---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The press, like fire, is an excellent…"
description: "\"The press, like fire, is an excellent servant, but a terrible master.\" — James F. Cooper"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a46/james-f-cooper-7716_accord_the-press-like-fire-is-an-excellent-serv_3079692.png"
---

#  The press, like fire, is an excellent servant, but a…

![“The press, like fire, is an excellent servant, but a terrible master.” quote by James F. Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a46/james-f-cooper-7716_accord_the-press-like-fire-is-an-excellent-serv_3079692.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a46/james-f-cooper-7716_accord_the-press-like-fire-is-an-excellent-serv_3079692.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a46/james-f-cooper-7716_accord_the-press-like-fire-is-an-excellent-serv_3079692.png)

> “The press, like fire, is an excellent servant, but a terrible master.”

[James F. Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-f-cooper/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The press serves well when controlled, but becomes dangerous when it dominates.

**In simple terms:** Media is helpful but can become oppressive.

Key Takeaway

Guard against media overreach.

Themes

media power control

Mood

cautious critical

Type

warning philosophical

When to use this quote

- politics
- journalism
- social media
- activism

Key Concepts

information flow public opinion

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you evaluate media influence?
- What checks keep press from becoming a master?

A Different Perspective

Even a good press can be misused; requires critical consumption.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Accord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accord/) [Excellent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excellent/) [Excellent Servant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excellent-servant-989400/) [Fire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fire/) [Journalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/journalism/) [Masters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/masters/) [Presses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/presses/) [Servant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/servant/) [Servant Terrible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/servant-terrible-242004/) [Terrible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terrible/) [Terrible Master](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terrible-master-242003/)

## Related quotes

> [Money is in some respects like fire; it is a very excellent servant but a terrible master.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-t-barnum/money-is-in-some-respects-like-fire-it-is-a-very-excellent-servant/)

[P. T. Barnum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-t-barnum/)

> [Money is in some respects life's fire: it is a very excellent servant, but a terrible master.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-t-barnum/money-is-in-some-respects-life-s-fire-it-is-a-very-excellent-servant/)

[P. T. Barnum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-t-barnum/)

> [Money is an excellent servant but a terrible master.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-williams/money-is-an-excellent-servant-but-a-terrible-master/)

[Craig Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-williams/)

> [The mind is a wonderful servant, but a terrible master.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sharma/the-mind-is-a-wonderful-servant-but-a-terrible-master/)

[Robin Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sharma/)

> [Money is a terrible master but an excellent servant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pt-barnum/money-is-a-terrible-master-but-an-excellent-servant/)

[PT Barnum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pt-barnum/)

> [“Think of the old cliché about the mind being 'an excellent servant but a terrible master'. This, like many clichés, so lame & banal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-foster-wallace/think-of-the-old-clich-about-the-mind-being-an-excellent-servant-but-3/)

[David Foster Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-foster-wallace/)

> [The mind is a wonderfull servant, but a terrible master](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sharma/the-mind-is-a-wonderfull-servant-but-a-terrible-master/)

[Robin Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sharma/)

> [Remember, technology is a great servant, but a terrible master.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/remember-technology-is-a-great-servant-but-a-terrible-master/)

[Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/)

> [It is a misfortune that necessity has induced men to accord greater license to this formidable engine, in order to obtain liberty, than can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-f-cooper/it-is-a-misfortune-that-necessity-has-induced-men-to-accord-greater/)

[James F. Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-f-cooper/)

> [What is the purpose of writing music? One is, of course, not dealing with purposes but dealing with sounds. Or the answer must take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cage/what-is-the-purpose-of-writing-music-one-is-of-course-not-dealing/)

[John Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cage/)

> [Our intention is to affirm this life, not to bring order out of chaos, nor to suggest improvements in creation, but simply to wake…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cage/our-intention-is-to-affirm-this-life-not-to-bring-order-out-of-chaos/)

[John Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cage/)

> [As the truest society approaches always nearer to solitude, so the most excellent speech finally falls into Silence. Silence is audible to all men,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/as-the-truest-society-approaches-always-nearer-to-solitude-so-the/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

> [The librarian of today, and it will be true still more of the librarians of tomorrow, are not fiery dragons interposed between the people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-osler/the-librarian-of-today-and-it-will-be-true-still-more-of-the/)

[William Osler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-osler/)

> [Your eloquence should be the servant of the ideas in your head. Your rule might be this: If a sentence, no matter how excellent,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/your-eloquence-should-be-the-servant-of-the-ideas-in-your-head-your/)

[Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/)

> [To an ever greater extent out experience is governed by pictures, pictures in newspapers and magazines, on television and in the cinema. Next to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-crimp/to-an-ever-greater-extent-out-experience-is-governed-by-pictures/)

[Douglas Crimp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-crimp/)

## More by James F. Cooper

> [There is a destiny in war, to which a brave man knows how to submit with the same courage that he faces his foes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-f-cooper/there-is-a-destiny-in-war-to-which-a-brave-man-knows-how-to-submit/)

[James F. Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-f-cooper/)

> [It is a misfortune that necessity has induced men to accord greater license to this formidable engine, in order to obtain liberty, than can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-f-cooper/it-is-a-misfortune-that-necessity-has-induced-men-to-accord-greater/)

[James F. Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-f-cooper/)

> [Individuality is the aim of political liberty. By leaving to the citizen as much freedom of action and of being as comports with order…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-f-cooper/individuality-is-the-aim-of-political-liberty-by-leaving-to-the/)

[James F. Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-f-cooper/)

> [All greatness of character is dependent on individuality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-f-cooper/all-greatness-of-character-is-dependent-on-individuality/)

[James F. Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-f-cooper/)

> [The ability to discriminate between that which is true and that which is false is one of the last attainments of the human mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-f-cooper/the-ability-to-discriminate-between-that-which-is-true-and-that-which/)

[James F. Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-f-cooper/)

> [Party leads to vicious, corrupt and unprofitable legislation, for the sole purpose of defeating party.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-f-cooper/party-leads-to-vicious-corrupt-and-unprofitable-legislation-for-the/)

[James F. Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-f-cooper/)

> [The disposition of all power is to abuses, nor does it at all mend the matter that its possessors are a majority. Unrestrained political…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-f-cooper/the-disposition-of-all-power-is-to-abuses-nor-does-it-at-all-mend-the/)

[James F. Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-f-cooper/)

> [The very existence of government at all, infers inequality. The citizen who is preferred to office becomes the superior of those who are not,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-f-cooper/the-very-existence-of-government-at-all-infers-inequality-the-citizen/)

[James F. Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-f-cooper/)

> [These families, you know, are our upper crust, not upper ten thousand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-f-cooper/these-families-you-know-are-our-upper-crust-not-upper-ten-thousand/)

[James F. Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-f-cooper/)

> [The disposition of all power is to abuses, nor does it at all mend the matter that its possessors are a majority.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-f-cooper/the-disposition-of-all-power-is-to-abuses-nor-does-it-at-all-mend-the-2/)

[James F. Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-f-cooper/)

> [It is seldom men think of death in the pride of their health and strength.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-f-cooper/it-is-seldom-men-think-of-death-in-the-pride-of-their-health-and/)

[James F. Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-f-cooper/)

> [God has given the salt lick to the deer; and He has given to man, red-skin and white, the delicious spring at which to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-f-cooper/god-has-given-the-salt-lick-to-the-deer-and-he-has-given-to-man-red/)

[James F. Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-f-cooper/)

> [In America the taint of sectarianism lies broad upon the land. Not content with acknowledging the supremacy as the Diety, and with erecting temples…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-f-cooper/in-america-the-taint-of-sectarianism-lies-broad-upon-the-land-not-2/)

[James F. Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-f-cooper/)

> [In America, it is indispensable that every well wisher of true liberty should understand that acts of tyranny can only proceed from the publick.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-f-cooper/in-america-it-is-indispensable-that-every-well-wisher-of-true-liberty/)

[James F. Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-f-cooper/)

> [Slavery is no more sinful, by the Christian code, than it is sinful to wear a whole coat, while another is in tatters, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-f-cooper/slavery-is-no-more-sinful-by-the-christian-code-than-it-is-sinful-to/)

[James F. Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-f-cooper/)

[Explore all 88 James F. Cooper quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-f-cooper/)

## More Accord quotes

> [To an ever greater extent out experience is governed by pictures, pictures in newspapers and magazines, on television and in the cinema. Next to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-crimp/to-an-ever-greater-extent-out-experience-is-governed-by-pictures/)

[Douglas Crimp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-crimp/)

> [Society understands the architecture of academia and knows there are relevant qualifications in different fields, and the media accepts the idea of specialisations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-griffiths/society-understands-the-architecture-of-academia-and-knows-there-are/)

[Jay Griffiths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-griffiths/)

> [Christian obligation cannot be made to accord with a law of expediency. The Christian's maxims are, Do right because you are bound to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-landey-patton/christian-obligation-cannot-be-made-to-accord-with-a-law-of/)

[Francis Landey Patton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-landey-patton/)

> [I've never had a very quiet voice. I tried in choir to make it smaller, and it just didn't work out. And I listened…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-ditto/i-ve-never-had-a-very-quiet-voice-i-tried-in-choir-to-make-it-smaller/)

[Beth Ditto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-ditto/)

> [It is a very high mind to which gratitude is not a painful sensation. If you wish to please, you will find it wiser…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/it-is-a-very-high-mind-to-which-gratitude-is-not-a-painful-sensation/)

[Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/)

> [To act choicelessly is to act in accord with the situation. If someone throws a rock, you duck.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rami-m-shapiro/to-act-choicelessly-is-to-act-in-accord-with-the-situation-if-someone/)

[Rami M. Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rami-m-shapiro/)

> [“I'm not here to grant you the extraordinary love you never had for yourself. I'm here, on my own accord, to love you. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamand-kojouri/i-m-not-here-to-grant-you-the-extraordinary-love-you-never-had-for/)

[Kamand Kojouri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamand-kojouri/)

> [It is a misfortune that necessity has induced men to accord greater license to this formidable engine, in order to obtain liberty, than can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-f-cooper/it-is-a-misfortune-that-necessity-has-induced-men-to-accord-greater/)

[James F. Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-f-cooper/)

> [Life is a cutup. And to pretend that you write or paint in a timeless vacuum is just simply . . . not .…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-s-burroughs/life-is-a-cutup-and-to-pretend-that-you-write-or-paint-in-a-timeless/)

[William S. Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-s-burroughs/)

> [The dominant propaganda systems have appropriated the term "globalization" to refer to the specific version of international economic integration that they favor, which privileges…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-dominant-propaganda-systems-have-appropriated-the-term/)

[Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/)

> [If you want to accord with the Tao, just do your job, then let go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/if-you-want-to-accord-with-the-tao-just-do-your-job-then-let-go/)

[Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/)

> [The fineness which a hymn or psalm affords / If when the soul unto the lines accords.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-herbert/the-fineness-which-a-hymn-or-psalm-affords-if-when-the-soul-unto-the/)

[George Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-herbert/)

> [A covenant is an agreement between God and man, an accord whose terms are set by God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-todd-christofferson/a-covenant-is-an-agreement-between-god-and-man-an-accord-whose-terms/)

[D. Todd Christofferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-todd-christofferson/)

> [All day I think about it, then at night I say it. Where did I come from, and what am I supposed to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/all-day-i-think-about-it-then-at-night-i-say-it-where-did-i-come-from/)

[Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/)

> [All art is at once surface and symbol. Those who go beneath the surface do so at their peril. Those who read the symbol…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/all-art-is-at-once-surface-and-symbol-those-who-go-beneath-the/)

[Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/)

[Browse all 406 Accord quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accord/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "The press, like fire, is an excellent servant, but a terrible master.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "James F. Cooper"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-f-cooper/the-press-like-fire-is-an-excellent-servant-but-a-terrible-master/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Accord"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-f-cooper/the-press-like-fire-is-an-excellent-servant-but-a-terrible-master/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a46/james-f-cooper-7716_accord_the-press-like-fire-is-an-excellent-serv_3079692.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a46/james-f-cooper-7716_accord_the-press-like-fire-is-an-excellent-serv_3079692.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a46/james-f-cooper-7716_accord_the-press-like-fire-is-an-excellent-serv_3079692.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The press, like fire, is an excellent servant, but a terrible master.” — James F. Cooper",
                "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": "James F. Cooper",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-f-cooper/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "The press, like fire, is an...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-f-cooper/the-press-like-fire-is-an-excellent-servant-but-a-terrible-master/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-f-cooper/the-press-like-fire-is-an-excellent-servant-but-a-terrible-master/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```