Power Quote by Stephen Vincent Benet
“We thought, because we had power, we had wisdom.”
About This Quote
Source Short story: "The Devil and Daniel Webster" by Stephen Vincent Benet, 1936
Power does not guarantee insight; authority can mask ignorance.
In simple terms: Power ≠ wisdom.
Key Takeaway
Question assumptions behind authority.
Themes
authority
wisdom
hubris
Mood
cautious
reflective
Type
philosophical
critical
When to use this quote
- leadership
- politics
- education
- personal relationships
Key Concepts
epistemology
psychology
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you verify wisdom beyond status?
- What checks can prevent power from clouding judgment?
A Different Perspective
Power can be misused, leading to overconfidence.
![“Let [us] seek for wisdom instead of power and [we] will have all the power [we] have wisdom to exercise.” quote by Eliza R. Snow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/cd6/eliza-r-snow-38914_exercise_let-us-seek-for-wisdom-instead-of-power_2801730.jpg)
