--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You can't be pitiful AND powerful." description: "\"You can't be pitiful AND powerful.\" — Joyce Meyer" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/530/joyce-meyer-123_pitiful_you-can-t-be-pitiful-and-powerful-130761_1307614.jpg" --- # You can't be pitiful AND powerful. ![“You can't be pitiful AND powerful.” quote by Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/530/joyce-meyer-123_pitiful_you-can-t-be-pitiful-and-powerful-130761_1307614.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/530/joyce-meyer-123_pitiful_you-can-t-be-pitiful-and-powerful-130761_1307614.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/530/joyce-meyer-123_pitiful_you-can-t-be-pitiful-and-powerful-130761_1307614.jpg) > “You can't be pitiful AND powerful.” [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. One cannot simultaneously seek sympathy and wield authority; true power requires confidence, not pity. **In simple terms:** Power and pity don’t mix. Key Takeaway Choose confidence over self‑pity. Themes leadership confidence self‑respect Mood motivational direct Type self‑help inspirational When to use this quote - public speaking - team leadership - personal growth - conflict resolution Key Concepts empowerment humility authority Questions to Reflect On - How does self‑pity affect your influence? - When is humility appropriate? A Different Perspective Pity can be a tool for manipulation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Pitiful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pitiful/) [Pitiful Powerful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pitiful-powerful-1164050/) [Powerful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/powerful/) ## Related quotes > [We've all got our own brand of problems. You can be pitiful or powerful. Take your pick.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/we-ve-all-got-our-own-brand-of-problems-you-can-be-pitiful-or/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [You can be pitiful, or you can be powerful, but you can't be both](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/you-can-be-pitiful-or-you-can-be-powerful-but-you-can-t-be-both/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [“How pathetic are you? You’re actually ticked off that your stalker is no longer skulking around in the shadows. That’s just…pitiful.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/belle-aurora/how-pathetic-are-you-you-re-actually-ticked-off-that-your-stalker-is/) [Belle Aurora](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/belle-aurora/) > [The current anger at the march of turbines and pylons across the hills of Britain is not from nimbys. Government money has lubricated most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-jenkins/the-current-anger-at-the-march-of-turbines-and-pylons-across-the/) [Simon Jenkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-jenkins/) > [Pessimists are usually kind. The gay, bubbling over, have no time for the pitiful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-o-faolain/pessimists-are-usually-kind-the-gay-bubbling-over-have-no-time-for/) [Sean O Faolain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-o-faolain/) > [There is a certain delicacy which in yielding conquers; and with a pitiful look makes one find cause to crave help one's self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-sidney/there-is-a-certain-delicacy-which-in-yielding-conquers-and-with-a/) [Philip Sidney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-sidney/) > [Defeats are always pitiful. Victories are always last resources.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indira-gandhi/defeats-are-always-pitiful-victories-are-always-last-resources/) [Indira Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indira-gandhi/) > [I know so well what becomes of unmarried women who aren't prepared to occupy a position. I've seen such pitiful cases in the South…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/i-know-so-well-what-becomes-of-unmarried-women-who-aren-t-prepared-to/) [Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) > [“She perceived vaguely the pitiful corruption of the adult world; how cruel and frail it was, like a worn piece of burlap, patched with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cheever/she-perceived-vaguely-the-pitiful-corruption-of-the-adult-world-how/) [John Cheever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cheever/) > [Leaders goal: Don't be afraid of vulnerability & transparency, (without being pitiful). People respond to authenticity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-houston/leaders-goal-don-t-be-afraid-of-vulnerability-transparency-without/) [Brian Houston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-houston/) > [Proper prior planning prevents pitiful poor performance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-meyer/proper-prior-planning-prevents-pitiful-poor-performance/) [Don Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-meyer/) > [This is the perpetual and pitiful tragedy of the practical man in practical affairs. He always begins with a flourish of contempt for what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/this-is-the-perpetual-and-pitiful-tragedy-of-the-practical-man-in/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [I think that they participated in something that was not very proper and was very pitiful, not only for the Algerian people, but also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ahmed-ben-bella/i-think-that-they-participated-in-something-that-was-not-very-proper/) [Ahmed Ben Bella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ahmed-ben-bella/) > [“Hopeless. Freak. Elephant. Pitiful”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-cooner/hopeless-freak-elephant-pitiful/) [Donna Cooner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-cooner/) > [Who can calculate the wounds inflicted, their depth and pain, by harsh and mean words spoken in anger? How pitiful a sight is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-b-hinckley/who-can-calculate-the-wounds-inflicted-their-depth-and-pain-by-harsh/) [Gordon B. Hinckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-b-hinckley/) ## More by Joyce Meyer > [Grace is the power of the Holy Spirit coming to us free of charge to enable you to do with ease what you could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/grace-is-the-power-of-the-holy-spirit-coming-to-us-free-of-charge-to/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [God doesn't love me any more or less because I had some work done on my face.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/god-doesn-t-love-me-any-more-or-less-because-i-had-some-work-done-on/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [I encourage you to be a person who is not afraid of responsibility. In meeting resistance you will build your strength. If you only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/i-encourage-you-to-be-a-person-who-is-not-afraid-of-responsibility-in/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [Have God make a message out of your mess.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/have-god-make-a-message-out-of-your-mess/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [Forgiveness is not a feeling - it's a decision we make because we want to do what's right before God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/forgiveness-is-not-a-feeling-it-s-a-decision-we-make-because-we-want/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [The Bible says that Christians are the salt of the earth and the light of the world. On the job, in the grocery store,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/the-bible-says-that-christians-are-the-salt-of-the-earth-and-the/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [Addictions - Run to Jesus instead of running to your addiction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/addictions-run-to-jesus-instead-of-running-to-your-addiction/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [Don't miss out on today by living in yesterday.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/don-t-miss-out-on-today-by-living-in-yesterday/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [I never get tired of hearing the great testimonies of people whom God has touched. I pray that the changes God has done in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/i-never-get-tired-of-hearing-the-great-testimonies-of-people-whom-god/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [Early on in my life, I had a broken soul. I was abused by my father, abandoned by my mother and ended up in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/early-on-in-my-life-i-had-a-broken-soul-i-was-abused-by-my-father/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [frustration, complication and misery are available in abundance, but so is God's grace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/frustration-complication-and-misery-are-available-in-abundance-but-so/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [There is no power shortage in heaven, and God is never in a recession. But His grace is sufficient to meet every need.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/there-is-no-power-shortage-in-heaven-and-god-is-never-in-a-recession/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [Stop being tomented by everyone else's reaction to you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/stop-being-tomented-by-everyone-else-s-reaction-to-you/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [“… about midnight, as Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God…. Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/about-midnight-as-paul-and-silas-were-praying-and-singing-hymns-of/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [“As a Spirit-filled believer, you need to take the initiative to treat people the way you want to be treated, not the way they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/as-a-spirit-filled-believer-you-need-to-take-the-initiative-to-treat/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) [Explore all 1,221 Joyce Meyer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) ## More Pitiful quotes > [Who can calculate the wounds inflicted, their depth and pain, by harsh and mean words spoken in anger? How pitiful a sight is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-b-hinckley/who-can-calculate-the-wounds-inflicted-their-depth-and-pain-by-harsh/) [Gordon B. Hinckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-b-hinckley/) > [“Hopeless. Freak. Elephant. Pitiful”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-cooner/hopeless-freak-elephant-pitiful/) [Donna Cooner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-cooner/) > [I think that they participated in something that was not very proper and was very pitiful, not only for the Algerian people, but also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ahmed-ben-bella/i-think-that-they-participated-in-something-that-was-not-very-proper/) [Ahmed Ben Bella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ahmed-ben-bella/) > [This is the perpetual and pitiful tragedy of the practical man in practical affairs. He always begins with a flourish of contempt for what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/this-is-the-perpetual-and-pitiful-tragedy-of-the-practical-man-in/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [Proper prior planning prevents pitiful poor performance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-meyer/proper-prior-planning-prevents-pitiful-poor-performance/) [Don Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-meyer/) > [Leaders goal: Don't be afraid of vulnerability & transparency, (without being pitiful). People respond to authenticity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-houston/leaders-goal-don-t-be-afraid-of-vulnerability-transparency-without/) [Brian Houston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-houston/) > [“She perceived vaguely the pitiful corruption of the adult world; how cruel and frail it was, like a worn piece of burlap, patched with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cheever/she-perceived-vaguely-the-pitiful-corruption-of-the-adult-world-how/) [John Cheever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cheever/) > [I know so well what becomes of unmarried women who aren't prepared to occupy a position. I've seen such pitiful cases in the South…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/i-know-so-well-what-becomes-of-unmarried-women-who-aren-t-prepared-to/) [Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) > [Defeats are always pitiful. Victories are always last resources.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indira-gandhi/defeats-are-always-pitiful-victories-are-always-last-resources/) [Indira Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indira-gandhi/) > [There is a certain delicacy which in yielding conquers; and with a pitiful look makes one find cause to crave help one's self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-sidney/there-is-a-certain-delicacy-which-in-yielding-conquers-and-with-a/) [Philip Sidney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-sidney/) > [Pessimists are usually kind. The gay, bubbling over, have no time for the pitiful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-o-faolain/pessimists-are-usually-kind-the-gay-bubbling-over-have-no-time-for/) [Sean O Faolain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-o-faolain/) > [The current anger at the march of turbines and pylons across the hills of Britain is not from nimbys. Government money has lubricated most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-jenkins/the-current-anger-at-the-march-of-turbines-and-pylons-across-the/) [Simon Jenkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-jenkins/) > [“How pathetic are you? You’re actually ticked off that your stalker is no longer skulking around in the shadows. That’s just…pitiful.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/belle-aurora/how-pathetic-are-you-you-re-actually-ticked-off-that-your-stalker-is/) [Belle Aurora](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/belle-aurora/) > [I’m not a good faster. My friends have visions of God, I have visions of hamburgers. The only time I watch the Food Channel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-johnson/i-m-not-a-good-faster-my-friends-have-visions-of-god-i-have-visions/) [Bill Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-johnson/) > [A person moving in zero gravity feels a pitiful helplessness. One wrong move and you find yourself spinning wildly. Everyone becomes a baby again…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ulrich-walter/a-person-moving-in-zero-gravity-feels-a-pitiful-helplessness-one/) [Ulrich Walter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ulrich-walter/) [Browse all 151 Pitiful quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pitiful/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You can't be pitiful AND powerful.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Joyce Meyer" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/you-can-t-be-pitiful-and-powerful/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Pitiful" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/you-can-t-be-pitiful-and-powerful/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/530/joyce-meyer-123_pitiful_you-can-t-be-pitiful-and-powerful-130761_1307614.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/530/joyce-meyer-123_pitiful_you-can-t-be-pitiful-and-powerful-130761_1307614.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/530/joyce-meyer-123_pitiful_you-can-t-be-pitiful-and-powerful-130761_1307614.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“You can't be pitiful AND powerful.” — Joyce Meyer", "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": "Joyce Meyer", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "You can't be pitiful AND powerful.", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/you-can-t-be-pitiful-and-powerful/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/you-can-t-be-pitiful-and-powerful/#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 } } ] } ```