--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I write about power, that's my real…" description: "\"I write about power, that's my real subject - how you get it, what you do with it, how you abuse it. I'm equally wary of liberals and conservatives.\" —..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f2/rene-balcer-38352_abuse_i-write-about-power-that-s-my-real-subje_423743.jpg" --- # I write about power, that's my real subject - how you get… ![“I write about power, that's my real subject - how you get it, what you do with it, how you abuse it. I'm equally wary of liberals and conservatives.” quote by Rene Balcer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f2/rene-balcer-38352_abuse_i-write-about-power-that-s-my-real-subje_423743.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f2/rene-balcer-38352_abuse_i-write-about-power-that-s-my-real-subje_423743.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f2/rene-balcer-38352_abuse_i-write-about-power-that-s-my-real-subje_423743.jpg) > “I write about power, that's my real subject - how you get it, what you do with it, how you abuse it. I'm equally wary of liberals and conservatives.” [Rene Balcer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rene-balcer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Explores the nature of power, its acquisition, use, and potential for abuse, while maintaining skepticism toward both political extremes. **In simple terms:** Power involves gaining, using, and possibly misusing influence, regardless of ideology. Key Takeaway Question power's source and impact. Themes politics ethics authority Mood cautious critical Type analytical reflective When to use this quote - leadership decisions - policy making - organizational culture - personal ambition - public discourse Key Concepts Power dynamics corruption responsibility Questions to Reflect On - How do you ensure power is used ethically? - What checks can prevent abuse? A Different Perspective Power can be misused regardless of political affiliation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Abuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abuse/) [Conservatives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conservatives/) [Liberals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberals/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [The main difference between liberals and conservatives is that conservatives are honest about it. We're kind of dorks about it. We are kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-goldberg/the-main-difference-between-liberals-and-conservatives-is-that/) [Jonah Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-goldberg/) > [“The left loses most policy debates, leading them to engage in the politics of personal destruction. Many liberals do not see conservatives as human,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-golub/the-left-loses-most-policy-debates-leading-them-to-engage-in-the/) Eric Golub > [“Like most so-called debates between liberals and conservatives, they weren’t interested in listening or responding to each other. They were solely concerned with making…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-frey/like-most-so-called-debates-between-liberals-and-conservatives-they/) Bob Frey > [One of the most distinguishing differences between liberals and conservatives in America is that the average Liberal feels that we should have little reservation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-r-audette/one-of-the-most-distinguishing-differences-between-liberals-and/) [Derek R. Audette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-r-audette/) > [Liberals. Conservatives. Let us call a truce for the next 27 hours. Happy Labor Day everyone!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/liberals-conservatives-let-us-call-a-truce-for-the-next-27-hours/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The difference between the Liberals and the Conservatives is that the Conservatives are being honest that what they're planning to do is not going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annamie-paul/the-difference-between-the-liberals-and-the-conservatives-is-that-the/) [Annamie Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annamie-paul/) > [I'm going to guess Republicans and Democrats, liberals and conservatives, all want clean air to breathe and clean water to drink. I'm sure most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-moore/i-m-going-to-guess-republicans-and-democrats-liberals-and/) [Michael Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-moore/) > [Not a lot of conservatives on this list. Are more liberals than conservatives screwing up America?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-lauer/not-a-lot-of-conservatives-on-this-list-are-more-liberals-than/) [Matt Lauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-lauer/) > [“That stuff Jesus warned us to beware of, the yeast of the Pharisees, is so infectious today in the camps of both liberals and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-claiborne/that-stuff-jesus-warned-us-to-beware-of-the-yeast-of-the-pharisees-is/) [Shane Claiborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-claiborne/) > [Conservatives literally view it as a kind of a weakness to talk to people other than their own. Nothing would bore me more than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-carville/conservatives-literally-view-it-as-a-kind-of-a-weakness-to-talk-to/) [James Carville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-carville/) > [“When I was in London in 2008, I spent a couple hours hanging out at a pub with a couple of blokes who were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-stacy-mccain/when-i-was-in-london-in-2008-i-spent-a-couple-hours-hanging-out-at-a/) [Robert Stacy McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-stacy-mccain/) > [“The left wants, needs, loves, and exacerbates violent conflict. The question is…why?...Conservatives generally want policy discussions because we disagree with liberals. Liberals need gutter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-golub/the-left-wants-needs-loves-and-exacerbates-violent-conflict-the/) Eric Golub > [Liberals tend to put the onus of your success on society and conservatives on you and your family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/liberals-tend-to-put-the-onus-of-your-success-on-society-and/) [Dennis Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/) > [“Liberals are more likely to see people as victims of circumstance and oppression, and doubt whether individuals can climb without governmental help. My own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-c-brooks/liberals-are-more-likely-to-see-people-as-victims-of-circumstance-and/) [Arthur C. Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-c-brooks/) > [Conservatives are tougher. They fight harder, they fight for their own, and they're willing to win for themselves and they're willing to impose pain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-b-edsall/conservatives-are-tougher-they-fight-harder-they-fight-for-their-own/) [Thomas B. Edsall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-b-edsall/) ## More by Rene Balcer > [In L.A., the only thing within walking distance is your car.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rene-balcer/in-l-a-the-only-thing-within-walking-distance-is-your-car/) [Rene Balcer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rene-balcer/) > [It is true that one of the first acts of tyrants is to erase history, to wipe out the recorded memory of a people.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rene-balcer/it-is-true-that-one-of-the-first-acts-of-tyrants-is-to-erase-history/) [Rene Balcer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rene-balcer/) > [The more I know, the less I sleep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rene-balcer/the-more-i-know-the-less-i-sleep/) [Rene Balcer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rene-balcer/) > [It's not enough to do good. You have to be seen doing good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rene-balcer/it-s-not-enough-to-do-good-you-have-to-be-seen-doing-good/) [Rene Balcer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rene-balcer/) > [Justice is a jagged road.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rene-balcer/justice-is-a-jagged-road/) [Rene Balcer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rene-balcer/) > [Beauty, brains, and a complete psycho. My dream girl.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rene-balcer/beauty-brains-and-a-complete-psycho-my-dream-girl/) [Rene Balcer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rene-balcer/) > [I'm sympathetic to the decent and hapless footsoldier into whose lap falls the unenviable duty of carrying out fubar policies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rene-balcer/i-m-sympathetic-to-the-decent-and-hapless-footsoldier-into-whose-lap/) [Rene Balcer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rene-balcer/) > [Torture injures everyone who comes into contact with it and corrodes the country that abides it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rene-balcer/torture-injures-everyone-who-comes-into-contact-with-it-and-corrodes/) [Rene Balcer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rene-balcer/) > [If you're going to play stickball in Canarsie you better learn Brooklyn rules.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rene-balcer/if-you-re-going-to-play-stickball-in-canarsie-you-better-learn/) [Rene Balcer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rene-balcer/) > [Nobody's reasonable when they're in love. That's the whole point of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rene-balcer/nobody-s-reasonable-when-they-re-in-love-that-s-the-whole-point-of-it/) [Rene Balcer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rene-balcer/) > [Bad guys do what good guys dream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rene-balcer/bad-guys-do-what-good-guys-dream/) [Rene Balcer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rene-balcer/) [Explore all 12 Rene Balcer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rene-balcer/) ## More Abuse quotes > [I wrote when I was a young teen, but I didn't put an eye on the available markets until I was seventeen. The next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reed/i-wrote-when-i-was-a-young-teen-but-i-didn-t-put-an-eye-on-the/) [Robert Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reed/) > [Amongst the financial Twitterati, the term 'muppets' has come to describe any client used and abused by some financial predator. 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Be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-byers-ruch/build-a-bridge-over-shame-by-teaching-kids-about-sexual-abuse-give/) [Carolyn Byers Ruch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-byers-ruch/) > [It is sure that those are most desirous of honour or glory who cry out loudest of its abuse and the vanity of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baruch-spinoza/it-is-sure-that-those-are-most-desirous-of-honour-or-glory-who-cry/) [Baruch Spinoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baruch-spinoza/) > [“The sole reason I stand to open it up now is that lots of people who are in pain just like I was, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-dsouza/the-sole-reason-i-stand-to-open-it-up-now-is-that-lots-of-people-who/) [Patricia Dsouza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-dsouza/) > [Democracy must be built through open societies that share information. When there is information, there is enlightenment. When there is debate, there are solutions.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atifete-jahjaga/democracy-must-be-built-through-open-societies-that-share-information/) [Atifete Jahjaga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atifete-jahjaga/) > [I have a theory that all abuse, no matter what kind of abuse it is, is foremost an assault on the mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-westover/i-have-a-theory-that-all-abuse-no-matter-what-kind-of-abuse-it-is-is/) [Tara Westover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tara-westover/) > [“Blaming therapy, social work and other caring professions for the confabulation of testimony of 'satanic ritual abuse' legitimated a programme of political and social…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-salter/blaming-therapy-social-work-and-other-caring-professions-for-the/) [Michael Salter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-salter/) > [Finally, the scariest thing about abuse of any shape or form, is, in my opinion, not the abuse itself, but that if it continues…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-cumming/finally-the-scariest-thing-about-abuse-of-any-shape-or-form-is-in-my/) [Alan Cumming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cumming/) > [“Research on organised abuse emphasises the diversity of organised abuse cases, and the ways in which serious forms of child maltreatment cluster in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-salter/research-on-organised-abuse-emphasises-the-diversity-of-organised/) [Michael Salter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-salter/) > [“Stand up for yourself. Never give any one permission to abuse you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/stand-up-for-yourself-never-give-any-one-permission-to-abuse-you/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [All governments should be pressured to correct their abuses of human rights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-stallman/all-governments-should-be-pressured-to-correct-their-abuses-of-human/) [Richard Stallman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-stallman/) > [“Words are free. It does not mean you should abuse them. Be kind with them. They will mirror your actions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hadinet-tekie/words-are-free-it-does-not-mean-you-should-abuse-them-be-kind-with/) [Hadinet Tekie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hadinet-tekie/) > [My illness is one often characterized by dramatic overspending - in my case through frenzied shopping sprees, credit card abuse, excessive hoarding of unnecessary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-behrman/my-illness-is-one-often-characterized-by-dramatic-overspending-in-my/) [Andy Behrman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-behrman/) [Browse all 3,113 Abuse quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abuse/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I write about power, that's my real subject - how you get it, what you do with it, how you abuse it. 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