---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Actually, power is like money; neither…"
description: "\"Actually, power is like money; neither good nor bad. Its negative or positive spin depends upon how we use it.\" — Pat Heim"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a93/pat-heim-42046_depends_actually-power-is-like-money-neither-goo_2756106.jpg"
---

#  Actually, power is like money; neither good nor bad. Its…

![“Actually, power is like money; neither good nor bad. Its negative or positive spin depends upon how we use it.” quote by Pat Heim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a93/pat-heim-42046_depends_actually-power-is-like-money-neither-goo_2756106.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a93/pat-heim-42046_depends_actually-power-is-like-money-neither-goo_2756106.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a93/pat-heim-42046_depends_actually-power-is-like-money-neither-goo_2756106.jpg)

> “Actually, power is like money; neither good nor bad. Its negative or positive spin depends upon how we use it.”

[Pat Heim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-heim/)

## About This Quote

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

Power itself is neutral; its moral value depends on the intentions and actions of its holder.

**In simple terms:** Power is neutral, use matters.

Key Takeaway

Use power responsibly.

Themes

ethics leadership neutrality

Mood

thoughtful ethical

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

- business leadership
- political discourse

Key Concepts

moral philosophy organizational behavior

Questions to Reflect On

- What responsibilities come with power?
- How can we ensure positive use?

A Different Perspective

Power can be misused despite intent.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/)

## Related quotes

> [Power is like money. Some know how to get it; few know how to use it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-darby-bannard/power-is-like-money-some-know-how-to-get-it-few-know-how-to-use-it/)

[Walter Darby Bannard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-darby-bannard/)

> [Sadness is not necessarily something bad. Don't judge it as a bad or negative quality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sadness-is-not-necessarily-something-bad-don-t-judge-it-as-a-bad-or/)

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

> [No matter how bad or negative it gets, I somehow try to find the silver lining.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diamond-dallas-page/no-matter-how-bad-or-negative-it-gets-i-somehow-try-to-find-the/)

[Diamond Dallas Page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diamond-dallas-page/)

> [Don't let bad or negative people bring you down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-degarmo/don-t-let-bad-or-negative-people-bring-you-down/)

[Diana DeGarmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-degarmo/)

> [I'm continuously playing this game of what's real and what's not real, and having to balance and judge and realize that there are things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amandla-stenberg/i-m-continuously-playing-this-game-of-what-s-real-and-what-s-not-real/)

[Amandla Stenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amandla-stenberg/)

> [“It is all about how the party sees them as they strut around the conference, and got fuck all to do with whether we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alastair-campbell/it-is-all-about-how-the-party-sees-them-as-they-strut-around-the/)

[Alastair Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alastair-campbell/)

> [“It's easy not to abuse your power when you don't actually have any power.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-markus-malloy/it-s-easy-not-to-abuse-your-power-when-you-don-t-actually-have-any/)

[Oliver Markus Malloy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-markus-malloy/)

> [Power doesn't make you happy. Actually, power without knowledge and balance is problematic. Power is something that will automatically follow when you have knowledge.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/power-doesn-t-make-you-happy-actually-power-without-knowledge-and/)

[Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/)

> [I learned that you actually have more power when you shut up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-warhol/i-learned-that-you-actually-have-more-power-when-you-shut-up/)

[Andy Warhol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-warhol/)

> [Arbitrary power is like most other things which are very hard, very liable to be broken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abigail-adams/arbitrary-power-is-like-most-other-things-which-are-very-hard-very/)

[Abigail Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abigail-adams/)

> [Power? It's like a Dead Sea fruit. When you achieve it, there is nothing there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-macmillan/power-it-s-like-a-dead-sea-fruit-when-you-achieve-it-there-is-nothing/)

[Harold MacMillan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-macmillan/)

> [Power is like being a lady... if you have to tell people you are, you aren't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-thatcher/power-is-like-being-a-lady-if-you-have-to-tell-people-you-are-you/)

[Margaret Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-thatcher/)

> [“Power is like that; everyone feels it at once.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-egan/power-is-like-that-everyone-feels-it-at-once/)

[Jennifer Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-egan/)

> [“Is there any power like prayer?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/is-there-any-power-like-prayer/)

[Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/)

> [“Power is like a knife. It can be used to cut bread to share with your neighbor or stab you in the back.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sadiqua-hamdan/power-is-like-a-knife-it-can-be-used-to-cut-bread-to-share-with-your/)

[Sadiqua Hamdan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sadiqua-hamdan/)

## More by Pat Heim

> [Leadership doesn't mean giving marching orders that others must follow blindly. Rather, it means causing others to want to follow. Successful leadership is personal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-heim/leadership-doesn-t-mean-giving-marching-orders-that-others-must/)

[Pat Heim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-heim/)

> [Whether you're moving to a new company or a new department within your current organization, I believe you'll end up miles ahead if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-heim/whether-you-re-moving-to-a-new-company-or-a-new-department-within/)

[Pat Heim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-heim/)

> [Studies have shown that the terms girl and lady have pejorative connotations: They conjure images of someone weaker and lazier; someone more nervous, afraid,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-heim/studies-have-shown-that-the-terms-girl-and-lady-have-pejorative/)

[Pat Heim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-heim/)

> [A constant tension exists between an individual's interests, personal needs, and skills, and what the organization requires of her. We've all asked ourselves, How…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-heim/a-constant-tension-exists-between-an-individual-s-interests-personal/)

[Pat Heim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-heim/)

> [Simply stated, power is the ability to get things done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-heim/simply-stated-power-is-the-ability-to-get-things-done/)

[Pat Heim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-heim/)

> [Women also lose sight of their goals by taking on extra responsibilities. We are virtual responsibility magnets. We don't make these decisions consciously or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-heim/women-also-lose-sight-of-their-goals-by-taking-on-extra/)

[Pat Heim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-heim/)

> [Great leaders make leadership look so easy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-heim/great-leaders-make-leadership-look-so-easy/)

[Pat Heim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-heim/)

> [Before negotiating a raise, start collecting a file of evidence showing how you've impacted the bottom line. ... Don't believe there's no money in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-heim/before-negotiating-a-raise-start-collecting-a-file-of-evidence/)

[Pat Heim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-heim/)

> [I strongly urge you to consciously consider what success means to you. Instead of allowing others or society to determine when you win, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-heim/i-strongly-urge-you-to-consciously-consider-what-success-means-to-you/)

[Pat Heim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-heim/)

[Explore all 10 Pat Heim quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-heim/)

## More Depends quotes

> [It all depends on you. You can go on sleeping forever, you can wake up right this moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/it-all-depends-on-you-you-can-go-on-sleeping-forever-you-can-wake-up/)

[Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/)

> [Surely to root politics out of art is a highly necessary undertaking: for the freedom of art, like that of science, depends entirely upon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wyndham-lewis/surely-to-root-politics-out-of-art-is-a-highly-necessary-undertaking/)

[Wyndham Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wyndham-lewis/)

> [Peace is an ongoing process. It begins with the first step and it does not end. We, all of us alive today, are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-krieger/peace-is-an-ongoing-process-it-begins-with-the-first-step-and-it-does/)

[David Krieger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-krieger/)

> [The average condition of the people improving or deteriorating, depends upon whether population is advancing faster than improvement, or improvement than population.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stuart-mill/the-average-condition-of-the-people-improving-or-deteriorating/)

[John Stuart Mill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stuart-mill/)

> [India may be overtaking China as the world's most polluted country. Even now, which country is worse depends on the day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-inskeep/india-may-be-overtaking-china-as-the-world-s-most-polluted-country/)

[Steve Inskeep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-inskeep/)

> [What my day is like depends on where I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniela-pestova/what-my-day-is-like-depends-on-where-i-am/)

[Daniela Pestova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniela-pestova/)

> [Our security depends on having good relationships with our allies. Donald Trump mainly shows contempt for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-wolfowitz/our-security-depends-on-having-good-relationships-with-our-allies/)

[Paul Wolfowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-wolfowitz/)

> [Politics...You see, it depends on what kind of politics. What we did during my father's generation was a duty. And it was beautiful because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indira-gandhi/politics-you-see-it-depends-on-what-kind-of-politics-what-we-did/)

[Indira Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indira-gandhi/)

> [A free society depends upon a high degree of mutual trust. The public will not give that trust to officials who are not seen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archibald-cox/a-free-society-depends-upon-a-high-degree-of-mutual-trust-the-public/)

[Archibald Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archibald-cox/)

> [In proportion as our inward life fails, we go more constantly and desperately to the post office. You may depend on it, that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/in-proportion-as-our-inward-life-fails-we-go-more-constantly-and/)

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

> [Nothing will happen automatically. Change depends on what you and I do every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-steinem/nothing-will-happen-automatically-change-depends-on-what-you-and-i-do/)

[Gloria Steinem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-steinem/)

> [Every crucial experience can be regarded either as a setback, or the start of a wonderful new adventure, it depends on your perspective!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-roberts-rinehart/every-crucial-experience-can-be-regarded-either-as-a-setback-or-the/)

[Mary Roberts Rinehart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-roberts-rinehart/)

> [Unless we are prepared to search our souls to discover what to say, and then how to say it effectively, we cannot expect to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/everett-case/unless-we-are-prepared-to-search-our-souls-to-discover-what-to-say/)

Everett Case

> [What you can do and what it became the Depends are Only your Attitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/what-you-can-do-and-what-it-became-the-depends-are-only-your-attitude/)

Mak\_786

> [Every man will have his own criterion in forming his judgment of others. I depend very much on the effect of affliction. I consider…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-cecil/every-man-will-have-his-own-criterion-in-forming-his-judgment-of/)

[Richard Cecil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-cecil/)

Browse all 3,689 Depends quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Actually, power is like money; neither good nor bad. Its negative or positive spin depends upon how we use it.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Pat Heim"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-heim/actually-power-is-like-money-neither-good-nor-bad-its-negative-or/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Depends"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-heim/actually-power-is-like-money-neither-good-nor-bad-its-negative-or/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a93/pat-heim-42046_depends_actually-power-is-like-money-neither-goo_2756106.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a93/pat-heim-42046_depends_actually-power-is-like-money-neither-goo_2756106.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a93/pat-heim-42046_depends_actually-power-is-like-money-neither-goo_2756106.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Actually, power is like money; neither good nor bad. Its negative or positive spin depends upon how we use it.” — Pat Heim",
                "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": "Pat Heim",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-heim/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Actually, power is like money; neither...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-heim/actually-power-is-like-money-neither-good-nor-bad-its-negative-or/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-heim/actually-power-is-like-money-neither-good-nor-bad-its-negative-or/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
