---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think power will do anything to survive…"
description: "\"I think power will do anything to survive and one of its main techniques is the rule of exceptions. So it makes an exception out of people and we worsh..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a5e/jess-phillips-6587_king_i-think-power-will-do-anything-to-surviv_3161771.jpg"
---

#  I think power will do anything to survive and one of its…

![“I think power will do anything to survive and one of its main techniques is the rule of exceptions. So it makes an exception out of people and we worship them, whether that's Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King or Rosa Parks. These people become beatified beyond recognition.” quote by Jess Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a5e/jess-phillips-6587_king_i-think-power-will-do-anything-to-surviv_3161771.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a5e/jess-phillips-6587_king_i-think-power-will-do-anything-to-surviv_3161771.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a5e/jess-phillips-6587_king_i-think-power-will-do-anything-to-surviv_3161771.jpg)

> “I think power will do anything to survive and one of its main techniques is the rule of exceptions. So it makes an exception out of people and we worship them, whether that's Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King or Rosa Parks. These people become beatified beyond recognition.”

[Jess Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jess-phillips/)

## About This Quote

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

Power seeks survival by creating exceptions, turning individuals into revered icons, which can lead to uncritical worship.

**In simple terms:** Power makes icons out of people.

Key Takeaway

Question hero worship and demand accountability.

Themes

politics hero worship exceptionalism

Mood

critical inquisitive

Type

political commentary social critique

When to use this quote

- political leadership
- public admiration
- media narratives

Key Concepts

cult of personality social influence

Questions to Reflect On

- Why do societies elevate certain figures?
- How can we recognize the humanity of celebrated leaders?

A Different Perspective

Elevating individuals can obscure flaws and reduce critical thinking.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Exception People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exception-people-4160074/) [King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/king/) [Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mandela/) [Nelson mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nelson-mandela/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) [Power Survive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power-survive-3367780/) [Recognition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/recognition/) [Survive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/survive/) [Think Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-power/) [Will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/will/)

## Related quotes

> [“We are all of us - well, with the exception of people who have just fallen in love and those lucky demented few who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juliann-garey/we-are-all-of-us-well-with-the-exception-of-people-who-have-just/)

[Juliann Garey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juliann-garey/)

> [How am I supposed to live when I hardly have enough power to survive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mindy-morin/how-am-i-supposed-to-live-when-i-hardly-have-enough-power-to-survive/)

[Mindy Morin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mindy-morin/)

> [“Nelson Mandela said it this way, “If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-marco/nelson-mandela-said-it-this-way-if-you-talk-to-a-man-in-a-language-he/)

[Christopher Marco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-marco/)

> [Nelson Mandela had been freed and I had a feeling in my heart from God that a black would win. (Carole Gist, Miss USA…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carole-gist/nelson-mandela-had-been-freed-and-i-had-a-feeling-in-my-heart-from/)

[Carole Gist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carole-gist/)

> [“I am what I am….both as a result of people who respected me and helped me, and of those who did not respect me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-sampson/i-am-what-i-am-both-as-a-result-of-people-who-respected-me-and-helped/)

[Anthony Sampson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-sampson/)

> [Many say that a man comes along with the moral courage of Nelson Mandela once in a lifetime. He was an extraordinary man who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-kielburger/many-say-that-a-man-comes-along-with-the-moral-courage-of-nelson/)

[Craig Kielburger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-kielburger/)

> [“Mandela alikuwa hodari ndiyo maana akapelekwa jela. Alikuwa mvumilivu ndiyo maana akakaa jela kwa miaka ishirini na saba. Alivyotoka akawa kiongozi bora wa Afrika…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enock-maregesi/mandela-alikuwa-hodari-ndiyo-maana-akapelekwa-jela-alikuwa-mvumilivu/)

[Enock Maregesi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enock-maregesi/)

> ['Selfie' is the word du jour, and it became cause celebre at Nelson Mandela's funeral when the Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt took a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-quest/selfie-is-the-word-du-jour-and-it-became-cause-celebre-at-nelson/)

[Richard Quest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-quest/)

> [Nelson Mandela is a leader Barack Obama should try to emulate... He could start by spending 27 years in prison.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-imus/nelson-mandela-is-a-leader-barack-obama-should-try-to-emulate-he/)

[Don Imus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-imus/)

> [In Durban, where I was born and grew up, and all over Africa, Nelson Mandela was a hero! Now he is a hero to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kumi-naidoo/in-durban-where-i-was-born-and-grew-up-and-all-over-africa-nelson/)

[Kumi Naidoo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kumi-naidoo/)

> [The famous passage from her book is often erroneously attributed to the inaugural address of Nelson Mandela. About the misattribution Williamson said, "Several years…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/the-famous-passage-from-her-book-is-often-erroneously-attributed-to/)

[Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/)

> [Even here in America, we felt the cool, refreshing breeze of freedom when Nelson Mandela took the seat of Presidency in his country where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/even-here-in-america-we-felt-the-cool-refreshing-breeze-of-freedom/)

[Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/)

> [There were three people I always wanted to meet: Michael Jackson, Muhammad Ali, and Nelson Mandela.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-prince-boateng/there-were-three-people-i-always-wanted-to-meet-michael-jackson/)

[Kevin-Prince Boateng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-prince-boateng/)

> [“Our human compassion binds us the one to the other - not in pity or patronizingly, but as human beings who have learnt how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gallegos-borresen/our-human-compassion-binds-us-the-one-to-the-other-not-in-pity-or/)

[Michael Gallegos Borresen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gallegos-borresen/)

> [“Some of our friends are our friends only because we used to be friends.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/some-of-our-friends-are-our-friends-only-because-we-used-to-be-friends/)

[Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/)

## More by Jess Phillips

> [Being in France means that I am surrounded by examples of nationalised services that work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jess-phillips/being-in-france-means-that-i-am-surrounded-by-examples-of/)

[Jess Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jess-phillips/)

> [Any MP who deals with immigration a huge amount, which I do, is going to worry about giving powers to the executive to change…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jess-phillips/any-mp-who-deals-with-immigration-a-huge-amount-which-i-do-is-going/)

[Jess Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jess-phillips/)

> [I made a decision to stop feeling envious of other people, to crack on with my life and stop comparing myself with others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jess-phillips/i-made-a-decision-to-stop-feeling-envious-of-other-people-to-crack-on/)

[Jess Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jess-phillips/)

> [I am manic and that leads me to behave badly at times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jess-phillips/i-am-manic-and-that-leads-me-to-behave-badly-at-times/)

[Jess Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jess-phillips/)

> [I have felt the force of what governments can do. I remember my elder son being in the first cohort of kids who got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jess-phillips/i-have-felt-the-force-of-what-governments-can-do-i-remember-my-elder/)

[Jess Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jess-phillips/)

> [All my life I've been interested in politics. I went on the miners march when I was six months old. My parents are really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jess-phillips/all-my-life-i-ve-been-interested-in-politics-i-went-on-the-miners/)

[Jess Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jess-phillips/)

> [If we reduce the minimum voting age to 16, as we should, then people could be auto-registered when they are issued with a national…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jess-phillips/if-we-reduce-the-minimum-voting-age-to-16-as-we-should-then-people/)

[Jess Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jess-phillips/)

> [The Labour party is not perfect but I have seen in my own life how it is the greatest vehicle for positive hopeful social…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jess-phillips/the-labour-party-is-not-perfect-but-i-have-seen-in-my-own-life-how-it/)

[Jess Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jess-phillips/)

> [The politics of hope is harder to spread than the politics of hate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jess-phillips/the-politics-of-hope-is-harder-to-spread-than-the-politics-of-hate/)

[Jess Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jess-phillips/)

> [I like to go camping with my kids. I've got an amazing group of friends. Just like any 30-year-old woman I like to go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jess-phillips/i-like-to-go-camping-with-my-kids-i-ve-got-an-amazing-group-of/)

[Jess Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jess-phillips/)

> [I'm a believer in forgiveness. I have worked with people who have been in gangs and now dedicate their lives to helping inner city…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jess-phillips/i-m-a-believer-in-forgiveness-i-have-worked-with-people-who-have-been/)

[Jess Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jess-phillips/)

> [Lisa Nandy is absolutely right that we need to devolve economic power away from Westminster and learn from what Labour councils around the country…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jess-phillips/lisa-nandy-is-absolutely-right-that-we-need-to-devolve-economic-power/)

[Jess Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jess-phillips/)

> [In every single place I have campaigned in and every single place I have lived, people want some fairly basic things. They want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jess-phillips/in-every-single-place-i-have-campaigned-in-and-every-single-place-i/)

[Jess Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jess-phillips/)

> [I've made a career out of being able to talk about difficult things, and that comes from growing up in an environment where nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jess-phillips/i-ve-made-a-career-out-of-being-able-to-talk-about-difficult-things/)

[Jess Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jess-phillips/)

> [Because I sometimes shopped in Waitrose, I thought I was actually quite posh. I've realised that I'm basically a scullery maid. Even the middle-class…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jess-phillips/because-i-sometimes-shopped-in-waitrose-i-thought-i-was-actually/)

[Jess Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jess-phillips/)

[Explore all 98 Jess Phillips quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jess-phillips/)

## More King quotes

> [“Wasn’t it Machiavelli who said ‘Any man who tries to be good all the time is bound to come to ruin among the great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darius-brasher/wasn-t-it-machiavelli-who-said-any-man-who-tries-to-be-good-all-the/)

[Darius Brasher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darius-brasher/)

> [“Kings don’t move mountains as a favor to a friend,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-whalen-turner/kings-don-t-move-mountains-as-a-favor-to-a-friend/)

[Megan Whalen Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-whalen-turner/)

> [People from all walks of life that you might find as a King Diamond fan - you don't look a certain way; you don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/king-diamond/people-from-all-walks-of-life-that-you-might-find-as-a-king-diamond/)

[King Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/king-diamond/)

> ['Melanin Man' was inspired by the words of an Uber driver in L.A. Before I got out of the car he said, 'They're scared…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masego/melanin-man-was-inspired-by-the-words-of-an-uber-driver-in-l-a-before/)

[Masego](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masego/)

> [Kenny King, his character on TV is him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-lashley/kenny-king-his-character-on-tv-is-him/)

[Bobby Lashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-lashley/)

> [They say that the commons of England would first destroy the king's friends and afterward himself, and then bring the Duke of York to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-cade/they-say-that-the-commons-of-england-would-first-destroy-the-king-s/)

[Jack Cade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-cade/)

> [“My kingdom not for a horse, but for a good piece of advice!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/my-kingdom-not-for-a-horse-but-for-a-good-piece-of-advice/)

[Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/)

> [I never knew about racial segregation until Martin Luther King.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bradley/i-never-knew-about-racial-segregation-until-martin-luther-king/)

[Charles Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bradley/)

> [President Obama's achievements and failures must be evaluated by comparison to those chief executives who have come before him and not be measured against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-garrow/president-obama-s-achievements-and-failures-must-be-evaluated-by/)

[David Garrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-garrow/)

> [Had Elijah Muhammad tried to introduce an orthodox form of Arab-oriented Islam, I doubt if he would have attracted 500 people, but he introduced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-henrik-clarke/had-elijah-muhammad-tried-to-introduce-an-orthodox-form-of-arab/)

[John Henrik Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-henrik-clarke/)

> [Rest in peace, King Kong Bundy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-waltman/rest-in-peace-king-kong-bundy/)

[Sean Waltman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-waltman/)

> [My crown is in my heart, not on my head; not decked with diamonds and Indian stones, nor to be seen: my crown is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/my-crown-is-in-my-heart-not-on-my-head-not-decked-with-diamonds-and/)

[William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/)

> [“Be a Kingmaker, Not Just a King.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tan-seow-how/be-a-kingmaker-not-just-a-king/)

[Tan Seow How](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tan-seow-how/)

> [Being happy is better than being a King...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elton-sibiya/being-happy-is-better-than-being-a-king/)

[Elton Sibiya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elton-sibiya/)

> [I'm like a big kid. But it's not like a called myself the Instagram King. I put up what people want to see and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-bilzerian/i-m-like-a-big-kid-but-it-s-not-like-a-called-myself-the-instagram/)

[Dan Bilzerian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-bilzerian/)

[Browse all 2,520 King quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/king/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I think power will do anything to survive and one of its main techniques is the rule of exceptions. So it makes an exception out of people and we worship them, whether that's Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King or Rosa Parks. These people become beatified beyond recognition.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Jess Phillips"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jess-phillips/i-think-power-will-do-anything-to-survive-and-one-of-its-main/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "King"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jess-phillips/i-think-power-will-do-anything-to-survive-and-one-of-its-main/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a5e/jess-phillips-6587_king_i-think-power-will-do-anything-to-surviv_3161771.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a5e/jess-phillips-6587_king_i-think-power-will-do-anything-to-surviv_3161771.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a5e/jess-phillips-6587_king_i-think-power-will-do-anything-to-surviv_3161771.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I think power will do anything to survive and one of its main techniques is the rule of exceptions. So it…” — Jess Phillips",
                "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": "Jess Phillips",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jess-phillips/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I think power will do anything...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jess-phillips/i-think-power-will-do-anything-to-survive-and-one-of-its-main/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jess-phillips/i-think-power-will-do-anything-to-survive-and-one-of-its-main/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
