--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Anyone entrusted with power will abuse it…" description: "\"Anyone entrusted with power will abuse it if not also animated with the love of truth and virtue, no matter whether he be a prince, or one of the peopl..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f6/jean-de-la-fontaine-2320_abuse_anyone-entrusted-with-power-will-abuse-i_670250.jpg" --- # Anyone entrusted with power will abuse it if not also… ![“Anyone entrusted with power will abuse it if not also animated with the love of truth and virtue, no matter whether he be a prince, or one of the people.” quote by Jean de La Fontaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f6/jean-de-la-fontaine-2320_abuse_anyone-entrusted-with-power-will-abuse-i_670250.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f6/jean-de-la-fontaine-2320_abuse_anyone-entrusted-with-power-will-abuse-i_670250.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f6/jean-de-la-fontaine-2320_abuse_anyone-entrusted-with-power-will-abuse-i_670250.jpg) > “Anyone entrusted with power will abuse it if not also animated with the love of truth and virtue, no matter whether he be a prince, or one of the people.” [Jean de La Fontaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-fontaine/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Power without virtue leads to abuse; love of truth and virtue restrains it. **In simple terms:** Power needs truth and virtue to stay just. Key Takeaway Cultivate truth and virtue in leadership. Themes politics ethics leadership Mood thoughtful serious Type philosophical didactic When to use this quote - government decisions - corporate governance - community leadership - educational curricula Key Concepts moral philosophy social contract Questions to Reflect On - How can institutions enforce virtue? - What role does transparency play? A Different Perspective Even virtuous leaders can falter without accountability. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Abuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abuse/) [King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/king/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Love Of Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love-of-truth/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) [Power Abuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power-abuse/) [Trust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trust/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) [Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtue/) ## Related quotes > [A life in harmony with nature, the love of truth and virtue, will purge the eyes to understanding her text.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-life-in-harmony-with-nature-the-love-of-truth-and-virtue-will-purge/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The love of truth, virtue, and the happiness of mankind are specious pretexts, but not the inward principles that set divines at work; else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-berkeley/the-love-of-truth-virtue-and-the-happiness-of-mankind-are-specious/) [George Berkeley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-berkeley/) > [God deliver us all from prejudice and unkindness, and fill us with the love of truth and virtue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ellery-channing/god-deliver-us-all-from-prejudice-and-unkindness-and-fill-us-with-the/) [William Ellery Channing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ellery-channing/) > [“Experience hath shewn, that even under the best forms, those entrusted with power have, in time, and by slow operations, perverted it into tyranny;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/experience-hath-shewn-that-even-under-the-best-forms-those-entrusted/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [It is only through an abandonment of the idea that those entrusted with power have an exclusive right to decide upon war, and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederic-c-howe/it-is-only-through-an-abandonment-of-the-idea-that-those-entrusted/) [Frederic C. Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederic-c-howe/) > [Experience hath shewn, that even under the best forms of government those entrusted with power have, in time, and by slow operations, perverted it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/experience-hath-shewn-that-even-under-the-best-forms-of-government/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [No human being, man, woman, or child, may safely be entrusted to the power of another; for no human being may safely be trusted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-la-follette/no-human-being-man-woman-or-child-may-safely-be-entrusted-to-the/) [Suzanne La Follette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-la-follette/) > [Power without abuse loses its charm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-valery/power-without-abuse-loses-its-charm/) [Paul Valery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-valery/) > [People who exploit their power and abuse others need to be revealed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/radhika-apte/people-who-exploit-their-power-and-abuse-others-need-to-be-revealed/) [Radhika Apte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/radhika-apte/) > [“Do you really believe that freedom of choice exists? India still has a caste system. Most of the Middle East treats women as inferiors…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kilborn/do-you-really-believe-that-freedom-of-choice-exists-india-still-has-a/) [Jack Kilborn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kilborn/) > [Ukraine had quite serious impact on the many Russians. They could see that ordinary people in Ukraine which is a bordering state, very close…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-kasparov/ukraine-had-quite-serious-impact-on-the-many-russians-they-could-see/) [Garry Kasparov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-kasparov/) > [In acknowledging woman-to-woman help it is important to recognize that power, within the family and elsewhere, can be used vindictively, and that it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheila-kitzinger/in-acknowledging-woman-to-woman-help-it-is-important-to-recognize/) [Sheila Kitzinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheila-kitzinger/) > [A great man is one who can have power and not abuse it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-latham-doherty/a-great-man-is-one-who-can-have-power-and-not-abuse-it/) [Henry Latham Doherty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-latham-doherty/) > [It's not just the abuse of power that's the problem. It's the power to abuse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefan-molyneux/it-s-not-just-the-abuse-of-power-that-s-the-problem-it-s-the-power-to/) [Stefan Molyneux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefan-molyneux/) > [The problem isn't the abuse of power; it's the power to abuse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-cloud/the-problem-isn-t-the-abuse-of-power-it-s-the-power-to-abuse/) [Mike Cloud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-cloud/) ## More by Jean de La Fontaine > [Nothing is so oppressive as a secret: women find it difficult to keep one long; and I know a goodly number of men who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-fontaine/nothing-is-so-oppressive-as-a-secret-women-find-it-difficult-to-keep/) [Jean de La Fontaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-fontaine/) > [One should stick to the sort of thing for which one was made; I tried to be an herbalist, Whereas I should keep to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-fontaine/one-should-stick-to-the-sort-of-thing-for-which-one-was-made-i-tried/) [Jean de La Fontaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-fontaine/) > [ No flowery road leads to glory. \[Fr., Aucun chemin de fleurs ne conduit a la gloire.\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-fontaine/no-flowery-road-leads-to-glory-fr-aucun-chemin-de-fleurs-ne-conduit-a/) [Jean de La Fontaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-fontaine/) > [Nothing is as dangerous as an ignorant friend; a wise enemy is to be preferred.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-fontaine/nothing-is-as-dangerous-as-an-ignorant-friend-a-wise-enemy-is-to-be/) [Jean de La Fontaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-fontaine/) > [“Everyone believes very easily whatever he fears or desires.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-fontaine/everyone-believes-very-easily-whatever-he-fears-or-desires/) [Jean de La Fontaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-fontaine/) > [Example is a dangerous lure: where the wasp got through the gnat sticks fast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-fontaine/example-is-a-dangerous-lure-where-the-wasp-got-through-the-gnat/) [Jean de La Fontaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-fontaine/) > [Neither wealth or greatness render us happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-fontaine/neither-wealth-or-greatness-render-us-happy/) [Jean de La Fontaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-fontaine/) > [No favor can win gratitude from a cat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-fontaine/no-favor-can-win-gratitude-from-a-cat/) [Jean de La Fontaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-fontaine/) > [Love cries victory when the tears of a woman become the sole defence of her virtue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-fontaine/love-cries-victory-when-the-tears-of-a-woman-become-the-sole-defence/) [Jean de La Fontaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-fontaine/) > [A person often meets his destiny on the road he took to avoid it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-fontaine/a-person-often-meets-his-destiny-on-the-road-he-took-to-avoid-it/) [Jean de La Fontaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-fontaine/) > [You've tried to reform what will not learn. Shut doors on traits that you wish were dead; They will open a window and return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-fontaine/you-ve-tried-to-reform-what-will-not-learn-shut-doors-on-traits-that/) [Jean de La Fontaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-fontaine/) > [We ought never to scoff at the wretched, for who can be sure of continued happiness?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-fontaine/we-ought-never-to-scoff-at-the-wretched-for-who-can-be-sure-of/) [Jean de La Fontaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-fontaine/) > [Such gluttony second to none Almost ended fatally When a bone choked a wolf as he gulped what he ate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-fontaine/such-gluttony-second-to-none-almost-ended-fatally-when-a-bone-choked/) [Jean de La Fontaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-fontaine/) > [Every flatterer lives at the expense of him who listens to him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-fontaine/every-flatterer-lives-at-the-expense-of-him-who-listens-to-him/) [Jean de La Fontaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-fontaine/) > [Cats know not how to pardon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-fontaine/cats-know-not-how-to-pardon/) [Jean de La Fontaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-fontaine/) [Explore all 166 Jean de La Fontaine quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-fontaine/) ## More Abuse quotes > [I wrote when I was a young teen, but I didn't put an eye on the available markets until I was seventeen. The next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reed/i-wrote-when-i-was-a-young-teen-but-i-didn-t-put-an-eye-on-the/) [Robert Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reed/) > [Amongst the financial Twitterati, the term 'muppets' has come to describe any client used and abused by some financial predator. I've adopted the term…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-ritholtz/amongst-the-financial-twitterati-the-term-muppets-has-come-to/) [Barry Ritholtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-ritholtz/) > [Being nice is okay,but don't allow anybody to abuse it...try to fight for your self when you know your on the right way...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-nice-is-okay-but-don-t-allow-anybody-to-abuse-it-try-to-fight/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Build a bridge over shame by teaching kids about sexual abuse. Give them a chance to run to us should they encounter it. Be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-byers-ruch/build-a-bridge-over-shame-by-teaching-kids-about-sexual-abuse-give/) [Carolyn Byers Ruch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-byers-ruch/) > [It is sure that those are most desirous of honour or glory who cry out loudest of its abuse and the vanity of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baruch-spinoza/it-is-sure-that-those-are-most-desirous-of-honour-or-glory-who-cry/) [Baruch Spinoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baruch-spinoza/) > [“The sole reason I stand to open it up now is that lots of people who are in pain just like I was, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-dsouza/the-sole-reason-i-stand-to-open-it-up-now-is-that-lots-of-people-who/) [Patricia Dsouza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-dsouza/) > [Democracy must be built through open societies that share information. When there is information, there is enlightenment. When there is debate, there are solutions.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atifete-jahjaga/democracy-must-be-built-through-open-societies-that-share-information/) [Atifete Jahjaga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atifete-jahjaga/) > [I have a theory that all abuse, no matter what kind of abuse it is, is foremost an assault on the mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-westover/i-have-a-theory-that-all-abuse-no-matter-what-kind-of-abuse-it-is-is/) [Tara Westover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tara-westover/) > [“Blaming therapy, social work and other caring professions for the confabulation of testimony of 'satanic ritual abuse' legitimated a programme of political and social…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-salter/blaming-therapy-social-work-and-other-caring-professions-for-the/) [Michael Salter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-salter/) > [Finally, the scariest thing about abuse of any shape or form, is, in my opinion, not the abuse itself, but that if it continues…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-cumming/finally-the-scariest-thing-about-abuse-of-any-shape-or-form-is-in-my/) [Alan Cumming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cumming/) > [“Research on organised abuse emphasises the diversity of organised abuse cases, and the ways in which serious forms of child maltreatment cluster in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-salter/research-on-organised-abuse-emphasises-the-diversity-of-organised/) [Michael Salter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-salter/) > [“Stand up for yourself. Never give any one permission to abuse you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/stand-up-for-yourself-never-give-any-one-permission-to-abuse-you/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [All governments should be pressured to correct their abuses of human rights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-stallman/all-governments-should-be-pressured-to-correct-their-abuses-of-human/) [Richard Stallman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-stallman/) > [“Words are free. It does not mean you should abuse them. Be kind with them. They will mirror your actions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hadinet-tekie/words-are-free-it-does-not-mean-you-should-abuse-them-be-kind-with/) [Hadinet Tekie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hadinet-tekie/) > [My illness is one often characterized by dramatic overspending - in my case through frenzied shopping sprees, credit card abuse, excessive hoarding of unnecessary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-behrman/my-illness-is-one-often-characterized-by-dramatic-overspending-in-my/) [Andy Behrman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-behrman/) [Browse all 3,113 Abuse quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abuse/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Anyone entrusted with power will abuse it if not also animated with the love of truth and virtue, no matter whether he be a prince, or one of the people.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jean de La Fontaine" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-fontaine/anyone-entrusted-with-power-will-abuse-it-if-not-also-animated-with/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Abuse" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-fontaine/anyone-entrusted-with-power-will-abuse-it-if-not-also-animated-with/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f6/jean-de-la-fontaine-2320_abuse_anyone-entrusted-with-power-will-abuse-i_670250.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f6/jean-de-la-fontaine-2320_abuse_anyone-entrusted-with-power-will-abuse-i_670250.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f6/jean-de-la-fontaine-2320_abuse_anyone-entrusted-with-power-will-abuse-i_670250.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Anyone entrusted with power will abuse it if not also animated with the love of truth and virtue, no matter…” — Jean de La Fontaine", "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": "Jean de La Fontaine", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-fontaine/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Anyone entrusted with power will abuse...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-fontaine/anyone-entrusted-with-power-will-abuse-it-if-not-also-animated-with/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-fontaine/anyone-entrusted-with-power-will-abuse-it-if-not-also-animated-with/#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 } } ] } ```