--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Speaking truth to power is actually a…" description: "\"Speaking truth to power is actually a form of loyalty.\" — Richard N. Haass" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/162/richard-n-haass-3803_actually_speaking-truth-to-power-is-actually-a-fo_2670622.jpg" --- # Speaking truth to power is actually a form of loyalty. ![“Speaking truth to power is actually a form of loyalty.” quote by Richard N. Haass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/162/richard-n-haass-3803_actually_speaking-truth-to-power-is-actually-a-fo_2670622.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/162/richard-n-haass-3803_actually_speaking-truth-to-power-is-actually-a-fo_2670622.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/162/richard-n-haass-3803_actually_speaking-truth-to-power-is-actually-a-fo_2670622.jpg) > “Speaking truth to power is actually a form of loyalty.” [Richard N. Haass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-n-haass/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Speaking truth to those who hold power is an act of loyalty, as it supports the health and accountability of institutions. **In simple terms:** Truthful criticism helps those in power stay honest. Key Takeaway Speak honestly to support strong leadership. Themes ethics politics loyalty accountability courage Mood cautious determined principled Type political motivational When to use this quote - government - corporate leadership - activism - team management Key Concepts political theory integrity Questions to Reflect On - What risks do you face when confronting authority? - How can loyalty be shown without compromising honesty? A Different Perspective Truth may be resisted or ignored by those in power. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actually](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actually/) [Form](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/form/) [Form Loyalty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/form-loyalty-2500930/) [Loyalty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loyalty/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) [Power Actually](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power-actually-747338/) [Speaking Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speaking-truth/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) [Truth Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth-power/) ## Related quotes > [Love is the greatest form of loyalty, one that places happiness of the beloved over the lover.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nalini-singh/love-is-the-greatest-form-of-loyalty-one-that-places-happiness-of-the/) [Nalini Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nalini-singh/) > [I will never shrink from speaking truth to power,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-may/i-will-never-shrink-from-speaking-truth-to-power/) [Elizabeth May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-may/) > [I don't entirely agree with the slogan "speaking truth to power."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/i-don-t-entirely-agree-with-the-slogan-speaking-truth-to-power/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [One of the flabby lines you hear sometimes is, 'Speak truth to power'. Power knows the truth. It's speaking the truth to yourself that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-sanders/one-of-the-flabby-lines-you-hear-sometimes-is-speak-truth-to-power/) [Barry Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-sanders/) > [The fight for human rights is about speaking truth to power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-robinson/the-fight-for-human-rights-is-about-speaking-truth-to-power/) [Mary Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-robinson/) > [Men habitually use only a small part of the power which they actually possess.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-james/men-habitually-use-only-a-small-part-of-the-power-which-they-actually/) [William James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james/) > [We in the press, by our power, can actually undermine leadership.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christiane-amanpour/we-in-the-press-by-our-power-can-actually-undermine-leadership/) [Christiane Amanpour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christiane-amanpour/) > [It is an author's most solemn obligation to honor truth. If the free and independent writer does not speak truth to power, who will?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-abbey/it-is-an-author-s-most-solemn-obligation-to-honor-truth-if-the-free/) [Edward Abbey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-abbey/) > [When you have power you don't have to tell the truth. That's a rule that's been working in this world for generations. And there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-burk/when-you-have-power-you-don-t-have-to-tell-the-truth-that-s-a-rule/) [Dean Burk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-burk/) > [The absolute truth is that there is no power in celebrity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-cosby/the-absolute-truth-is-that-there-is-no-power-in-celebrity/) [Bill Cosby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-cosby/) > [I know everybody wants humor to be subversive and speak truth to power. I don't think power's been listening, incidentally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mankoff/i-know-everybody-wants-humor-to-be-subversive-and-speak-truth-to/) [Robert Mankoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mankoff/) > [... we are obliged to produce the truth by the power that demands truth and needs it in order to function: we are constrained,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-foucault/we-are-obliged-to-produce-the-truth-by-the-power-that-demands-truth/) [Michel Foucault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-foucault/) > [Our mission is to speak the truth to power. We send home that first rough draft of history. We can and do make a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-colvin/our-mission-is-to-speak-the-truth-to-power-we-send-home-that-first/) [Marie Colvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-colvin/) > [The truth does not require a majority to prevail, ladies and gentlemen. The truth is its own power. The truth will out. Never forget…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/the-truth-does-not-require-a-majority-to-prevail-ladies-and-gentlemen/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [Truth is power, but only when one has patience and requires of it no immediate effect. And one must have no specific aims. Somehow,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/romano-guardini/truth-is-power-but-only-when-one-has-patience-and-requires-of-it-no/) [Romano Guardini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/romano-guardini/) ## More by Richard N. Haass > [Terrorists and terrorism cannot be eliminated any more than we can rid the world of disease. There will always be those who will resort…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-n-haass/terrorists-and-terrorism-cannot-be-eliminated-any-more-than-we-can/) [Richard N. Haass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-n-haass/) > [There is no way to know for certain what accounts for North Korean decisionmaking, given how closed a country it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-n-haass/there-is-no-way-to-know-for-certain-what-accounts-for-north-korean/) [Richard N. Haass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-n-haass/) > [Security is the absolute precondition for sustainable recovery from conflict; without it, people cannot rebuild their country or return to school or work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-n-haass/security-is-the-absolute-precondition-for-sustainable-recovery-from/) [Richard N. Haass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-n-haass/) > [When great powers fade, as they inevitably must, it's normally for one of two reasons. Some powers exhaust themselves through overreach abroad, underinvestment at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-n-haass/when-great-powers-fade-as-they-inevitably-must-it-s-normally-for-one/) [Richard N. Haass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-n-haass/) > [Americans never would alter the way entitlement programs are funded or education administered without serious study and widespread debate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-n-haass/americans-never-would-alter-the-way-entitlement-programs-are-funded/) [Richard N. Haass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-n-haass/) > [Sovereignty must be redefined if states are to cope with globalisation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-n-haass/sovereignty-must-be-redefined-if-states-are-to-cope-with-globalisation/) [Richard N. Haass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-n-haass/) > [America's armed forces are an essential background to much of what the U.S. accomplishes internationally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-n-haass/america-s-armed-forces-are-an-essential-background-to-much-of-what/) [Richard N. Haass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-n-haass/) > [No amount of sanctioning will persuade North Korea to give up nuclear weapons, nor will China step up and solve the problem for us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-n-haass/no-amount-of-sanctioning-will-persuade-north-korea-to-give-up-nuclear/) [Richard N. Haass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-n-haass/) > [Weapons of mass destruction - nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons - are just that, and no cause can excuse their use.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-n-haass/weapons-of-mass-destruction-nuclear-biological-and-chemical-weapons/) [Richard N. Haass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-n-haass/) > [No one pursuing reasonable goals and who is prepared to compromise can argue that terrorism is his or his group's only option.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-n-haass/no-one-pursuing-reasonable-goals-and-who-is-prepared-to-compromise/) [Richard N. Haass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-n-haass/) > [The rise of populism is in part a response to stagnating incomes and job loss, owing mostly to new technologies but widely attributed to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-n-haass/the-rise-of-populism-is-in-part-a-response-to-stagnating-incomes-and/) [Richard N. Haass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-n-haass/) > [We all have some basic obligation to one another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-n-haass/we-all-have-some-basic-obligation-to-one-another/) [Richard N. Haass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-n-haass/) > [What countries must do to join the World Trade Organization is precisely what they must do to become productive and democratic: accept the rule…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-n-haass/what-countries-must-do-to-join-the-world-trade-organization-is/) [Richard N. Haass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-n-haass/) > [I believe in diplomacy; I don't believe in talking to... that talking to Iran somehow constitutes a concession or a favour.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-n-haass/i-believe-in-diplomacy-i-don-t-believe-in-talking-to-that-talking-to/) [Richard N. Haass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-n-haass/) > [I've worked for four presidents, and I've concluded that almost nothing is inevitable. History is to a significant extent the result of the interaction…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-n-haass/i-ve-worked-for-four-presidents-and-i-ve-concluded-that-almost/) [Richard N. Haass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-n-haass/) [Explore all 121 Richard N. Haass quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-n-haass/) ## More Actually quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [I just think my own ambition would not allow me to sit on the gifts that my creator had given me. And so that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-monae/i-just-think-my-own-ambition-would-not-allow-me-to-sit-on-the-gifts/) [Janelle Monae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-monae/) > [I actually like getting out of my comfort zone. It shakes me up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-sheehy/i-actually-like-getting-out-of-my-comfort-zone-it-shakes-me-up/) [Gail Sheehy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-sheehy/) > [You have to talk about why things happened the way they did. You can't actually explain my political life except by a series of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lange/you-have-to-talk-about-why-things-happened-the-way-they-did-you-can-t/) [David Lange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lange/) > [Failure actually makes you strong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neha-sharma/failure-actually-makes-you-strong/) [Neha Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neha-sharma/) > [There's always that discussion about fiction about how do you market it - these are books for boys, these are books for girls, these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-a-weatherly/there-s-always-that-discussion-about-fiction-about-how-do-you-market/) [L.A. Weatherly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-a-weatherly/) > [I'm from Europe, England, and I actually lived in Italy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adewale-akinnuoye-agbaje/i-m-from-europe-england-and-i-actually-lived-in-italy/) [Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adewale-akinnuoye-agbaje/) > [The alternative comedy scene is actually pretty small, I guess.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/casey-wilson/the-alternative-comedy-scene-is-actually-pretty-small-i-guess/) [Casey Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/casey-wilson/) > [I was a very good student. Procrastinating gives me anxiety, and getting a B really ticked me off. Sure, I didn't always want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josie-loren/i-was-a-very-good-student-procrastinating-gives-me-anxiety-and/) [Josie Loren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josie-loren/) > [The shelves of many evangelicals are full of books that point out the flaws in evolution, discuss it only as a theory, and almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-collins/the-shelves-of-many-evangelicals-are-full-of-books-that-point-out-the/) [Francis Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-collins/) > [Somebody said that part of my reaction to British cinema is actually, paradoxically, a patriotic one. I'm so disappointed that we're not better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-brownlow/somebody-said-that-part-of-my-reaction-to-british-cinema-is-actually/) [Kevin Brownlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-brownlow/) > [I actually do sing sometimes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morten-harket/i-actually-do-sing-sometimes/) [Morten Harket](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morten-harket/) > [I've actually got quite a good memory. I've good recall. 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