--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What's certain is that ranking powerful…" description: "\"What's certain is that ranking powerful people is inherently self-defeating. For starters, true potentates know who they are without being told, and th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af2/steve-rushin-3791_being_what-s-certain-is-that-ranking-powerful_2976236.jpg" --- # What's certain is that ranking powerful people is… ![“What's certain is that ranking powerful people is inherently self-defeating. For starters, true potentates know who they are without being told, and they have no need to announce it.” quote by Steve Rushin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af2/steve-rushin-3791_being_what-s-certain-is-that-ranking-powerful_2976236.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af2/steve-rushin-3791_being_what-s-certain-is-that-ranking-powerful_2976236.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af2/steve-rushin-3791_being_what-s-certain-is-that-ranking-powerful_2976236.jpg) > “What's certain is that ranking powerful people is inherently self-defeating. For starters, true potentates know who they are without being told, and they have no need to announce it.” [Steve Rushin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-rushin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True power comes from self-awareness, not from self-promotion; ranking powerful people is futile because genuine authority is internal. **In simple terms:** Power is internal, not about ranking. Key Takeaway Focus on self-awareness over external validation. Themes power self-awareness humility Mood reflective critical Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - career advancement - personal branding - politics Key Concepts psychology leadership Questions to Reflect On - What does self-awareness reveal about your true power? - Why do we rank power? A Different Perspective Self-awareness may not translate to external influence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Being](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being/) [Certain Ranking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/certain-ranking-4607129/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Inherently](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-inherently-376604/) [Potentates Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/potentates-know-4607128/) [Powerful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/powerful/) [Powerful people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/powerful-people/) [Ranking Powerful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ranking-powerful-4607127/) [True](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true/) [Who](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/who/) ## Related quotes > [I am an optimist, and I believe that people are inherently good and that if you give everyone a voice and freedom of expression,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-mullenweg/i-am-an-optimist-and-i-believe-that-people-are-inherently-good-and/) [Matt Mullenweg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-mullenweg/) > [I am an optimist, and I believe that people are inherently good and that if you give everyone a voice and freedom of expression,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-mullenweg/i-am-an-optimist-and-i-believe-that-people-are-inherently-good-and-2/) [Matt Mullenweg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-mullenweg/) > [“Conservatives believe that people are inherently imperfect and are prone to act badly when all constraints and accountability are removed (yes, I thought; see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-haidt/conservatives-believe-that-people-are-inherently-imperfect-and-are/) [Jonathan Haidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-haidt/) > [It's strange because a lot of people are like, 'You can't change human nature-people are inherently negative.' I don't think that's true. If you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zooey-deschanel/it-s-strange-because-a-lot-of-people-are-like-you-can-t-change-human/) [Zooey Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zooey-deschanel/) > [I believe people are inherently magical and good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophia-bush/i-believe-people-are-inherently-magical-and-good/) [Sophia Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophia-bush/) > [I think people are inherently self-aggrandizing, pleasureseeking, unempathetic, self-serving, greedy and lustful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/park-dietz/i-think-people-are-inherently-self-aggrandizing-pleasureseeking/) [Park Dietz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/park-dietz/) > [I think most people are inherently interested in how their brain works, in what makes them tick.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-sinek/i-think-most-people-are-inherently-interested-in-how-their-brain/) [Simon Sinek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-sinek/) > [ “It is extremely dangerous to encourage people to see themselves as \[inherently\] exceptional, whatever the motivation. There are big countries and small countries, rich… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-putin/it-is-extremely-dangerous-to-encourage-people-to-see-themselves-as-2/) [Vladimir Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-putin/) > [The film industry is about saying 'no' to people, and inherently you cannot take 'no' for an answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cameron/the-film-industry-is-about-saying-no-to-people-and-inherently-you/) [James Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cameron/) > [People are inherently good. Our souls are magnificent and capable of extraordinary performance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-beck/people-are-inherently-good-our-souls-are-magnificent-and-capable-of/) [Glenn Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-beck/) > [As individuals, people are inherently good. I have a somewhat more pessimistic view of people in groups. And I remain extremely concerned when I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/as-individuals-people-are-inherently-good-i-have-a-somewhat-more/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [We must not reject all sexual contact between adults and young people as inherently oppressive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gayle-rubin/we-must-not-reject-all-sexual-contact-between-adults-and-young-people/) [Gayle Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gayle-rubin/) > [Not only do most people accept violence if it is perpetuated by legitimate authority, they also regard violence against certain kinds of people as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-friedenberg/not-only-do-most-people-accept-violence-if-it-is-perpetuated-by/) [Edgar Friedenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-friedenberg/) > [If you think people are inherently good, you get rid of the police for 24 hours - see what happens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvester-stallone/if-you-think-people-are-inherently-good-you-get-rid-of-the-police-for/) [Sylvester Stallone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvester-stallone/) > [I don't think evil people or negative people are inherently interesting all the time. People who are good people getting better at being themselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-radnor/i-don-t-think-evil-people-or-negative-people-are-inherently/) [Josh Radnor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-radnor/) ## More by Steve Rushin > [Outside Buckingham Palace, the Royal Standard flies only when the reigning monarch is in residence. Sadly, there's no similar flag outside The Woods Jupiter,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-rushin/outside-buckingham-palace-the-royal-standard-flies-only-when-the/) [Steve Rushin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-rushin/) > [Because I'm a bald, dim-witted writer, people think I couldn't possibly be her husband, so they occasionally confuse me for someone more glamorous. At…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-rushin/because-i-m-a-bald-dim-witted-writer-people-think-i-couldn-t-possibly/) [Steve Rushin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-rushin/) > [As good as NFL Films is at making players human, it's even better at making players superhuman. No Hollywood studio has made movies that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-rushin/as-good-as-nfl-films-is-at-making-players-human-it-s-even-better-at/) [Steve Rushin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-rushin/) > [I'm a product of the 1970s.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-rushin/i-m-a-product-of-the-1970s/) [Steve Rushin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-rushin/) > [I'm an unabashed sports photo fanboy, the kind of weirdo who seeks out the infinitesimal picture credits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-rushin/i-m-an-unabashed-sports-photo-fanboy-the-kind-of-weirdo-who-seeks-out/) [Steve Rushin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-rushin/) > [I never learned the secret handshake. That may be one of the reasons I've grown to love English soccer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-rushin/i-never-learned-the-secret-handshake-that-may-be-one-of-the-reasons-i/) [Steve Rushin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-rushin/) > [Scarcity drives up demand, and the short golf season in Minnesota makes residents of that state mad for the sport. It's the same reason…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-rushin/scarcity-drives-up-demand-and-the-short-golf-season-in-minnesota/) [Steve Rushin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-rushin/) > [The Metrodome was built for football. Fans seated down the third-base line at a baseball game faced centerfield, so that they had to turn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-rushin/the-metrodome-was-built-for-football-fans-seated-down-the-third-base/) [Steve Rushin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-rushin/) > [After the abrupt death of my mother, Jane, on Sept. 5, 1991, of a disease called amyloidosis, my dad took up golf at 57.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-rushin/after-the-abrupt-death-of-my-mother-jane-on-sept-5-1991-of-a-disease/) [Steve Rushin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-rushin/) > [By the age of 18, the average American has witnessed 200,000 acts of violence on television, most of them occurring during Game 1 of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-rushin/by-the-age-of-18-the-average-american-has-witnessed-200-000-acts-of/) [Steve Rushin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-rushin/) > [“At that hour, a shaft of sunlight shone through stained glass. Which is to say, windows whose glass was comprehensively stained—by a double-glazing of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-rushin/at-that-hour-a-shaft-of-sunlight-shone-through-stained-glass-which-is/) [Steve Rushin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-rushin/) > [As life speeds by, nostalgia has a shorter pregnancy. Games still in progress are given the straight-to-sepia status of "Instant Classics" no matter how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-rushin/as-life-speeds-by-nostalgia-has-a-shorter-pregnancy-games-still-in/) [Steve Rushin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-rushin/) > [Headline writers love the phrase 'Power Grab,' but you can't really grab it, can you? Power is a greased watermelon, a wisp of smoke,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-rushin/headline-writers-love-the-phrase-power-grab-but-you-can-t-really-grab/) [Steve Rushin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-rushin/) > [All kingdoms look small through an airplane window - little dominions built on quicksand. But looking up from the ground, where most of us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-rushin/all-kingdoms-look-small-through-an-airplane-window-little-dominions/) [Steve Rushin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-rushin/) > [“Madman Muntz was a wildly successful automobile salesman who had pioneered the loud television hard sell to move cars off his lot.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-rushin/madman-muntz-was-a-wildly-successful-automobile-salesman-who-had/) [Steve Rushin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-rushin/) [Explore all 122 Steve Rushin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-rushin/) ## More Being quotes > [Because of the womb being a central phenomenon in the feminine body, the whole psychology of woman differs: she is non-aggressive, non-inquiring, non-questioning, non-doubting,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/because-of-the-womb-being-a-central-phenomenon-in-the-feminine-body/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [There is something magical about being able to feel somebody. And that is something that has always moved me with music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brink/there-is-something-magical-about-being-able-to-feel-somebody-and-that/) [Maria Brink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-brink/) > [I love being in Malibu. It's so cool there, and the water is just, it's nice and, and I love the beach. And I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-evancho/i-love-being-in-malibu-it-s-so-cool-there-and-the-water-is-just-it-s/) [Jackie Evancho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-evancho/) > [I talk to my mates about our kids, being too tired and being worn out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-willoughby/i-talk-to-my-mates-about-our-kids-being-too-tired-and-being-worn-out/) [Holly Willoughby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-willoughby/) > [I love to fish. I love the peacefulness of being around the water.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evonne-goolagong-cawley/i-love-to-fish-i-love-the-peacefulness-of-being-around-the-water/) [Evonne Goolagong Cawley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evonne-goolagong-cawley/) > [When you're in your twenties and starting out, the problem is that you care about being cool. Being older, I can care less about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-righton/when-you-re-in-your-twenties-and-starting-out-the-problem-is-that-you/) [James Righton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-righton/) > [I am tired of our characters being so incomplete. When do we ever save the day in a film? When does a Latino actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esai-morales/i-am-tired-of-our-characters-being-so-incomplete-when-do-we-ever-save/) [Esai Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esai-morales/) > [Being a new mother is a blessing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phaedra-parks/being-a-new-mother-is-a-blessing/) [Phaedra Parks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phaedra-parks/) > [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [If we accept being talked to any kind of a way, then we are telling ourselves we are not quite worth the best. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/if-we-accept-being-talked-to-any-kind-of-a-way-then-we-are-telling/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [Having small children and being an investigative reporter would seem like a difficult mix, but it worked well for me. I was often working…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-abramson/having-small-children-and-being-an-investigative-reporter-would-seem/) [Jill Abramson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-abramson/) > [I am just enjoying the dream of being Milan coach at the age of 40.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennaro-gattuso/i-am-just-enjoying-the-dream-of-being-milan-coach-at-the-age-of-40/) [Gennaro Gattuso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennaro-gattuso/) > [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/) [Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/) > [We should not live in fear, we should all enjoy being able to express our views freely and openly, challenge each other on issues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tan-cheng-bock/we-should-not-live-in-fear-we-should-all-enjoy-being-able-to-express/) [Tan Cheng Bock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tan-cheng-bock/) [Browse all 18,139 Being quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "What's certain is that ranking powerful people is inherently self-defeating. For starters, true potentates know who they are without being told, and they have no need to announce it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Steve Rushin" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-rushin/what-s-certain-is-that-ranking-powerful-people-is-inherently-self/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Being" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-rushin/what-s-certain-is-that-ranking-powerful-people-is-inherently-self/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af2/steve-rushin-3791_being_what-s-certain-is-that-ranking-powerful_2976236.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af2/steve-rushin-3791_being_what-s-certain-is-that-ranking-powerful_2976236.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af2/steve-rushin-3791_being_what-s-certain-is-that-ranking-powerful_2976236.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“What's certain is that ranking powerful people is inherently self-defeating. For starters, true potentates…” — Steve Rushin", "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": "Steve Rushin", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-rushin/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "What's certain is that ranking powerful...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-rushin/what-s-certain-is-that-ranking-powerful-people-is-inherently-self/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-rushin/what-s-certain-is-that-ranking-powerful-people-is-inherently-self/#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 } } ] } ```