Absolute power Quote by Iain Banks
““The usual example given to illustrate an Outside Context Problem was imagining you were a tribe on a largish, fertile island; you'd tamed the land, invented the wheel or writing or whatever, the neighbours were cooperative or enslaved but at any rate peaceful and you were busy raising temples to yourself with all the excess productive capacity you had, you were in a position of near-absolute power and control which your hallowed ancestors could hardly have dreamed of and the whole situation was just running along nicely like a canoe on wet grass... when suddenly this bristling lump of iron appears sailless and trailing steam in the bay and these guys carrying long funny-looking sticks come ashore and announce you've just been discovered, you're all subjects of the Emperor now, he's keen on presents called tax and these bright-eyed holy men would like a word with your priests.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Player of Games by Iain M. Banks, 1988
An unexpected, overwhelming external force can upend a seemingly stable civilization, exposing its vulnerabilities and forcing adaptation.
In simple terms: Sudden outside forces can destabilize stable societies.
Key Takeaway
Prepare for unforeseen challenges.
Themes
change
power
civilization
unexpected threats
Mood
anxious
thoughtful
Type
cautionary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- colonial encounter
- technological disruption
- cultural clash
- political takeover
Key Concepts
Systems theory
entropy
external shock
Questions to Reflect On
- How would your community react to an unexpected foreign power?
- What safeguards can protect against sudden external disruptions?
A Different Perspective
Such shocks can also create opportunities for innovation and resilience.
![“As Israel made the wants of his national existence the law of the world, as under the dominance of these wants he deified even his political vindictiveness; so the Christian made the requirements of human feeling the absolute powers and laws of the world. [T]hat is, indeed, only of man considered…” quote by Ludwig Feuerbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/dd1/ludwig-feuerbach-3406_abrahamism_as-israel-made-the-wants-of-his-national_31284.jpg)
