--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Power is not anything that's given away…" description: "\"Power is not anything that's given away. Power is something you have to compete for.\" — Nancy Pelosi" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d4/nancy-pelosi-1267_compete_power-is-not-anything-that-s-given-away_390792.png" --- # Power is not anything that's given away. Power is… ![“Power is not anything that's given away. Power is something you have to compete for.” quote by Nancy Pelosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d4/nancy-pelosi-1267_compete_power-is-not-anything-that-s-given-away_390792.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d4/nancy-pelosi-1267_compete_power-is-not-anything-that-s-given-away_390792.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d4/nancy-pelosi-1267_compete_power-is-not-anything-that-s-given-away_390792.png) > “Power is not anything that's given away. Power is something you have to compete for.” [Nancy Pelosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pelosi/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Power must be earned through competition and effort, not simply handed out. **In simple terms:** Power is earned, not given. Key Takeaway Compete for influence and prove your worth. Themes politics leadership competition Mood determined critical Type political philosophical When to use this quote - elections - boardrooms - activism - negotiations Key Concepts authority social dynamics meritocracy Questions to Reflect On - How do you demonstrate competence to gain power? - What barriers exist in competing for influence? A Different Perspective Power struggles can be undermined by systemic inequities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) ## Related quotes > [“Don't give away your power.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-hopkins/don-t-give-away-your-power/) [Ellen Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-hopkins/) > [Indians have become very demanding. Gone are the days where you could get away with power outages.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piyush-goyal/indians-have-become-very-demanding-gone-are-the-days-where-you-could/) [Piyush Goyal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piyush-goyal/) > [“You give away your power when you don't forgive.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-perry/you-give-away-your-power-when-you-don-t-forgive/) [Tyler Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-perry/) > [Everything we run away from has power over us;everything we go through,we conquer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everything-we-run-away-from-has-power-over-us-everything-we-go/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Those carried away by power are soon carried away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/those-carried-away-by-power-are-soon-carried-away/) [Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/) > [When you choose those who have hurt you, you take away their power...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-you-choose-those-who-have-hurt-you-you-take-away-their-power/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When you choose to forgive those who have hurt you, you take away their power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brittany/when-you-choose-to-forgive-those-who-have-hurt-you-you-take-away/) [Brittany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brittany/) > [“I saw more clearly how much power she had given me, the damage I could do, her dependence on what I chose to say.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mia-alvar/i-saw-more-clearly-how-much-power-she-had-given-me-the-damage-i-could/) [Mia Alvar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mia-alvar/) > [“Power is never given, it's taken." It is an open secret that there exists a conflict between a new generation of young black leadership…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wesley-lowery/power-is-never-given-it-s-taken-it-is-an-open-secret-that-there/) [Wesley Lowery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wesley-lowery/) > [Power is not given to you. You have to take it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beyonce-knowles/power-is-not-given-to-you-you-have-to-take-it/) [Beyonce Knowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beyonce-knowles/) > [“No matter what degree of power may be given us for a moment of need, let no one ever think he or she has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-t-kendall-2/no-matter-what-degree-of-power-may-be-given-us-for-a-moment-of-need/) [R.T. Kendall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-t-kendall-2/) > [I think that cartoons have a lot more power than they're given credit for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-woodring/i-think-that-cartoons-have-a-lot-more-power-than-they-re-given-credit/) [Jim Woodring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-woodring/) > [The real problem is that the way that power is given out in our society pits us against each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-hill/the-real-problem-is-that-the-way-that-power-is-given-out-in-our/) [Anita Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-hill/) > [Real power is not given to us or even created; real power is realized. It comes from realizing an inner sense of peace, self-worth,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-ornish/real-power-is-not-given-to-us-or-even-created-real-power-is-realized/) [Dean Ornish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-ornish/) > [“Power is given only to those you allow to have power over you. No man was born with a master. The only master of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzy-kassem/power-is-given-only-to-those-you-allow-to-have-power-over-you-no-man/) [Suzy Kassem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzy-kassem/) ## More by Nancy Pelosi > [We are not going back to the failed policies of the past. We are fighting for the middle class!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pelosi/we-are-not-going-back-to-the-failed-policies-of-the-past-we-are/) [Nancy Pelosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pelosi/) > [The Democrats have been there for working people in our country. That's who we are, trickle-down vs. middle-class economics. That's the major difference between…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pelosi/the-democrats-have-been-there-for-working-people-in-our-country-that/) [Nancy Pelosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pelosi/) > [I would do almost anything Tina Fey asks me to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pelosi/i-would-do-almost-anything-tina-fey-asks-me-to-do/) [Nancy Pelosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pelosi/) > [Hillary Clinton truly is sincere, but she has to connect more with the American people in terms of what she believes in and how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pelosi/hillary-clinton-truly-is-sincere-but-she-has-to-connect-more-with-the/) [Nancy Pelosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pelosi/) > [People say to me all the time, "Oh, you do such a good job unifying the House Democrats." I say, "I don't. Our values…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pelosi/people-say-to-me-all-the-time-oh-you-do-such-a-good-job-unifying-the/) [Nancy Pelosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pelosi/) > [I come to this debate, Mr. Speaker, as one at the end of 10 years in office on the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pelosi/i-come-to-this-debate-mr-speaker-as-one-at-the-end-of-10-years-in/) [Nancy Pelosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pelosi/) > [Democratic priorities remain clear: to provide a tax cut for working families, to promote policies that produce jobs and economic growth, and to assist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pelosi/democratic-priorities-remain-clear-to-provide-a-tax-cut-for-working/) [Nancy Pelosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pelosi/) > [When Americans are worried about losing their jobs, their savings, their homes and their chance at the American Dream, Congress and the president must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pelosi/when-americans-are-worried-about-losing-their-jobs-their-savings/) [Nancy Pelosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pelosi/) > [The issue of childcare is the missing link in the full contribution of women to our society and to our economy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pelosi/the-issue-of-childcare-is-the-missing-link-in-the-full-contribution/) [Nancy Pelosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pelosi/) > [By making college more affordable for all and more accessible for minority students, the first new higher education authorizing legislation in a decade will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pelosi/by-making-college-more-affordable-for-all-and-more-accessible-for/) [Nancy Pelosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pelosi/) > [I don't spend a lot of time thinking about the ratings of Congress. I really don't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pelosi/i-don-t-spend-a-lot-of-time-thinking-about-the-ratings-of-congress-i/) [Nancy Pelosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pelosi/) > [As many of you know, I came from San Francisco. We don't have a lot of farms there. Well, we do have one -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pelosi/as-many-of-you-know-i-came-from-san-francisco-we-don-t-have-a-lot-of/) [Nancy Pelosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pelosi/) > [I don't know any member of Congress who ever said, 'I'm satisfied with the communication that we have from the White House.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pelosi/i-don-t-know-any-member-of-congress-who-ever-said-i-m-satisfied-with/) [Nancy Pelosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pelosi/) > [What is key for winning the election is to be able to put forth a vision for our future and how this election affects…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pelosi/what-is-key-for-winning-the-election-is-to-be-able-to-put-forth-a/) [Nancy Pelosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pelosi/) > [Hillary Clinton needs no advice from anyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pelosi/hillary-clinton-needs-no-advice-from-anyone/) [Nancy Pelosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pelosi/) [Explore all 263 Nancy Pelosi quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pelosi/) ## More Compete quotes > [Honestly, we’ll compete with everybody. I love competition. As long as people invent their own stuff, I love competition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/honestly-we-ll-compete-with-everybody-i-love-competition-as-long-as/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [You don't go into the game to compete. You go into each game to win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cam-newton/you-don-t-go-into-the-game-to-compete-you-go-into-each-game-to-win/) [Cam Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cam-newton/) > [The Way of the Sage is to act but not to compete.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/the-way-of-the-sage-is-to-act-but-not-to-compete/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [For me, it's more important to bring my level up and make sure that I can compete against guys in the top 100 and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-shapovalov/for-me-it-s-more-important-to-bring-my-level-up-and-make-sure-that-i/) [Denis Shapovalov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-shapovalov/) > [I love to compete. That's the essence of who I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiger-woods/i-love-to-compete-that-s-the-essence-of-who-i-am/) [Tiger Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiger-woods/) > [When I was young, all I wanted to do was to compete, have fun and travel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-gaylord/when-i-was-young-all-i-wanted-to-do-was-to-compete-have-fun-and-travel/) [Mitch Gaylord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-gaylord/) > [“The secret to unseating great power, is not to move the other direction, but to compete directly against their goals.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/the-secret-to-unseating-great-power-is-not-to-move-the-other/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [There are a lot of champions out there, a lot of great guys, but I think that the way I compete and my fighting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-pettis/there-are-a-lot-of-champions-out-there-a-lot-of-great-guys-but-i/) [Anthony Pettis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-pettis/) > [“Successful people compete against themselves, not against other people.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-adam-snyder/successful-people-compete-against-themselves-not-against-other-people/) [J.Adam Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-adam-snyder/) > [Most people should be given a chance to compete in the Olympic Games.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-the-eagle/most-people-should-be-given-a-chance-to-compete-in-the-olympic-games/) [Eddie the Eagle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-the-eagle/) > [The hardest skill to acquire in this sport is the one where you compete all out, give it all you have, and you are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-reese/the-hardest-skill-to-acquire-in-this-sport-is-the-one-where-you/) Eddie Reese > [They wanted me to lead these young players, teach them the way to compete, when the only thing I should be worried about is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-kinsler/they-wanted-me-to-lead-these-young-players-teach-them-the-way-to/) Ian Kinsler > [For some people, success is a zero sum game. They think that if they push other people out of the way, fewer people can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-lelia-bundles/for-some-people-success-is-a-zero-sum-game-they-think-that-if-they/) [A'Lelia Bundles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-lelia-bundles/) > [We can't live true to our set of values unless American educational system is strong. I really believe that if we don't get that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/we-can-t-live-true-to-our-set-of-values-unless-american-educational/) [Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/) > [I write what I like to read, and I enjoy love triangles in YA and adult fiction - not to mention in other media…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kresley-cole/i-write-what-i-like-to-read-and-i-enjoy-love-triangles-in-ya-and/) [Kresley Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kresley-cole/) Browse all 999 Compete quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Power is not anything that's given away. 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