--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Of all human powers operating on the…" description: "\"Of all human powers operating on the affairs of mankind, none is greater than that of competition.\" — Henry Clay" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75a/henry-clay-13771_competition_of-all-human-powers-operating-on-the-aff_1686195.png" --- # Of all human powers operating on the affairs of mankind… ![“Of all human powers operating on the affairs of mankind, none is greater than that of competition.” quote by Henry Clay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75a/henry-clay-13771_competition_of-all-human-powers-operating-on-the-aff_1686195.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75a/henry-clay-13771_competition_of-all-human-powers-operating-on-the-aff_1686195.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75a/henry-clay-13771_competition_of-all-human-powers-operating-on-the-aff_1686195.png) > “Of all human powers operating on the affairs of mankind, none is greater than that of competition.” [Henry Clay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-clay/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Competition drives progress by pushing individuals and societies to improve and innovate. **In simple terms:** Competition fuels improvement. Key Takeaway Embrace competition to grow. Themes competition progress innovation Mood energetic determined Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - business strategy - education - sports - politics - marketplaces Key Concepts Economics human behavior Questions to Reflect On - How does competition shape your personal goals? - When might cooperation be better? A Different Perspective Competition can create inequality and excessive rivalry. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Affairs Mankind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affairs-mankind-1007771/) [Competition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/competition/) [Greater Competition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greater-competition-1007770/) [Man Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-power/) [Mankind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mankind/) [Mankind Greater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mankind-greater-1007769/) [Nature of man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-of-man/) ## Related quotes > [By competition the total amount of supply is increased, and by increase of the supply a competition in the sale ensues, and this enables…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-clay/by-competition-the-total-amount-of-supply-is-increased-and-by/) [Henry Clay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-clay/) > [We serve a good God who oversees the affairs of mankind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/we-serve-a-good-god-who-oversees-the-affairs-of-mankind/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [“Everything is not a competition. In fact, nothing is, unless we make it so. Let's stand with, not against each other. We're all bringing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-stabile/everything-is-not-a-competition-in-fact-nothing-is-unless-we-make-it/) [Scott Stabile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-stabile/) > [The reforms we seek would bring greater competition, choice, savings and inefficiencies to our health care system.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-reforms-we-seek-would-bring-greater-competition-choice-savings/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [The only freedom which deserves the name is that of pursuing our own good in our own way, so long as we do not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stuart-mill/the-only-freedom-which-deserves-the-name-is-that-of-pursuing-our-own-3/) [John Stuart Mill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stuart-mill/) > [no one more sincerely wishes the spread of information among mankind than I do, and none has greater confidence in it's effect towards supporting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/no-one-more-sincerely-wishes-the-spread-of-information-among-mankind/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“Only when we prove that international law and the human rights of all mankind are greater than any villain can we vanquish evil.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-shattuck/only-when-we-prove-that-international-law-and-the-human-rights-of-all/) [Jessica Shattuck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-shattuck/) > [“The only gain of civilisation for mankind is the greater capacity for variety of sensations - and absolutely nothing more.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoyevsky/the-only-gain-of-civilisation-for-mankind-is-the-greater-capacity-for/) [Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoyevsky/) > [After there is great trouble among mankind, a greater one is prepared. The great mover of the universe will renew time, rain, blood, thirst,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nostradamus/after-there-is-great-trouble-among-mankind-a-greater-one-is-prepared/) [Nostradamus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nostradamus/) > [Mankind are greater gainers by suffering each other to live as seems good to themselves, than by compelling each to live as seems good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stuart-mill/mankind-are-greater-gainers-by-suffering-each-other-to-live-as-seems/) [John Stuart Mill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stuart-mill/) > [In the last fifty years science has advanced more than in the 2,000 previous years and given mankind greater powers over the forces of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-boyd-orr/in-the-last-fifty-years-science-has-advanced-more-than-in-the-2-000/) [John Boyd Orr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-boyd-orr/) > [“The air, the water, and the ground are free gifts to man, and no one has the power to portion them out in parcels.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-fenimore-cooper/the-air-the-water-and-the-ground-are-free-gifts-to-man-and-no-one-has/) [James Fenimore Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-fenimore-cooper/) > [But innovation is more than a new method. It is a new view of the universe, as one of risk rather than of chance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/but-innovation-is-more-than-a-new-method-it-is-a-new-view-of-the/) [Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/) > [Love is an active power in man; a power which breaks through the walls which separate man from his fellow men, which unite him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/love-is-an-active-power-in-man-a-power-which-breaks-through-the-walls/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [“This path will lead right down into the deepest situation of human powerlessness. The follower becomes a laughingstock, scorned and taken for a fool,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-metaxes/this-path-will-lead-right-down-into-the-deepest-situation-of-human/) [Eric Metaxes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-metaxes/) ## More by Henry Clay > [“I hope that it will yet be said, America is America's best customer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-clay/i-hope-that-it-will-yet-be-said-america-is-america-s-best-customer/) [Henry Clay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-clay/) > [The arts of power and its minions are the same in all countries and in all ages. It marks its victim; denounces it; and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-clay/the-arts-of-power-and-its-minions-are-the-same-in-all-countries-and/) [Henry Clay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-clay/) > [Political parties serve to keep each other in check, one keenly watching the other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-clay/political-parties-serve-to-keep-each-other-in-check-one-keenly/) [Henry Clay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-clay/) > [An oppressed people are authorized whenever they can to rise and break their fetters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-clay/an-oppressed-people-are-authorized-whenever-they-can-to-rise-and/) [Henry Clay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-clay/) > [In a scheme of policy which is devised for a nation, we should not limit our views to its operation during a single year,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-clay/in-a-scheme-of-policy-which-is-devised-for-a-nation-we-should-not/) [Henry Clay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-clay/) > [A nation's character is the sum of its splendid deeds; they constitute one common patrimony, the nation's inheritance. They awe foreign powers, they arouse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-clay/a-nation-s-character-is-the-sum-of-its-splendid-deeds-they-constitute/) [Henry Clay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-clay/) > [Precedents deliberately established by wise men are entitled to great weight. They are evidence of truth, but only evidence...But a solitary precedent...which has never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-clay/precedents-deliberately-established-by-wise-men-are-entitled-to-great/) [Henry Clay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-clay/) > [I have no commiseration for princes. My sympathies are reserved for the great mass of mankind ….](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-clay/i-have-no-commiseration-for-princes-my-sympathies-are-reserved-for/) [Henry Clay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-clay/) > [I had rather be right than be President.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-clay/i-had-rather-be-right-than-be-president/) [Henry Clay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-clay/) > [The Constitution of the United States was made not merely for the generation that then existed, but for posterity- unlimited, undefined, endless, perpetual posterity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-clay/the-constitution-of-the-united-states-was-made-not-merely-for-the/) [Henry Clay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-clay/) > [Honor and good faith and justice are equally due from this country toward the weak as toward the strong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-clay/honor-and-good-faith-and-justice-are-equally-due-from-this-country/) [Henry Clay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-clay/) > [The measure of the wealth of a nation is indicated by the measure of its protection of its industry; the measure of the poverty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-clay/the-measure-of-the-wealth-of-a-nation-is-indicated-by-the-measure-of/) [Henry Clay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-clay/) > [We have had good and bad Presidents, and it is a consoling reflection that the American Nation possesses such elements of prosperity that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-clay/we-have-had-good-and-bad-presidents-and-it-is-a-consoling-reflection/) [Henry Clay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-clay/) > [There is no power like oratory. Caesar controlled men by exciting their fears, Cicero by . . . swaying their passions. The influence of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-clay/there-is-no-power-like-oratory-caesar-controlled-men-by-exciting/) [Henry Clay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-clay/) > [I am not, sir, in favor of cherishing the passion of conquest. I am permitted ... to indulge the hope of seeing, ere long,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-clay/i-am-not-sir-in-favor-of-cherishing-the-passion-of-conquest-i-am/) [Henry Clay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-clay/) [Explore all 49 Henry Clay quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-clay/) ## More Competition quotes > [The Copa del Rey is a different competition. It is football in its purest form and is different from the continuity of the league.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-laudrup/the-copa-del-rey-is-a-different-competition-it-is-football-in-its/) [Michael Laudrup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-laudrup/) > [I can skate beautifully. While performing on ice I always try to please the audience and to win as well. Being artistic is very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evgeni-plushenko/i-can-skate-beautifully-while-performing-on-ice-i-always-try-to/) [Evgeni Plushenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evgeni-plushenko/) > [I don't believe in competitions between artists. This is insane. Who has the authority to say someone is better?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-arkin/i-don-t-believe-in-competitions-between-artists-this-is-insane-who/) [Alan Arkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-arkin/) > [People think that the Club World Cup is an easy competition, but it's not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keylor-navas/people-think-that-the-club-world-cup-is-an-easy-competition-but-it-s/) [Keylor Navas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keylor-navas/) > [If you ask another competitor, they may tell you they felt very competitive towards me. But I can tell you that my biggest competition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-kwan/if-you-ask-another-competitor-they-may-tell-you-they-felt-very/) [Michelle Kwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-kwan/) > [“At times, competition can be a good thing. But a person's value isn't something that can be ranked, is it?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hotaru-odagiri/at-times-competition-can-be-a-good-thing-but-a-person-s-value-isn-t/) [Hotaru Odagiri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hotaru-odagiri/) > [Our competition has always been anything that is wasting your time when you're bored at work. In a broad sense. We want people to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-ohanian/our-competition-has-always-been-anything-that-is-wasting-your-time/) [Alexis Ohanian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-ohanian/) > [I've always considered making it legal for Americans to import their prescription drugs a free-trade issue. Imports create competition and keep domestic industry more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-grassley/i-ve-always-considered-making-it-legal-for-americans-to-import-their/) [Chuck Grassley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-grassley/) > [Honestly, we’ll compete with everybody. I love competition. As long as people invent their own stuff, I love competition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/honestly-we-ll-compete-with-everybody-i-love-competition-as-long-as/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [The "health, education, and welfare" section of government is another boondoggle. First we manufacture indigent and superfluous people by legal monopolies in land, money…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurance-labadie/the-health-education-and-welfare-section-of-government-is-another/) [Laurance Labadie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurance-labadie/) > [I try to keep up with everything - all wrestling across the board. I want to know what the competition is doing, what the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-hardy/i-try-to-keep-up-with-everything-all-wrestling-across-the-board-i/) [Matt Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-hardy/) > [Sometimes in England, people look down at the Europa League, but being from the continent, I've always realised what an important competition it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-mignolet/sometimes-in-england-people-look-down-at-the-europa-league-but-being/) [Simon Mignolet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-mignolet/) > [“There is a scene in one of the Rocky movies where after the match Apollo Creed and Rocky are waiting for the scoring of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-a-passaro/there-is-a-scene-in-one-of-the-rocky-movies-where-after-the-match/) [John A. Passaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-a-passaro/) > [I've always written. When I was in school, the only teacher who ever liked me was my creative writing teacher. I used to enter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-townes-earle/i-ve-always-written-when-i-was-in-school-the-only-teacher-who-ever/) [Justin Townes Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-townes-earle/) > [Competition between men is a fuel that's useful to us. We have to be careful that it doesn't tell the same story over too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-irwin/competition-between-men-is-a-fuel-that-s-useful-to-us-we-have-to-be/) [Bill Irwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-irwin/) [Browse all 3,894 Competition quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/competition/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Of all human powers operating on the affairs of mankind, none is greater than that of competition.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Henry Clay" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-clay/of-all-human-powers-operating-on-the-affairs-of-mankind-none-is/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Competition" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-clay/of-all-human-powers-operating-on-the-affairs-of-mankind-none-is/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75a/henry-clay-13771_competition_of-all-human-powers-operating-on-the-aff_1686195.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75a/henry-clay-13771_competition_of-all-human-powers-operating-on-the-aff_1686195.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75a/henry-clay-13771_competition_of-all-human-powers-operating-on-the-aff_1686195.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Of all human powers operating on the affairs of mankind, none is greater than that of competition.” — Henry Clay", "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": "Henry Clay", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-clay/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Of all human powers operating on...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-clay/of-all-human-powers-operating-on-the-affairs-of-mankind-none-is/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-clay/of-all-human-powers-operating-on-the-affairs-of-mankind-none-is/#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 } } ] } ```