Power Quote by Herbert Spencer
““Increasing power of a growing administrative organization is accompanied by decreasing power of the rest of the society to resist its further growth and control.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Principles of Sociology, 1876
As bureaucracies expand, they diminish the public’s ability to oppose or influence them.
In simple terms: Big institutions weaken public resistance.
Key Takeaway
Beware unchecked growth of power.
Themes
power
society
bureaucracy
control
resistance
Mood
cautious
analytical
Type
political
critical
When to use this quote
- government policy
- corporate governance
- community activism
- regulatory reform
Key Concepts
social contract
institutional dynamics
centralization
Questions to Reflect On
- How can citizens retain influence over expanding institutions?
- What safeguards can prevent bureaucratic overreach?
A Different Perspective
Power can become self‑reinforcing, limiting dissent.
