---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What I have in my power, that is my own…"
description: "\"What I have in my power, that is my own. So long as I assert myself as holder, I am the proprietor of the thing.\" — Max Stirner"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a5f/max-stirner-6556_funny_what-i-have-in-my-power-that-is-my-own-s_1712187.jpg"
---

#  What I have in my power, that is my own. So long as I…

![“What I have in my power, that is my own. So long as I assert myself as holder, I am the proprietor of the thing.” quote by Max Stirner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a5f/max-stirner-6556_funny_what-i-have-in-my-power-that-is-my-own-s_1712187.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a5f/max-stirner-6556_funny_what-i-have-in-my-power-that-is-my-own-s_1712187.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a5f/max-stirner-6556_funny_what-i-have-in-my-power-that-is-my-own-s_1712187.jpg)

> “What I have in my power, that is my own. So long as I assert myself as holder, I am the proprietor of the thing.”

[Max Stirner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-stirner/)

## About This Quote

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

Personal autonomy is the ultimate source of power; owning one's self‑assertion grants true ownership of one's life.

**In simple terms:** I own my power.

Key Takeaway

Cultivate self‑reliance and personal authority.

Themes

individualism autonomy self‑ownership

Mood

reflective assertive

Type

philosophical motivational

When to use this quote

- personal decision making
- entrepreneurship
- creative projects

Key Concepts

egoism existential freedom

Questions to Reflect On

- What does it mean to truly own oneself?
- How can self‑ownership coexist with community responsibility?

A Different Perspective

Complete self‑ownership may ignore social interdependence.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Assert Holder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assert-holder-1257907/) [Funny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny/) [Holder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/holder/) [Holder Proprietor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/holder-proprietor-1257905/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [My own](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/my-own/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) [Proprietor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/proprietor-1246637/) [Proprietor Thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/proprietor-thing-1257906/)

## Related quotes

> [AXIOM. — Property is the Right of Increase claimed by the Proprietor over any thing which he has stamped as his own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-joseph-proudhon/axiom-property-is-the-right-of-increase-claimed-by-the-proprietor/)

[Pierre-Joseph Proudhon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-joseph-proudhon/)

> [The proprietor of stock is necessarily a citizen of the world, and is not necessarily attached to any particular country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-smith/the-proprietor-of-stock-is-necessarily-a-citizen-of-the-world-and-is/)

[Adam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-smith/)

> [“So my first impression, that he was a person of some undefined consequence, had gradually faded and he had become simply the proprietor of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/so-my-first-impression-that-he-was-a-person-of-some-undefined/)

[F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/)

> [“Perhaps this was the first instance of that quiet way of "speaking for" a place not yet occupied, or at least not improved as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/perhaps-this-was-the-first-instance-of-that-quiet-way-of-speaking-for/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

> [The first thing a proprietor learns, and painfully at that, is: Trust is fine, but control is better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elfriede-jelinek/the-first-thing-a-proprietor-learns-and-painfully-at-that-is-trust-is/)

[Elfriede Jelinek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elfriede-jelinek/)

> [It seldom happens, however, that a great proprietor is a great improver.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-smith/it-seldom-happens-however-that-a-great-proprietor-is-a-great-improver/)

[Adam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-smith/)

> [Every proprietor owes to the community a ground-rent for the land which he holds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/every-proprietor-owes-to-the-community-a-ground-rent-for-the-land/)

[Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/)

> [The proprietor, producing neither by his own labor nor by his implement, and receiving products in exchange for nothing, is either a parasite or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-joseph-proudhon/the-proprietor-producing-neither-by-his-own-labor-nor-by-his/)

[Pierre-Joseph Proudhon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-joseph-proudhon/)

> [The resignation of Attorney General Eric Holder is met with both pride and disappointment by the Civil Rights community. We are proud that he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-sharpton/the-resignation-of-attorney-general-eric-holder-is-met-with-both/)

[Al Sharpton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-sharpton/)

> [Beauty is often worse than wine; intoxicating both the holder and beholder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-zimmerman/beauty-is-often-worse-than-wine-intoxicating-both-the-holder-and/)

[John Zimmerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-zimmerman/)

> [“It's amazing what the sound of a voice you've been longing to hear can do to your heart. He spoke five words just now,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/it-s-amazing-what-the-sound-of-a-voice-you-ve-been-longing-to-hear/)

[Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/)

> [I have flown with British Airways since I was a very little child, so it feels quite special to have gone from family holidays…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orlando-bloom/i-have-flown-with-british-airways-since-i-was-a-very-little-child-so/)

[Orlando Bloom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orlando-bloom/)

> [It must be scary to stand up for beliefs also held by Eric Holder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-donovan/it-must-be-scary-to-stand-up-for-beliefs-also-held-by-eric-holder/)

[Jack Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-donovan/)

> [“I live you, Sky," he says against my lips. "I live you so much.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/i-live-you-sky-he-says-against-my-lips-i-live-you-so-much/)

[Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/)

> [“the phone. “God, this sucks, man. The only good thing about this entire school since you moved is fifth period.” “What’s fifth period?” Holder…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/the-phone-god-this-sucks-man-the-only-good-thing-about-this-entire/)

[Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/)

## More by Max Stirner

> [Whoever will be free must make himself free. Freedom is no fairy gift to fall into a man's lap. What is freedom? To have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-stirner/whoever-will-be-free-must-make-himself-free-freedom-is-no-fairy-gift/)

[Max Stirner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-stirner/)

> [I am all and nothing; I am not a mere thought, but at the same time I am full of thoughts, a thought-world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-stirner/i-am-all-and-nothing-i-am-not-a-mere-thought-but-at-the-same-time-i/)

[Max Stirner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-stirner/)

> [Only the free and personal man is a good citizen (realist), and even with the lack of particular (scholarly, artistic, etc)culture, a tasteful judge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-stirner/only-the-free-and-personal-man-is-a-good-citizen-realist-and-even/)

[Max Stirner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-stirner/)

> [Liberty of the people is not my liberty!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-stirner/liberty-of-the-people-is-not-my-liberty/)

[Max Stirner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-stirner/)

> [People is the name of the body, State of the spirit, of that ruling person that has hitherto suppressed me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-stirner/people-is-the-name-of-the-body-state-of-the-spirit-of-that-ruling/)

[Max Stirner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-stirner/)

> [Many a man renounces morals, but with great difficulty the conception, 'morality.' Morality is the 'idea' of morals, their intellectual power, their power over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-stirner/many-a-man-renounces-morals-but-with-great-difficulty-the-conception/)

[Max Stirner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-stirner/)

> [Freedom cannot be granted. It must be taken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-stirner/freedom-cannot-be-granted-it-must-be-taken/)

[Max Stirner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-stirner/)

> [For what reason then do the realists show themselves so unfriendly toward philosophy? Because they misunderstand their own calling and with all their might…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-stirner/for-what-reason-then-do-the-realists-show-themselves-so-unfriendly/)

[Max Stirner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-stirner/)

> [Every State is a despotism, be the despot one or many.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-stirner/every-state-is-a-despotism-be-the-despot-one-or-many/)

[Max Stirner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-stirner/)

> [Before what is sacred, people lose all sense of power and all confidence; they occupy a powerless and humble attitude toward it. And yet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-stirner/before-what-is-sacred-people-lose-all-sense-of-power-and-all/)

[Max Stirner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-stirner/)

> [Christianity has aimed to deliver us from a life determined by nature, from the appetites as actuating us, and so has meant that man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-stirner/christianity-has-aimed-to-deliver-us-from-a-life-determined-by-nature/)

[Max Stirner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-stirner/)

> [The freedom of man is, in political liberalism, freedom from persons, from personal dominion, from the master; the securing of each individual person against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-stirner/the-freedom-of-man-is-in-political-liberalism-freedom-from-persons/)

[Max Stirner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-stirner/)

> [Is not all the stupid chatter of most of our newspapers the babble of fools who suffer from the fixed idea of morality, legality,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-stirner/is-not-all-the-stupid-chatter-of-most-of-our-newspapers-the-babble-of/)

[Max Stirner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-stirner/)

> [Yes, yes, children must early be made to practise piety, godliness, and propriety; a person of good breeding is one into whom 'good maxims'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-stirner/yes-yes-children-must-early-be-made-to-practise-piety-godliness-and/)

[Max Stirner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-stirner/)

> [We do not aspire to communal life but to a life apart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-stirner/we-do-not-aspire-to-communal-life-but-to-a-life-apart/)

[Max Stirner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-stirner/)

[Explore all 86 Max Stirner quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-stirner/)

## More Funny quotes

> [You cant be controlling in improv.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-walsh/you-cant-be-controlling-in-improv/)

[Matt Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-walsh/)

> [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/)

[Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/)

> [Joking about violence is not funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perez-hilton/joking-about-violence-is-not-funny/)

[Perez Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perez-hilton/)

> [It's a hard thing to describe. It's just this sense that you got something to say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-lehrer/it-s-a-hard-thing-to-describe-it-s-just-this-sense-that-you-got/)

[Jonah Lehrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-lehrer/)

> [God reveals Himself through surprises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/god-reveals-himself-through-surprises/)

[Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/)

> [Sometimes I look at my awesome twitter followers &amp; think to myself, What the hell would I do without them :)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/sometimes-i-look-at-my-awesome-twitter-followers-think-to-myself-what/)

[Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/)

> [The happy have whole days,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colley-cibber/the-happy-have-whole-days/)

[Colley Cibber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colley-cibber/)

> [Congratulations to Facebook on going public with all my private information...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/congratulations-to-facebook-on-going-public-with-all-my-private/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Why are things as they are and not otherwise?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johannes-kepler/why-are-things-as-they-are-and-not-otherwise/)

[Johannes Kepler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johannes-kepler/)

> [I've been funny my whole life. This is a gift God gave me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-morgan/i-ve-been-funny-my-whole-life-this-is-a-gift-god-gave-me/)

[Tracy Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-morgan/)

> [Penis goes in , sperms cums out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/penis-goes-in-sperms-cums-out/)

[Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/)

> [If you were to send a werewolf to the moon, would he be a werewolf permanently?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-schaal/if-you-were-to-send-a-werewolf-to-the-moon-would-he-be-a-werewolf/)

[Kristen Schaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-schaal/)

> [When you have a choice, choose happy!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pancho-barnes/when-you-have-a-choice-choose-happy/)

[Pancho Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pancho-barnes/)

> [If you can connect people, you can create the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-heiferman/if-you-can-connect-people-you-can-create-the-future/)

[Scott Heiferman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-heiferman/)

> [Don't think OF the market. Think AS the market.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-fishman/don-t-think-of-the-market-think-as-the-market/)

[Michael Fishman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-fishman/)

[Browse all 39,858 Funny quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "What I have in my power, that is my own. So long as I assert myself as holder, I am the proprietor of the thing.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Max Stirner"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-stirner/what-i-have-in-my-power-that-is-my-own-so-long-as-i-assert-myself-as/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Funny"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-stirner/what-i-have-in-my-power-that-is-my-own-so-long-as-i-assert-myself-as/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a5f/max-stirner-6556_funny_what-i-have-in-my-power-that-is-my-own-s_1712187.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a5f/max-stirner-6556_funny_what-i-have-in-my-power-that-is-my-own-s_1712187.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a5f/max-stirner-6556_funny_what-i-have-in-my-power-that-is-my-own-s_1712187.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“What I have in my power, that is my own. So long as I assert myself as holder, I am the proprietor of the…” — Max Stirner",
                "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": "Max Stirner",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-stirner/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "What I have in my power,...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-stirner/what-i-have-in-my-power-that-is-my-own-so-long-as-i-assert-myself-as/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-stirner/what-i-have-in-my-power-that-is-my-own-so-long-as-i-assert-myself-as/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
