--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Those that have so much power over others…" description: "\"Those that have so much power over others as to be able to oppress them have seldom so much over themselves as not to oppress.\" — Matthew Henry" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/157/matthew-henry-903_able_those-that-have-so-much-power-over-other_696926.jpg" --- # Those that have so much power over others as to be able to… ![“Those that have so much power over others as to be able to oppress them have seldom so much over themselves as not to oppress.” quote by Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/157/matthew-henry-903_able_those-that-have-so-much-power-over-other_696926.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/157/matthew-henry-903_able_those-that-have-so-much-power-over-other_696926.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/157/matthew-henry-903_able_those-that-have-so-much-power-over-other_696926.jpg) > “Those that have so much power over others as to be able to oppress them have seldom so much over themselves as not to oppress.” [Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Power over others often reflects a lack of self-control, leading to oppression of both others and oneself. **In simple terms:** Abusing power shows personal weakness. Key Takeaway Cultivate self-discipline and empathy. Themes power self-control oppression morality spirituality Mood reflective inspirational Type moral spiritual When to use this quote - Leadership training - personal counseling - community mediation - education on consent Key Concepts Christian ethics psychology authority dynamics Questions to Reflect On - What self-discipline habits reduce the urge to dominate? - How does empathy prevent oppression? A Different Perspective Power can be misused despite good intentions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Oppress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oppress/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) [Power over others](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power-over-others/) ## Related quotes > [All I need is the power to be able to protect my comrades. So long as I can have the strength to do that,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hiro-mashima/all-i-need-is-the-power-to-be-able-to-protect-my-comrades-so-long-as/) [Hiro Mashima](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hiro-mashima/) > [Power is being able to say complete and utter nonsense and have it be believed, powerlessness is where no matter how much cogent evidence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catharine-mackinnon/power-is-being-able-to-say-complete-and-utter-nonsense-and-have-it-be/) [Catharine MacKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catharine-mackinnon/) > [We are putting more and more power into a system which is less and less able to carry it reliably.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-gillmor/we-are-putting-more-and-more-power-into-a-system-which-is-less-and/) [Paul Gillmor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-gillmor/) > [Real power is being able to take care of yourself. My job is to make art, but I aspire to do more than that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-caesar/real-power-is-being-able-to-take-care-of-yourself-my-job-is-to-make/) [Daniel Caesar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-caesar/) > [If you have power, you might be able to heal a person. You could actually get inside their cell structures and create a change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/if-you-have-power-you-might-be-able-to-heal-a-person-you-could/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [The purpose of getting power is to be able to give it away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aneurin-bevan/the-purpose-of-getting-power-is-to-be-able-to-give-it-away/) [Aneurin Bevan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aneurin-bevan/) > [There is no woman in the world who does not abuse the power she has been able to acquire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-choderlos-de-laclos/there-is-no-woman-in-the-world-who-does-not-abuse-the-power-she-has/) [Pierre Choderlos De Laclos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-choderlos-de-laclos/) > [“Don't be a pepper on the eyes of people; Rather be the salt on their tongue and make a difference that influences their sense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/don-t-be-a-pepper-on-the-eyes-of-people-rather-be-the-salt-on-their/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [The right of the judge to inflict punishment gives him both power and opportunity to oppress the innocent; yet none but crazy men will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-ellsworth/the-right-of-the-judge-to-inflict-punishment-gives-him-both-power-and/) [Oliver Ellsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-ellsworth/) > [“Not only are you what you eat, but you also can be what's eating you. Don't become your problems or let them overtake you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-liccione/not-only-are-you-what-you-eat-but-you-also-can-be-what-s-eating-you/) [Anthony Liccione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-liccione/) > [I was traumatised in the medieval Afghan society at Sarana village by the local boys of Omar's Taliban who forced my in-laws to subjugate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sushmita-banerjee/i-was-traumatised-in-the-medieval-afghan-society-at-sarana-village-by/) Sushmita Banerjee > [“Honey, I've lived long enough to know that begging your oppressors to spare you never works. You either fight back, or remind the ones…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/farah-naz-rishi/honey-i-ve-lived-long-enough-to-know-that-begging-your-oppressors-to/) Farah Naz Rishi > [Give all the power to the many, they will oppress the few. Give all the power to the few, they will oppress the many.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/give-all-the-power-to-the-many-they-will-oppress-the-few-give-all-the/) [Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/) > [“Do not injure, abuse, oppress, enslave, insult, torment, torture, or kill any creature or living being.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahavira/do-not-injure-abuse-oppress-enslave-insult-torment-torture-or-kill/) [Mahavira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahavira/) > [You cannot oppress the people who are not afraid anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesar-chavez/you-cannot-oppress-the-people-who-are-not-afraid-anymore/) [Cesar Chavez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesar-chavez/) ## More by Matthew Henry > [Our duty as Christians is always to keep heaven in our eye and earth under our feet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/our-duty-as-christians-is-always-to-keep-heaven-in-our-eye-and-earth/) [Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/) > [Christ is our temple, in whom by faith all believers meet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/christ-is-our-temple-in-whom-by-faith-all-believers-meet/) [Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/) > [“Those that truly love God will make it their constant care and endeavour to keep his commandments, particularly those that relate to his worship.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/those-that-truly-love-god-will-make-it-their-constant-care-and/) [Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/) > [In order to the attaining of all useful knowledge this is most necessary, that we fear God; we are not qualified to profit by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/in-order-to-the-attaining-of-all-useful-knowledge-this-is-most/) [Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/) > [“When men drive God's word from them he justly permits their delusions, and answers them according to the multitude of their idols.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/when-men-drive-god-s-word-from-them-he-justly-permits-their-delusions/) [Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/) > [Christ died. He left a will in which He gave His soul to His Father, His body to Joseph of Arimathea, His clothes to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/christ-died-he-left-a-will-in-which-he-gave-his-soul-to-his-father/) [Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/) > [“God's word will stand, and we shall get nothing by disputing it, or delaying to submit to it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/god-s-word-will-stand-and-we-shall-get-nothing-by-disputing-it-or/) [Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/) > [We must believe that He is able to do what He will, wise to do what is best, and good, according to His promise,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/we-must-believe-that-he-is-able-to-do-what-he-will-wise-to-do-what-is/) [Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/) > [“When God gives law to us, we must give honour to him; when he speaks, we must bow our heads and worship.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/when-god-gives-law-to-us-we-must-give-honour-to-him-when-he-speaks-we/) [Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/) > [“The first that dies is a martyr, and dies for his religion; and of such it may more truly be said than of soldiers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/the-first-that-dies-is-a-martyr-and-dies-for-his-religion-and-of-such/) [Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/) > [They that pray in the family do well; they that pray and read the Scriptures do better; but they that pray, and read, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/they-that-pray-in-the-family-do-well-they-that-pray-and-read-the/) [Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/) > [“Let no man go beyond or defraud his brother, for, though it be hidden from man, it will be found that God is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/let-no-man-go-beyond-or-defraud-his-brother-for-though-it-be-hidden/) [Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/) > [“Those who are unconcerned in the affairs of their brethren, and take no care, when they have opportunity, to prevent their hurt in their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/those-who-are-unconcerned-in-the-affairs-of-their-brethren-and-take/) [Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/) > [Some people do not like to hear much of repentance; but I think it is so necessary that if I should die in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/some-people-do-not-like-to-hear-much-of-repentance-but-i-think-it-is/) [Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/) > [Love is the root; obedience is the fruit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/love-is-the-root-obedience-is-the-fruit/) [Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/) [Explore all 332 Matthew Henry quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/) ## More Able quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [In the '80s, the way radio was programmed, if you didn't have a hit record you weren't going to be able to make any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huey-lewis/in-the-80s-the-way-radio-was-programmed-if-you-didn-t-have-a-hit/) [Huey Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huey-lewis/) > [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [I have that need in me, I want everyone to love me, but I'm embarrassed by that need, so I wanted to cover it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/i-have-that-need-in-me-i-want-everyone-to-love-me-but-i-m-embarrassed/) [Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/) > [Thinking about the things that happened, I don't know any other ball player would could have done what he (Jackie Robinson) did. To be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pee-wee-reese/thinking-about-the-things-that-happened-i-don-t-know-any-other-ball/) [Pee Wee Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pee-wee-reese/) > [I wanted to remember in order to be able to return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/i-wanted-to-remember-in-order-to-be-able-to-return/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [Government schools, with your tax money, now discourage the teaching of multiplication tables by rote memorization but teach reading by the 'look-and-say' method which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-perry/government-schools-with-your-tax-money-now-discourage-the-teaching-of/) Greg Perry > [I don't know if I would qualify as mainstream. I think I have managed to function pretty successfully on the fringes of the music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-metheny/i-don-t-know-if-i-would-qualify-as-mainstream-i-think-i-have-managed/) [Pat Metheny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-metheny/) > [What we're supposed to do as actors is be able to portray real human beings and emotions. And if you grow up in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-browning/what-we-re-supposed-to-do-as-actors-is-be-able-to-portray-real-human/) [Emily Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-browning/) > [The reason that Apple is able to create products like iPad is because we always try to be at the intersection of technology and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/the-reason-that-apple-is-able-to-create-products-like-ipad-is-because/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [It was an important period for us, because even though we weren't a "punk band", and what became a model for a punk band,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-mallinder/it-was-an-important-period-for-us-because-even-though-we-weren-t-a/) [Stephen Mallinder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-mallinder/) > [- You look fine. - Right. I look fine. Except I don't, said Zora, tugging sadly at her man's nightshirt. This was why Kiki…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zadie-smith/you-look-fine-right-i-look-fine-except-i-don-t-said-zora-tugging/) [Zadie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zadie-smith/) > [There is a way to be a woman, ask for what we deserve and be able to negotiate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracee-ellis-ross/there-is-a-way-to-be-a-woman-ask-for-what-we-deserve-and-be-able-to/) [Tracee Ellis Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracee-ellis-ross/) Browse all 17,257 Able quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Those that have so much power over others as to be able to oppress them have seldom so much over themselves as not to oppress.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Matthew Henry" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/those-that-have-so-much-power-over-others-as-to-be-able-to-oppress/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Able" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/those-that-have-so-much-power-over-others-as-to-be-able-to-oppress/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/157/matthew-henry-903_able_those-that-have-so-much-power-over-other_696926.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/157/matthew-henry-903_able_those-that-have-so-much-power-over-other_696926.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/157/matthew-henry-903_able_those-that-have-so-much-power-over-other_696926.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Those that have so much power over others as to be able to oppress them have seldom so much over themselves…” — Matthew Henry", "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": "Matthew Henry", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Those that have so much power...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/those-that-have-so-much-power-over-others-as-to-be-able-to-oppress/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/those-that-have-so-much-power-over-others-as-to-be-able-to-oppress/#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 } } ] } ```