--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The power to define the situation is the…" description: "\"The power to define the situation is the ultimate power.\" — Jerry Rubin" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/677/jerry-rubin-21598_power_the-power-to-define-the-situation-is-the_2128725.png" --- # The power to define the situation is the ultimate power. ![“The power to define the situation is the ultimate power.” quote by Jerry Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/677/jerry-rubin-21598_power_the-power-to-define-the-situation-is-the_2128725.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/677/jerry-rubin-21598_power_the-power-to-define-the-situation-is-the_2128725.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/677/jerry-rubin-21598_power_the-power-to-define-the-situation-is-the_2128725.png) > “The power to define the situation is the ultimate power.” [Jerry Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-rubin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Control over how a situation is framed determines who holds real influence. **In simple terms:** Framing gives power. Key Takeaway Shape perception to gain influence. Themes power influence framing Mood assertive strategic Type political motivational When to use this quote - political activism - media strategy - leadership - conflict resolution Key Concepts psychology social dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How can you reframe a conflict to change its outcome? - What frames dominate your current environment? A Different Perspective Power can be limited by existing structures. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) [Power Define](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power-define-3154097/) [Situation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/situation/) [Situation Ultimate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/situation-ultimate-4377599/) [Ultimate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ultimate/) [Ultimate power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ultimate-power/) ## Related quotes > [To rule yourself is the ultimate power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/to-rule-yourself-is-the-ultimate-power/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [“Do not give your past the power to define your future.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dhiren-prajapati/do-not-give-your-past-the-power-to-define-your-future/) [Dhiren Prajapati](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dhiren-prajapati/) > [When you give another person the power to define you, then you also give them the power to control you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-you-give-another-person-the-power-to-define-you-then-you-also/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The individual who signs the check has the ultimate power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-rubin/the-individual-who-signs-the-check-has-the-ultimate-power/) [Jerry Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-rubin/) > [So how do you fall in love with life? The same way you fall in love with another person -- you adore everything about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhonda-byrne/so-how-do-you-fall-in-love-with-life-the-same-way-you-fall-in-love/) [Rhonda Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhonda-byrne/) > [Leaders understand the ultimate power of relationships.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-peters/leaders-understand-the-ultimate-power-of-relationships/) [Tom Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-peters/) > [No country can possibly move ahead, no free society can possibly be sustained, unless it has an educated citizenry whose qualities of mind and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/no-country-can-possibly-move-ahead-no-free-society-can-possibly-be/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [Matter exploded into being, apparently as chaos, but in fact as a chord. The ultimate power chord.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/matter-exploded-into-being-apparently-as-chaos-but-in-fact-as-a-chord/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [Not many appreciate the ultimate power and potential usefulness of basic knowledge accumulated by obscure, unseen investigators who, in a lifetime of intensive study,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugenie-clark/not-many-appreciate-the-ultimate-power-and-potential-usefulness-of/) [Eugenie Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugenie-clark/) > [“Recognize that your attention is the most valuable thing you can ever own, and you alone have the ultimate power to choose where to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sol-luckman/recognize-that-your-attention-is-the-most-valuable-thing-you-can-ever/) [Sol Luckman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sol-luckman/) > [Death was the ultimate power and I his eager, willing apprentice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-kay/death-was-the-ultimate-power-and-i-his-eager-willing-apprentice/) [Susan Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-kay/) > [Decision is the ultimate power. Decisions shape destiny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/decision-is-the-ultimate-power-decisions-shape-destiny/) [Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/) > [Obviously the audience has veto power signified by whether they laugh or not, but you-not them-retain the ultimate power to decide what they're going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklyn-ajaye/obviously-the-audience-has-veto-power-signified-by-whether-they-laugh/) [Franklyn Ajaye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklyn-ajaye/) > [That is the ultimate power, to stare death in the face and be unafraid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/that-is-the-ultimate-power-to-stare-death-in-the-face-and-be-unafraid/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [After a while, another voice said: One, two, three, four- And the universe came into being. It was wrong to call it a big…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/after-a-while-another-voice-said-one-two-three-four-and-the-universe/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) ## More by Jerry Rubin > [All money represents theft… To steal from the rich is a sacred and religious act. While looting, a man to his own self is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-rubin/all-money-represents-theft-to-steal-from-the-rich-is-a-sacred-and/) [Jerry Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-rubin/) > [The backseat produced the sexual revolution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-rubin/the-backseat-produced-the-sexual-revolution/) [Jerry Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-rubin/) > [I'm famous. That's my job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-rubin/i-m-famous-that-s-my-job/) [Jerry Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-rubin/) > [Politics is how you live your life, not whom you vote for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-rubin/politics-is-how-you-live-your-life-not-whom-you-vote-for/) [Jerry Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-rubin/) > [...in your living room, you're scared shitless. And that's just where the power structure wants you. In the middle of a riot, I've never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-rubin/in-your-living-room-you-re-scared-shitless-and-that-s-just-where-the/) [Jerry Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-rubin/) > [Our strategy was to give Judge Hoffman a heart attack. We gave the court system a heart attack, which is even better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-rubin/our-strategy-was-to-give-judge-hoffman-a-heart-attack-we-gave-the/) [Jerry Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-rubin/) > [The capitalist imperialism is gonna be destroyed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-rubin/the-capitalist-imperialism-is-gonna-be-destroyed/) [Jerry Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-rubin/) > [By the end, everybody had a label - pig, liberal, radical, revolutionary... If you had everything but a gun, you were a radical but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-rubin/by-the-end-everybody-had-a-label-pig-liberal-radical-revolutionary-if/) [Jerry Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-rubin/) > [Every person on the streets of New York is a type. The city is one big theater where everyone is on display.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-rubin/every-person-on-the-streets-of-new-york-is-a-type-the-city-is-one-big/) [Jerry Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-rubin/) > [A lot of these industries are having difficulty finding reliable workers with the skills they require.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-rubin/a-lot-of-these-industries-are-having-difficulty-finding-reliable/) [Jerry Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-rubin/) > [Some of the greatest social reformers of our time were wealthy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-rubin/some-of-the-greatest-social-reformers-of-our-time-were-wealthy/) [Jerry Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-rubin/) > [Most men act so tough and strong on the outside because on the inside, we are scared, weak, and fragile. Men, not women, are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-rubin/most-men-act-so-tough-and-strong-on-the-outside-because-on-the-inside/) [Jerry Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-rubin/) > [High school studfents are the largest oppressed minority in America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-rubin/high-school-studfents-are-the-largest-oppressed-minority-in-america/) [Jerry Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-rubin/) > [You can't pay attention to your mistakes. I made a mistake today, I made a mistake yesterday. I think it's... very important to ignore…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-rubin/you-can-t-pay-attention-to-your-mistakes-i-made-a-mistake-today-i/) [Jerry Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-rubin/) > [Our parents are our first oppressors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-rubin/our-parents-are-our-first-oppressors/) [Jerry Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-rubin/) [Explore all 29 Jerry Rubin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-rubin/) ## More Power quotes > [We have to get control of our borders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-coffman/we-have-to-get-control-of-our-borders/) [Mike Coffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-coffman/) > [For us who are now in power, we need to be challenged to serve the people and ignore our own egos and personal interests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wangari-maathai/for-us-who-are-now-in-power-we-need-to-be-challenged-to-serve-the/) [Wangari Maathai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wangari-maathai/) > [Your world will change whether or not you choose to change, but you have the power to choose it's direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/your-world-will-change-whether-or-not-you-choose-to-change-but-you/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [I want the municipality to be a helping hand to the man with a desire of sympathy, to help the fallen when it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-burns/i-want-the-municipality-to-be-a-helping-hand-to-the-man-with-a-desire/) [John Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-burns/) > [You can draw power from everything in your life. In order to do that, everything has to be set up in a proper way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/you-can-draw-power-from-everything-in-your-life-in-order-to-do-that/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [The one means that wins the easiest victory over reason is terror and force.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-hitler/the-one-means-that-wins-the-easiest-victory-over-reason-is-terror-and/) [Adolf Hitler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-hitler/) > [DECIDE, v.i. To succumb to the preponderance of one set of influences over another set.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/decide-v-i-to-succumb-to-the-preponderance-of-one-set-of-influences/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [Movies have power. Power to impact society and the choices we make. I want to entertain, but I also want to say something to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-prince-bythewood/movies-have-power-power-to-impact-society-and-the-choices-we-make-i/) [Gina Prince-Bythewood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-prince-bythewood/) > [Next to the assumption of power was the responsibility of relinquishing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/next-to-the-assumption-of-power-was-the-responsibility-of/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers. Pray for powers equal to your tasks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillips-brooks/do-not-pray-for-tasks-equal-to-your-powers-pray-for-powers-equal-to/) [Phillips Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillips-brooks/) > [With every product, the delta between the brand and the reality determines its power over the minds of consumers, and with Trump, that delta…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-wilson/with-every-product-the-delta-between-the-brand-and-the-reality/) [Rick Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-wilson/) > [If you have everything under control, you're not moving fast enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-andretti/if-you-have-everything-under-control-you-re-not-moving-fast-enough/) [Mario Andretti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-andretti/) > [“The power of imagination is strongest in the place of solitude.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/the-power-of-imagination-is-strongest-in-the-place-of-solitude/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [“Action is a powerful thing. When you smile through your sadness, it can completely change your outlook. Try it! Smile :) Now hold onto…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leticia-rae/action-is-a-powerful-thing-when-you-smile-through-your-sadness-it-can/) [Leticia Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leticia-rae/) > [Politics is about power. It is about the power of the state. It is about the power of the state as applied to individuals,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-rudd/politics-is-about-power-it-is-about-the-power-of-the-state-it-is/) [Kevin Rudd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-rudd/) [Browse all 17,893 Power quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The power to define the situation is the ultimate power.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jerry Rubin" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-rubin/the-power-to-define-the-situation-is-the-ultimate-power/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Power" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-rubin/the-power-to-define-the-situation-is-the-ultimate-power/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/677/jerry-rubin-21598_power_the-power-to-define-the-situation-is-the_2128725.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/677/jerry-rubin-21598_power_the-power-to-define-the-situation-is-the_2128725.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/677/jerry-rubin-21598_power_the-power-to-define-the-situation-is-the_2128725.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The power to define the situation is the ultimate power.” — Jerry Rubin", "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": "Jerry Rubin", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-rubin/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The power to define the situation...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-rubin/the-power-to-define-the-situation-is-the-ultimate-power/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-rubin/the-power-to-define-the-situation-is-the-ultimate-power/#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 } } ] } ```