--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The struggle for power is universal in…" description: "\"“The struggle for power is universal in time and space and is an undeniable fact of experience. It cannot be denied that throughout historic time, rega..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/821/hans-j-morgenthau-49031_desire-for-power_the-struggle-for-power-is-universal-in-t_1630397.jpg" --- # The struggle for power is universal in time and space and… ![“The struggle for power is universal in time and space and is an undeniable fact of experience. It cannot be denied that throughout historic time, regardless of social, economic and political conditions, states have met each other in contests for power. Even though anthropologists have shown that…” quote by Hans J. Morgenthau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/821/hans-j-morgenthau-49031_desire-for-power_the-struggle-for-power-is-universal-in-t_1630397.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/821/hans-j-morgenthau-49031_desire-for-power_the-struggle-for-power-is-universal-in-t_1630397.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/821/hans-j-morgenthau-49031_desire-for-power_the-struggle-for-power-is-universal-in-t_1630397.jpg) > ““The struggle for power is universal in time and space and is an undeniable fact of experience. It cannot be denied that throughout historic time, regardless of social, economic and political conditions, states have met each other in contests for power. Even though anthropologists have shown that certain primitive peoples seem to be free from the desire for power, nobody has yet shown how their state of mind can be re-created on a worldwide scale so as to eliminate the struggle for power from the international scene. … International politics, like all politics, is a struggle for power. Whatever the ultimate aims of international politics, power is always the immediate aim.”” [Hans J. Morgenthau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-j-morgenthau/) ## 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 the fundamental driver of all international relations, regardless of era or system. **In simple terms:** Power drives all politics. Key Takeaway Recognize power motives in global affairs. Themes politics power international relations history human nature Mood analytical serious Type theoretical academic When to use this quote - diplomacy - policy analysis - conflict resolution - academic study Key Concepts realism state behavior conflict theory Questions to Reflect On - How does power shape your own decisions? - Can power be balanced ethically? A Different Perspective Power focus may overlook ethical considerations and cooperation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Desire for power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire-for-power/) [International Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/international-politics-415916/) [Political Conditions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political-conditions-477208/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Politics Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics-power-264239/) [Power Anthropologists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power-anthropologists-477207/) [State of mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/state-of-mind/) [Struggle Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/struggle-power-277383/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Time and space](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time-and-space/) ## Related quotes > [International politics, like all politics, is a struggle for power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/international-politics-like-all-politics-is-a-struggle-for-power/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [What we have to do is create the political conditions that are such that the Westminster political parties cannot deny Scotland's voice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/humza-yousaf/what-we-have-to-do-is-create-the-political-conditions-that-are-such/) [Humza Yousaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/humza-yousaf/) > [Nationalism is a tool increasingly used by leaders to bolster their authority, especially amid difficult economic and political conditions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-n-haass/nationalism-is-a-tool-increasingly-used-by-leaders-to-bolster-their/) [Richard N. Haass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-n-haass/) > [“He accepted the social and political conditions as they were, made no endeavor to reform them, and confined himself exclusively to setting the value…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-bavinck/he-accepted-the-social-and-political-conditions-as-they-were-made-no/) [Herman Bavinck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-bavinck/) > [It's an issue that Democrats and Republicans seem to come together on, the over-influence of money in politics and in power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-gillum/it-s-an-issue-that-democrats-and-republicans-seem-to-come-together-on/) [Andrew Gillum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-gillum/) > [“Religions don't divide humanity but it's fanatics, politics and power hungry politicians that do.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-abraham/religions-don-t-divide-humanity-but-it-s-fanatics-politics-and-power/) [Amit Abraham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-abraham/) > [“That's politics, power: it's all verbal, a continuous blizzard of words. 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Nothing in which the power of circumstance is more evident.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/there-is-no-gambling-like-politics-nothing-in-which-the-power-of/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [I was a political journalist; I came to writing novels through an interest in politics and power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-harris/i-was-a-political-journalist-i-came-to-writing-novels-through-an/) [Robert Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-harris/) > [As long as I'm in government, as long as I'm in politics, I will do everything in my power to fight back against those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sajid-javid/as-long-as-i-m-in-government-as-long-as-i-m-in-politics-i-will-do/) [Sajid Javid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sajid-javid/) > [Politics is about power. It is about the power of the state. 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Morgenthau quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-j-morgenthau/) ## More Desire for power quotes > [“Interpreters, when challenged on their manipulations, tell us the Constitution was written for a different and simpler time. Actually, the genius of the Constitution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-david-ledbetter/interpreters-when-challenged-on-their-manipulations-tell-us-the/) [Mark David Ledbetter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-david-ledbetter/) > [“The enchantment of being here at all, alive and aware, is a gift too often considered a problem. 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