---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's easy enough to get into power. You…"
description: "\"It's easy enough to get into power. You can make promises and try to be all things to all people. But the moment you have to make decisions, you're goi..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a14/robert-harris-2039_all-things_it-s-easy-enough-to-get-into-power-you-c_2913735.png"
---

#  It's easy enough to get into power. You can make promises…

![“It's easy enough to get into power. You can make promises and try to be all things to all people. But the moment you have to make decisions, you're going to annoy at least half of them. Whatever you do, in the end you're almost certain to be brought down by your own character traits.” quote by Robert Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a14/robert-harris-2039_all-things_it-s-easy-enough-to-get-into-power-you-c_2913735.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a14/robert-harris-2039_all-things_it-s-easy-enough-to-get-into-power-you-c_2913735.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a14/robert-harris-2039_all-things_it-s-easy-enough-to-get-into-power-you-c_2913735.png)

> “It's easy enough to get into power. You can make promises and try to be all things to all people. But the moment you have to make decisions, you're going to annoy at least half of them. Whatever you do, in the end you're almost certain to be brought down by your own character traits.”

[Robert Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-harris/)

## About This Quote

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

Power is easy to obtain, but decision‑making inevitably displeases many; personal flaws often lead to downfall.

**In simple terms:** Power pleases few; flaws cause ruin.

Key Takeaway

Mindful leadership matters.

Themes

politics leadership ethics character

Mood

cautious reflective

Type

advice analysis

When to use this quote

- Management
- political office
- community organizing
- project leadership

Key Concepts

Moral responsibility decision fatigue personal integrity

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you balance conflicting interests?
- What personal traits must you guard?

A Different Perspective

Decisions will always alienate some.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Character trait](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character-trait/) [Character Traits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character-traits/) [Decisions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decisions/) [Moment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moment/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) [Promises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/promises/)

## Related quotes

> [“Everyone is going to annoy you somewhat. The trick is to find the person who only annoys you a little, and where what you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-lyons-fleming/everyone-is-going-to-annoy-you-somewhat-the-trick-is-to-find-the/)

[Sarah Lyons Fleming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-lyons-fleming/)

> [I have to accept the fact that, no matter what I do, it's going to annoy someone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-lane/i-have-to-accept-the-fact-that-no-matter-what-i-do-it-s-going-to/)

[Nathan Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-lane/)

> ['tis his honesty that brought upon him the character of a heretic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/tis-his-honesty-that-brought-upon-him-the-character-of-a-heretic/)

[Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/)

> [We are tagged as comedians, villains, etc. but those are just character traits of a role and there is no need for differentiation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salim-kumar/we-are-tagged-as-comedians-villains-etc-but-those-are-just-character/)

[Salim Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salim-kumar/)

> [“The idea that I am a bad person or exhibiting poor character traits by my disdain for someone can be irrelevant and false. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-carlyle/the-idea-that-i-am-a-bad-person-or-exhibiting-poor-character-traits/)

[David Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-carlyle/)

> [“To conceive of myself from the outside was my ruin – the ruin of my happiness. I saw myself as others see me, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-pessoa/to-conceive-of-myself-from-the-outside-was-my-ruin-the-ruin-of-my/)

[Fernando Pessoa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-pessoa/)

> [As adults, we try to develop the character traits that would have rescued our parents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-de-botton/as-adults-we-try-to-develop-the-character-traits-that-would-have/)

[Alain de Botton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-de-botton/)

> [1 Timothy 3 lists only one gift, teaching, then follows w a list of character traits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derwin-l-gray/1-timothy-3-lists-only-one-gift-teaching-then-follows-w-a-list-of/)

[Derwin L. Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derwin-l-gray/)

> [The fruit of patience in all its aspects - long-suffering, forbearance, endurance, and perseverance - is a fruit that is most intimately associated with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-bridges/the-fruit-of-patience-in-all-its-aspects-long-suffering-forbearance/)

[Jerry Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-bridges/)

> [“the “work” of adolescence—the testing of boundaries, the passion to explore what is unknown and exciting—can set the stage for the development of core…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-j-siegel/the-work-of-adolescence-the-testing-of-boundaries-the-passion-to/)

[Daniel J. Siegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-j-siegel/)

> [“Loving your enemy. Doing good things for evil people. Never taking vengeance. Responding to violence with nonviolent love—even if it brings suffering. These are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/preston-sprinkle/loving-your-enemy-doing-good-things-for-evil-people-never-taking/)

[Preston Sprinkle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/preston-sprinkle/)

> [Obviously, there will be different character traits in the dressing room, but I'm there to bring happiness and a smile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-lingard/obviously-there-will-be-different-character-traits-in-the-dressing/)

[Jesse Lingard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-lingard/)

> [There's a point I can get to where I start writing character and then through the dialogue, after all of this preparation, the thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-kaufman/there-s-a-point-i-can-get-to-where-i-start-writing-character-and-then/)

[Charlie Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-kaufman/)

> [“But if Nasser's gift to the Egyptians was their sense of pride, Mubarak's curse is to have created a cultural climate where the only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-r-bradley/but-if-nasser-s-gift-to-the-egyptians-was-their-sense-of-pride/)

[John R. Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-r-bradley/)

> [The biggest thing that comes out of improv that gets built on is just character traits. You know, for me the singing was born…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-helms/the-biggest-thing-that-comes-out-of-improv-that-gets-built-on-is-just/)

[Ed Helms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-helms/)

## More by Robert Harris

> [“Men mistook measurement for understanding. And they always had to put themselves at the center of everything. That was their greatest conceit. The earth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-harris/men-mistook-measurement-for-understanding-and-they-always-had-to-put/)

[Robert Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-harris/)

> [If one first gives himself to the Lord, all other giving is easy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-harris/if-one-first-gives-himself-to-the-lord-all-other-giving-is-easy/)

[Robert Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-harris/)

> [“He felt more human with his boots on. A man can face the world with something on his feet.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-harris/he-felt-more-human-with-his-boots-on-a-man-can-face-the-world-with/)

[Robert Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-harris/)

> [Cicero most reminds me of Harold Wilson. Both men knew how to keep the show on the road.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-harris/cicero-most-reminds-me-of-harold-wilson-both-men-knew-how-to-keep-the/)

[Robert Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-harris/)

> [The financial world is at the cutting edge of high technology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-harris/the-financial-world-is-at-the-cutting-edge-of-high-technology/)

[Robert Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-harris/)

> [“To choose one's victims, to prepare one's plans minutely, to slake an implacable vengeance, and then to go to bed ... there is nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-harris/to-choose-one-s-victims-to-prepare-one-s-plans-minutely-to-slake-an/)

[Robert Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-harris/)

> [“Nature has granted man no better gift than the shortness of life. The senses grow dull, the limbs are numb, sight, bearing, gait, even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-harris/nature-has-granted-man-no-better-gift-than-the-shortness-of-life-the/)

[Robert Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-harris/)

> [“A crock of shit,” Rick had called it. But actually this was worse. Shit, to quote Gore Vidal, has its own integrity. This was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-harris/a-crock-of-shit-rick-had-called-it-but-actually-this-was-worse-shit/)

[Robert Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-harris/)

> [“... unfortunately, freedom alone is not enough, by far. If there is a shortage of bread, a shortage of butter and fats, a shortage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-harris/unfortunately-freedom-alone-is-not-enough-by-far-if-there-is-a/)

[Robert Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-harris/)

> [It is perseverance, and not genius that takes a man to the top. Rome is full of unrecognized geniuses. Only perseverance enables you to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-harris/it-is-perseverance-and-not-genius-that-takes-a-man-to-the-top-rome-is/)

[Robert Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-harris/)

> [“No one can really claim to know politics properly until he has stayed up all night writing a speech for delivery the following day.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-harris/no-one-can-really-claim-to-know-politics-properly-until-he-has-stayed/)

[Robert Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-harris/)

> [People perish. Books are immortal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-harris/people-perish-books-are-immortal/)

[Robert Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-harris/)

> [Does a name stick because it suits a man or does the man, unconsciously, evolve into his name?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-harris/does-a-name-stick-because-it-suits-a-man-or-does-the-man/)

[Robert Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-harris/)

> [“He glanced around the reading room and closed his eyes, trying to keep hold of the past for a minute longer, a fattening and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-harris/he-glanced-around-the-reading-room-and-closed-his-eyes-trying-to-keep/)

[Robert Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-harris/)

> [The natural impulse of men is to follow and whoever has the strongest sense of purpose will always dominate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-harris/the-natural-impulse-of-men-is-to-follow-and-whoever-has-the-strongest/)

[Robert Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-harris/)

[Explore all 184 Robert Harris quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-harris/)

## More All things quotes

> [Those whose life is long still strive for gain, and for all mortals all things take second place to money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/those-whose-life-is-long-still-strive-for-gain-and-for-all-mortals/)

[Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/)

> [To explicate the uses of the Brain seems as difficult a task as to paint the Soul, of which it is commonly said, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-willis/to-explicate-the-uses-of-the-brain-seems-as-difficult-a-task-as-to/)

[Thomas Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-willis/)

> [A tree is a self: it is 'unseen shaping' more than it is leaves or bark, roots or cellulose or fruit ... What this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-swimme/a-tree-is-a-self-it-is-unseen-shaping-more-than-it-is-leaves-or-bark/)

[Brian Swimme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-swimme/)

> [Dear God, I trust that no matter what happens in my life, it is for my highest good. And no matter what happens in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jeffers/dear-god-i-trust-that-no-matter-what-happens-in-my-life-it-is-for-my/)

[Susan Jeffers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jeffers/)

> [Moderation, honey, in all things but love and chocolate. That's my motto.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-bretton/moderation-honey-in-all-things-but-love-and-chocolate-that-s-my-motto/)

[Barbara Bretton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-bretton/)

> [There is a spirit which I feel that delights to do no evil, nor to revenge any wrong, but delights to endure all things,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-nayler/there-is-a-spirit-which-i-feel-that-delights-to-do-no-evil-nor-to/)

James Nayler

> [What greater weakness can there be than not to know what is the source of one's being, of one's life, of one's senses, of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-bruyere/what-greater-weakness-can-there-be-than-not-to-know-what-is-the/)

[Jean de la Bruyere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-bruyere/)

> [When I was in my teens I had a series of intensely religious experiences. They deepened my sense of God as the creator of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-linzey/when-i-was-in-my-teens-i-had-a-series-of-intensely-religious/)

[Andrew Linzey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-linzey/)

> [It is more than a little ironic that "capital accumulation" once a rather tendentious Marxian view of a supposed capitalist obsession, should have become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kuttner/it-is-more-than-a-little-ironic-that-capital-accumulation-once-a/)

[Robert Kuttner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kuttner/)

> [The Lord gives and the Lord takes away, as it pleases him, for he can do all things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/the-lord-gives-and-the-lord-takes-away-as-it-pleases-him-for-he-can/)

[Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/)

> [Time, which wears down and diminishes all things, augments and increases good deeds, because a good turn liberally offered to a reasonable man grows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-rabelais/time-which-wears-down-and-diminishes-all-things-augments-and/)

[Francois Rabelais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-rabelais/)

> [Standing as a witness in all things means being kind in all things, being the first to say hello, being the first to smile,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-d-nadauld/standing-as-a-witness-in-all-things-means-being-kind-in-all-things/)

[Margaret D. Nadauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-d-nadauld/)

> [The eternal principle, which never was born, never will die: it is in all things: it is in you now. You are the wave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-campbell/the-eternal-principle-which-never-was-born-never-will-die-it-is-in/)

[Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-campbell/)

> [The U.S. Army has recently removed the cross from the insignia worn by chaplains. In its place is a sun with its rays, symbolizing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-murray/the-u-s-army-has-recently-removed-the-cross-from-the-insignia-worn-by/)

[Chris Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-murray/)

> [...God does not possess a private knowledge of Himself and a separate knowledge of all the creatures in common. The universal Cause, by knowing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-dionysius/god-does-not-possess-a-private-knowledge-of-himself-and-a-separate/)

[Pope Dionysius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-dionysius/)

Browse all 2,486 All things quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "It's easy enough to get into power. You can make promises and try to be all things to all people. But the moment you have to make decisions, you're going to annoy at least half of them. Whatever you do, in the end you're almost certain to be brought down by your own character traits.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Robert Harris"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-harris/it-s-easy-enough-to-get-into-power-you-can-make-promises-and-try-to/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "All things"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-harris/it-s-easy-enough-to-get-into-power-you-can-make-promises-and-try-to/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a14/robert-harris-2039_all-things_it-s-easy-enough-to-get-into-power-you-c_2913735.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a14/robert-harris-2039_all-things_it-s-easy-enough-to-get-into-power-you-c_2913735.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a14/robert-harris-2039_all-things_it-s-easy-enough-to-get-into-power-you-c_2913735.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“It's easy enough to get into power. You can make promises and try to be all things to all people. But the…” — Robert Harris",
                "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": "Robert Harris",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-harris/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "It's easy enough to get into...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-harris/it-s-easy-enough-to-get-into-power-you-can-make-promises-and-try-to/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-harris/it-s-easy-enough-to-get-into-power-you-can-make-promises-and-try-to/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
