succumb-to-the-preponderance-of-one-set-of-influences/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [ Teaching might even be the greatest of the arts since the medium is the human mind and spirit. My three \[great teachers\] did not… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/teaching-might-even-be-the-greatest-of-the-arts-since-the-medium-is/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [I really like a lot of American country stuff, so my music has that influence, but I don't like to be set within a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jade-bird/i-really-like-a-lot-of-american-country-stuff-so-my-music-has-that/) [Jade Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jade-bird/) > [Words can only have an effect on you if you choose to listen to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernajoy-vaal/words-can-only-have-an-effect-on-you-if-you-choose-to-listen-to-them/) [Bernajoy Vaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernajoy-vaal/) > [Treason implies responsibility for something, control over something, influence upon something, knowledge of something. Treason in our time is a proof of genius. Why,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/treason-implies-responsibility-for-something-control-over-something/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) > [... a fellow can't predict what he will pick up in the form of influence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-bellow/a-fellow-can-t-predict-what-he-will-pick-up-in-the-form-of-influence/) [Saul Bellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-bellow/) > [We believe a scientist because he can substantiate his remarks, not because he is eloquent and forcible in his enunciation. In fact, we distrust…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i-a-richards/we-believe-a-scientist-because-he-can-substantiate-his-remarks-not/) [I. A. Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/i-a-richards/) > [It seemed to me that the human beings I met reacted pretty much the same to the same stimuli. Different idioms,yes. Circumstances and conditions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zora-neale-hurston/it-seemed-to-me-that-the-human-beings-i-met-reacted-pretty-much-the/) [Zora Neale Hurston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zora-neale-hurston/) > [Every man is a missionary, now and forever, for good or for evil, whether he intends or designs it or not. He may be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-chalmers/every-man-is-a-missionary-now-and-forever-for-good-or-for-evil/) [Thomas Chalmers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-chalmers/) > [My influences are jazz, blues, European classical music; they are rock music and pop music. So many kinds of music. World music from different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rokia-traore/my-influences-are-jazz-blues-european-classical-music-they-are-rock/) [Rokia Traore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rokia-traore/) > [Influences come from everywhere. I don't really feel like I had too many influences for the first record because I grew up listening to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avril-lavigne/influences-come-from-everywhere-i-don-t-really-feel-like-i-had-too/) [Avril Lavigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avril-lavigne/) > [It was both necessary and desirable for us to be so strong at sea that no Sea Power could attack us without risk, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernhard-von-bulow/it-was-both-necessary-and-desirable-for-us-to-be-so-strong-at-sea/) [Bernhard von Bulow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernhard-von-bulow/) > [Obligation is what's leading us to toward successful, and what keeps us moving towards the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wazim-shaw/obligation-is-what-s-leading-us-to-toward-successful-and-what-keeps/) [Wazim Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wazim-shaw/) [Browse all 7,121 Influence quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/influence/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I have more influence now than when I had the power.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Gough Whitlam" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gough-whitlam/i-have-more-influence-now-than-when-i-had-the-power/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Influence" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gough-whitlam/i-have-more-influence-now-than-when-i-had-the-power/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/003/gough-whitlam-22463_influence_i-have-more-influence-now-than-when-i-ha_2908364.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/003/gough-whitlam-22463_influence_i-have-more-influence-now-than-when-i-ha_2908364.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/003/gough-whitlam-22463_influence_i-have-more-influence-now-than-when-i-ha_2908364.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I have more influence now than when I had the power.” — Gough Whitlam", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Gough Whitlam", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gough-whitlam/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I have more influence now than...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gough-whitlam/i-have-more-influence-now-than-when-i-had-the-power/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gough-whitlam/i-have-more-influence-now-than-when-i-had-the-power/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```