--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: POWER: The ability to make our fellow…" description: "\"POWER: The ability to make our fellow humans squirm, sweat and stammer on command. Often regarded as an aphrodisiac; actually a potent laxative that, w..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f4/rick-bayan-35980_ability_power-the-ability-to-make-our-fellow-hum_834046.jpg" --- # POWER: The ability to make our fellow humans squirm, sweat… ![“POWER: The ability to make our fellow humans squirm, sweat and stammer on command. Often regarded as an aphrodisiac; actually a potent laxative that, whenever ingested by people in high places, causes everyone below to run for cover.” quote by Rick Bayan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f4/rick-bayan-35980_ability_power-the-ability-to-make-our-fellow-hum_834046.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f4/rick-bayan-35980_ability_power-the-ability-to-make-our-fellow-hum_834046.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f4/rick-bayan-35980_ability_power-the-ability-to-make-our-fellow-hum_834046.jpg) > “POWER: The ability to make our fellow humans squirm, sweat and stammer on command. Often regarded as an aphrodisiac; actually a potent laxative that, whenever ingested by people in high places, causes everyone below to run for cover.” [Rick Bayan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-bayan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Power can be both intoxicating and destructive, acting like a drug that harms both the holder and the vulnerable. **In simple terms:** Power is a dangerous drug. Key Takeaway Use power responsibly, check its effects. Themes authority corruption responsibility Mood cautionary analytical Type ethical philosophical When to use this quote - corporate governance - political campaigns - community activism - personal relationships Key Concepts political theory ethics of leadership Questions to Reflect On - What safeguards can limit power abuse? - How can power be used for collective good? A Different Perspective Power can also enable positive change when checked. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Aphrodisiac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aphrodisiac/) [High places](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/high-places/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Nature of man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-of-man/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) [Running](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/running/) ## Related quotes > [“The fact that salt is a powerful emetic as well as a potent laxative should convince the most skeptical that it is not meant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-h-tobe/the-fact-that-salt-is-a-powerful-emetic-as-well-as-a-potent-laxative/) John H. Tobe > [“A brick could be used as a laxative. You know, “Shit a brick.” ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/a-brick-could-be-used-as-a-laxative-you-know-shit-a-brick/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [“What are you so pleased about?" "I only drink a little at a time, like half a cup ever four or five months, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-hearne/what-are-you-so-pleased-about-i-only-drink-a-little-at-a-time-like/) [Kevin Hearne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-hearne/) > [Never under any circumstances take a sleeping pill and a laxative on the same night.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/never-under-any-circumstances-take-a-sleeping-pill-and-a-laxative-on/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Amazing Home Remedies: Never, under any circumstances, take a laxative and sleeping pills on the same night.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/amazing-home-remedies-never-under-any-circumstances-take-a-laxative/) [Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/) > [There are men who would be afraid to commit themselves on the doctrine that castor oil is a laxative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-flammarion/there-are-men-who-would-be-afraid-to-commit-themselves-on-the/) [Camille Flammarion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-flammarion/) > [Power is the ability to afford not to learn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-deutsch/power-is-the-ability-to-afford-not-to-learn/) Karl Deutsch > [If I could have one super power, it would be the ability to read.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-kimmel/if-i-could-have-one-super-power-it-would-be-the-ability-to-read/) [Jimmy Kimmel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-kimmel/) > [“Real power is basically the ability to change something if you want to change it. It’s the ability to make change happen. Real power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/real-power-is-basically-the-ability-to-change-something-if-you-want/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [Real power has to do with one's ability to influence the hearts and minds of others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/real-power-has-to-do-with-one-s-ability-to-influence-the-hearts-and/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [Power is the ability to get things done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosabeth-moss-kanter/power-is-the-ability-to-get-things-done/) [Rosabeth Moss Kanter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosabeth-moss-kanter/) > [Power is the ability not to have to please.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-janeway/power-is-the-ability-not-to-have-to-please/) [Elizabeth Janeway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-janeway/) > [“Psychic power is the ability to download information directly from the Universe.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lada-ray/psychic-power-is-the-ability-to-download-information-directly-from/) [Lada Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lada-ray/) > [Power is the ability to define reality and to have other people respond to your definition as if it were their own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-wade-noble/power-is-the-ability-to-define-reality-and-to-have-other-people/) Dr Wade Noble > [“the true test of awesome power is the ability not to use it,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-l-chalker/the-true-test-of-awesome-power-is-the-ability-not-to-use-it/) [Jack L. Chalker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-l-chalker/) ## More by Rick Bayan > [REVOLUTIONARY: An oppressed person waiting for the opportunity to become an oppressor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-bayan/revolutionary-an-oppressed-person-waiting-for-the-opportunity-to/) [Rick Bayan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-bayan/) > [Communism: Liberation of the people from the burdens of liberty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-bayan/communism-liberation-of-the-people-from-the-burdens-of-liberty/) [Rick Bayan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-bayan/) > [Most people perceive moderates as timid middle-of-the-roaders who can't take a stand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-bayan/most-people-perceive-moderates-as-timid-middle-of-the-roaders-who-can/) [Rick Bayan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-bayan/) > [Math anxiety: an intense lifelong fear of two trains approaching each other at speeds of 60 and 80 MPH.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-bayan/math-anxiety-an-intense-lifelong-fear-of-two-trains-approaching-each/) [Rick Bayan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-bayan/) > [Cynic: an idealist whose rose-colored glasses have been removed, snapped in two and stomped into the ground, immediately improving his vision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-bayan/cynic-an-idealist-whose-rose-colored-glasses-have-been-removed/) [Rick Bayan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-bayan/) > [The world belongs to people with IQs of 120. Anything much greater or less amounts to a liability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-bayan/the-world-belongs-to-people-with-iqs-of-120-anything-much-greater-or/) [Rick Bayan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-bayan/) > [Corporation: a miniature totalitarian state governed by a hierarchy of unelected officials who take a dim view of individualism, free speech, equality and eggheads.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-bayan/corporation-a-miniature-totalitarian-state-governed-by-a-hierarchy-of/) [Rick Bayan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-bayan/) > [We're still just the world's premium brand of ape.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-bayan/we-re-still-just-the-world-s-premium-brand-of-ape/) [Rick Bayan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-bayan/) > [CHILDHOOD: The rapidly shrinking interval between infancy and first arrest on a drug or weapons charge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-bayan/childhood-the-rapidly-shrinking-interval-between-infancy-and-first/) [Rick Bayan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-bayan/) > [True individualists are always at odds with the universe. Set adrift by their peculiar tastes and interests, they spend their lives searching for kindred…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-bayan/true-individualists-are-always-at-odds-with-the-universe-set-adrift/) [Rick Bayan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-bayan/) > [But God has the most fun with artists and writers: he inflames them with the desire to rival his own creations, then douses their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-bayan/but-god-has-the-most-fun-with-artists-and-writers-he-inflames-them/) [Rick Bayan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-bayan/) > [Golf is the art of driving hard, avoiding the rough, surmounting traps and hazards, aiming straight, and arriving on the green at last, only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-bayan/golf-is-the-art-of-driving-hard-avoiding-the-rough-surmounting-traps/) [Rick Bayan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-bayan/) [Explore all 13 Rick Bayan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-bayan/) ## More Ability quotes > [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) > [“the importance of ability. The things that make a great job great, I discovered, are rare and valuable. If you want them in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/the-importance-of-ability-the-things-that-make-a-great-job-great-i/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [The youth of India has the strength to move the entire World with a click of a mouse, we have generated that ability!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-youth-of-india-has-the-strength-to-move-the-entire-world-with-a/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/an-absolutely-necessary-part-of-a-writer-s-equipment-almost-as/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [You can only do the work to the very best of your ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-baranski/you-can-only-do-the-work-to-the-very-best-of-your-ability/) [Christine Baranski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-baranski/) > [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Bobby had faith in my ability as a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-london/bobby-had-faith-in-my-ability-as-a-singer/) [Julie London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-london/) [Browse all 9,990 Ability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "POWER: The ability to make our fellow humans squirm, sweat and stammer on command. Often regarded as an aphrodisiac; actually a potent laxative that, whenever ingested by people in high places, causes everyone below to run for cover.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Rick Bayan" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-bayan/power-the-ability-to-make-our-fellow-humans-squirm-sweat-and-stammer/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ability" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-bayan/power-the-ability-to-make-our-fellow-humans-squirm-sweat-and-stammer/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f4/rick-bayan-35980_ability_power-the-ability-to-make-our-fellow-hum_834046.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f4/rick-bayan-35980_ability_power-the-ability-to-make-our-fellow-hum_834046.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f4/rick-bayan-35980_ability_power-the-ability-to-make-our-fellow-hum_834046.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“POWER: The ability to make our fellow humans squirm, sweat and stammer on command. Often regarded as an…” — Rick Bayan", "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": "Rick Bayan", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-bayan/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "POWER: The ability to make our...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-bayan/power-the-ability-to-make-our-fellow-humans-squirm-sweat-and-stammer/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-bayan/power-the-ability-to-make-our-fellow-humans-squirm-sweat-and-stammer/#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 } } ] } ```