--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Power is the pivot on which everything…" description: "\"Power is the pivot on which everything hinges. He who has the power is always right; the weaker is always wrong.\" — Niccolo Machiavelli" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/201/niccolo-machiavelli-368_always-wrong_power-is-the-pivot-on-which-everything-h_333121.jpg" --- # Power is the pivot on which everything hinges. He who has… ![“Power is the pivot on which everything hinges. He who has the power is always right; the weaker is always wrong.” quote by Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/201/niccolo-machiavelli-368_always-wrong_power-is-the-pivot-on-which-everything-h_333121.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/201/niccolo-machiavelli-368_always-wrong_power-is-the-pivot-on-which-everything-h_333121.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/201/niccolo-machiavelli-368_always-wrong_power-is-the-pivot-on-which-everything-h_333121.jpg) > “Power is the pivot on which everything hinges. He who has the power is always right; the weaker is always wrong.” [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Power determines what is considered right or wrong, favoring those who hold it. **In simple terms:** Power decides what’s right. Key Takeaway Question power structures. Themes politics ethics authority Mood critical thoughtful Type philosophical political When to use this quote - government decisions - corporate leadership - personal relationships - legal judgments Key Concepts Machiavellianism relativism control Questions to Reflect On - Is power always justified? - Can power be used ethically? A Different Perspective It oversimplifies complex moral situations. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Always wrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always-wrong/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) ## Related quotes > [Power is always right, weakness always wrong. Power is always insolent and despotic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-webster/power-is-always-right-weakness-always-wrong-power-is-always-insolent/) [Noah Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-webster/) > [“I'm sorry if i say i need you. But i don't care i'm not scared of love. Cause when i'm not with you, i'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/one-direction/i-m-sorry-if-i-say-i-need-you-but-i-don-t-care-i-m-not-scared-of-love/) [One Direction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/one-direction/) > [When I'm not with you I'm weaker.is that so wrong? - strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/one-direction/when-i-m-not-with-you-i-m-weaker-is-that-so-wrong-strong/) [One Direction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/one-direction/) > [“The problem with people who have power is that they start thinking more about what it takes to keep that power than they do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mira-grant/the-problem-with-people-who-have-power-is-that-they-start-thinking-3/) [Mira Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mira-grant/) > [You've always had the power right there in your shoes, you just had to learn it for yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-blake/you-ve-always-had-the-power-right-there-in-your-shoes-you-just-had-to/) [William Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-blake/) > [To understand political power right, and derive it from its original, we must consider, what state all men are naturally in, and that is,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-locke/to-understand-political-power-right-and-derive-it-from-its-original/) [John Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-locke/) > [Government without a constitution, is a power without a right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/government-without-a-constitution-is-a-power-without-a-right/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [As long as the wrong people hold power, how can the right political climate even arise?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-a-dembski/as-long-as-the-wrong-people-hold-power-how-can-the-right-political/) [William A. Dembski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-a-dembski/) > [I don't think anyone should have power over me, or have the right to tell me what to say or how to think. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/park-yeon-mi/i-don-t-think-anyone-should-have-power-over-me-or-have-the-right-to/) [Park Yeon-mi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/park-yeon-mi/) > [“The problem with people who have power is that they start thinking more about what it takes to keep that power than they do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mira-grant/the-problem-with-people-who-have-power-is-that-they-start-thinking-2/) [Mira Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mira-grant/) > [I store my power right up until it's time to hit the ball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xander-schauffele/i-store-my-power-right-up-until-it-s-time-to-hit-the-ball/) [Xander Schauffele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xander-schauffele/) > [But I believe we have a higher level of mentality within us, but we have to use the power in the right way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-turner/but-i-believe-we-have-a-higher-level-of-mentality-within-us-but-we/) [Tina Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-turner/) > [Grasshopper always wrong in argument with chicken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/grasshopper-always-wrong-in-argument-with-chicken/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [Pay no heed to the passing religious vogue. Go back to the grass roots. Open your hearts and search the Scriptures. Bear your cross,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/pay-no-heed-to-the-passing-religious-vogue-go-back-to-the-grass-roots/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [People who try to predict the future by extrapolating in a line of more of what exists - they are always wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-jacobs/people-who-try-to-predict-the-future-by-extrapolating-in-a-line-of/) [Jane Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-jacobs/) ## More by Niccolo Machiavelli > [Men generally decide upon a middle course, which is most hazardous, for they know neither how to be entirely good nor entirely bad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/men-generally-decide-upon-a-middle-course-which-is-most-hazardous-for/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [Because there are three classes of intellects: one which comprehends by itself; another which appreciates what others comprehend; and a third which neither comprehends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/because-there-are-three-classes-of-intellects-one-which-comprehends/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [It is the duty of a man of honor to teach others the good which he has not been able to do himself because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/it-is-the-duty-of-a-man-of-honor-to-teach-others-the-good-which-he/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [“Anyone who believes that new benefits make men of high station forget old injuries deceives himself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/anyone-who-believes-that-new-benefits-make-men-of-high-station-forget/) [Niccolò Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [He who has once begun to live by rapine always finds reasons for taking what is not his.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/he-who-has-once-begun-to-live-by-rapine-always-finds-reasons-for/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [Everyone who wants to know what will happen ought to examine what has happened: everything in this world in any epoch has their replicas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/everyone-who-wants-to-know-what-will-happen-ought-to-examine-what-has/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [Speaking generally, men are ungrateful, fickle, hypocritical, fearful odanger and covetous ogain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/speaking-generally-men-are-ungrateful-fickle-hypocritical-fearful/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [There is nothing as likely to succeed as what the enemy believes you cannot attempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/there-is-nothing-as-likely-to-succeed-as-what-the-enemy-believes-you/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [For the great majority of mankind are satisfied with appearance, as though they were realities and are often more influenced by the things that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/for-the-great-majority-of-mankind-are-satisfied-with-appearance-as/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [That prince is highly esteemed who conveys this impression of himself, and he who is highly esteemed is not easily conspired against; for, provided…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/that-prince-is-highly-esteemed-who-conveys-this-impression-of-himself/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [“Anyone who studies present and ancient affairs will easily see how in all cities and all peoples there still exist, and have always existed,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/anyone-who-studies-present-and-ancient-affairs-will-easily-see-how-in/) [Niccolò Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [I believe that it is possible for one to praise, without concern, any man after he is dead since every reason and supervision for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/i-believe-that-it-is-possible-for-one-to-praise-without-concern-any/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [Men are always averse to enterprises in which they foresee difficulties.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/men-are-always-averse-to-enterprises-in-which-they-foresee/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [“He who causes another to become powerful ruins himself, for he brings such a power into being either by design or by force, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/he-who-causes-another-to-become-powerful-ruins-himself-for-he-brings/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [One never finds anything perfectly pure and ... exempt from danger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/one-never-finds-anything-perfectly-pure-and-exempt-from-danger/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) [Explore all 590 Niccolo Machiavelli quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) ## More Always wrong quotes > [People who try to predict the future by extrapolating in a line of more of what exists - they are always wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-jacobs/people-who-try-to-predict-the-future-by-extrapolating-in-a-line-of/) [Jane Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-jacobs/) > [Pay no heed to the passing religious vogue. Go back to the grass roots. Open your hearts and search the Scriptures. Bear your cross,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/pay-no-heed-to-the-passing-religious-vogue-go-back-to-the-grass-roots/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [Grasshopper always wrong in argument with chicken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/grasshopper-always-wrong-in-argument-with-chicken/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [Apparently, an undocumented side effect of dope is a gross overestimation of one's own intelligence. Dopers become convinced they've hidden their stash so well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alafair-burke/apparently-an-undocumented-side-effect-of-dope-is-a-gross/) [Alafair Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alafair-burke/) > [Since the majority is always wrong, might we try one election day where all the losers take office?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-breault/since-the-majority-is-always-wrong-might-we-try-one-election-day/) [Robert Breault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-breault/) > [you may take it from me, that however hard you try - or don't try; whatever you do - or don't do; for better,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwen-raverat/you-may-take-it-from-me-that-however-hard-you-try-or-don-t-try/) [Gwen Raverat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwen-raverat/) > [She didn't give George any too easy a time when she was alive. She was one of those semi-invalids – I believe she had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agatha-christie/she-didn-t-give-george-any-too-easy-a-time-when-she-was-alive-she-was/) [Agatha Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agatha-christie/) > [Without the instruments and accumulated knowledge of the natural sciences... humans are trapped in a cognitive prison. They are like intelligent fish born in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-o-wilson/without-the-instruments-and-accumulated-knowledge-of-the-natural/) [E. O. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-o-wilson/) > [Torturing a human being is almost always wrong, but it is not absolutely wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-singer/torturing-a-human-being-is-almost-always-wrong-but-it-is-not/) [Peter Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-singer/) > [People recognize me from everything and as soon as I think I know where they know me from, I'm always wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niecy-nash/people-recognize-me-from-everything-and-as-soon-as-i-think-i-know/) [Niecy Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niecy-nash/) > [Socialism is always wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-ayittey/socialism-is-always-wrong/) [George Ayittey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-ayittey/) > [So, economics should emulate physics' basic ethos, but its search for precision in physics-like formulas is almost always wrong in economics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/so-economics-should-emulate-physics-basic-ethos-but-its-search-for/) [Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/) > [I have taken the stand that nobody can be always wrong, but it does seem to me that I have approximated so highly that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-fort/i-have-taken-the-stand-that-nobody-can-be-always-wrong-but-it-does/) [Charles Fort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-fort/) > [Don't make decisions by majority vote. The majority is almost always wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-rogers/don-t-make-decisions-by-majority-vote-the-majority-is-almost-always/) [Adrian Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-rogers/) > [After a long life I have come to the conclusion that when all the Establishment is united it is always wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-macmillan/after-a-long-life-i-have-come-to-the-conclusion-that-when-all-the/) [Harold MacMillan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-macmillan/) [Browse all 71 Always wrong quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always-wrong/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Power is the pivot on which everything hinges. 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