--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If this power could be used for good, it…" description: "\"If this power could be used for good, it wouldn't be this power.\" — Teresa Nielsen Hayden" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/35e/teresa-nielsen-hayden-31945_ifs_if-this-power-could-be-used-for-good-it_2962961.jpg" --- # If this power could be used for good, it wouldn't be this… ![“If this power could be used for good, it wouldn't be this power.” quote by Teresa Nielsen Hayden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/35e/teresa-nielsen-hayden-31945_ifs_if-this-power-could-be-used-for-good-it_2962961.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/35e/teresa-nielsen-hayden-31945_ifs_if-this-power-could-be-used-for-good-it_2962961.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/35e/teresa-nielsen-hayden-31945_ifs_if-this-power-could-be-used-for-good-it_2962961.jpg) > “If this power could be used for good, it wouldn't be this power.” [Teresa Nielsen Hayden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-nielsen-hayden/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Argues that truly good power would not be considered power at all. **In simple terms:** Good power feels like no power. Key Takeaway Pursue humble, service‑oriented influence. Themes power ethics morality leadership Mood reflective inspirational Type ethical philosophical When to use this quote - community service - ethical leadership - policy making - volunteer work Key Concepts philosophy political science Questions to Reflect On - What defines power that feels like service? - How can you wield influence responsibly? A Different Perspective Power can be misused despite good intentions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) ## Related quotes > [Ladies, Men wouldn't BE NOTHING with out US! We have that POWER!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/ladies-men-wouldn-t-be-nothing-with-out-us-we-have-that-power/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [What kind of power was it if it would never be used?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/what-kind-of-power-was-it-if-it-would-never-be-used/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) > [A man in a position of power over me used that said power to try and take advantage of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lili-reinhart/a-man-in-a-position-of-power-over-me-used-that-said-power-to-try-and/) [Lili Reinhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lili-reinhart/) > [“Power is to be used in the service of others and only secondarily, if at all, for the benefit of oneself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duane-elmer/power-is-to-be-used-in-the-service-of-others-and-only-secondarily-if/) Duane Elmer > [Power must be used, but it must be tempered by soul-searching and the recognition of our human capacity for error. That is the maxim…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliot-spitzer/power-must-be-used-but-it-must-be-tempered-by-soul-searching-and-the/) [Eliot Spitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliot-spitzer/) > [People in power, they're so used to people kind of playing up to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zaha-hadid/people-in-power-they-re-so-used-to-people-kind-of-playing-up-to-them/) [Zaha Hadid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zaha-hadid/) > [Not my power, but the power of the position, a power which could be used to help.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-ford/not-my-power-but-the-power-of-the-position-a-power-which-could-be/) [Betty Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-ford/) > [I used to be very good friends with Kanye.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shavo-odadjian/i-used-to-be-very-good-friends-with-kanye/) [Shavo Odadjian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shavo-odadjian/) > [I think that social media can be used for good and for bad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lexi-ainsworth/i-think-that-social-media-can-be-used-for-good-and-for-bad/) [Lexi Ainsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lexi-ainsworth/) > [While infusing technology with humanity, we are trying to make sure it's used for good and also trying to foresee some of the ways…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/while-infusing-technology-with-humanity-we-are-trying-to-make-sure-it/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [“Everything good in New York used to be something awful, I guess." "And everything awful used to be something good.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-k-vaughan/everything-good-in-new-york-used-to-be-something-awful-i-guess-and/) [Brian K. Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-k-vaughan/) > [Growing up, I was not used to good things happening to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quinton-aaron/growing-up-i-was-not-used-to-good-things-happening-to-me/) [Quinton Aaron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quinton-aaron/) > [“I think he could handle being used. It would be good for him. He's having trouble sleeping.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-dahl/i-think-he-could-handle-being-used-it-would-be-good-for-him-he-s/) [Victoria Dahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-dahl/) > [The fact that something can be used for good isn't necessarily a knockdown argument for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-bloom/the-fact-that-something-can-be-used-for-good-isn-t-necessarily-a/) [Paul Bloom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-bloom/) > [“ALL that man has touched, will be used... For both Good and evil. Such is the way of the world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-d-longoria-jr/all-that-man-has-touched-will-be-used-for-both-good-and-evil-such-is/) [Raymond D. Longoria Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-d-longoria-jr/) ## More by Teresa Nielsen Hayden > [If you ask 20 different readers why they read, they will all be right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-nielsen-hayden/if-you-ask-20-different-readers-why-they-read-they-will-all-be-right/) [Teresa Nielsen Hayden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-nielsen-hayden/) > [There's a rule for what makes good fantasy work, and it's as strange as any riddle ever posed in a fairy tale: In fantasy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-nielsen-hayden/there-s-a-rule-for-what-makes-good-fantasy-work-and-it-s-as-strange/) [Teresa Nielsen Hayden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-nielsen-hayden/) > [Writers say many true things about their own experiences with publicity and promotion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-nielsen-hayden/writers-say-many-true-things-about-their-own-experiences-with/) [Teresa Nielsen Hayden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-nielsen-hayden/) > [“Writer: It's not an occupation; it's a compulsion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-nielsen-hayden/writer-it-s-not-an-occupation-it-s-a-compulsion/) [Teresa Nielsen Hayden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-nielsen-hayden/) > [So many problems are solved simply by knowing enough verbs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-nielsen-hayden/so-many-problems-are-solved-simply-by-knowing-enough-verbs/) [Teresa Nielsen Hayden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-nielsen-hayden/) > [If there is no willingness to use force to defend civil society, it's civil society that goes away, not force.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-nielsen-hayden/if-there-is-no-willingness-to-use-force-to-defend-civil-society-it-s/) [Teresa Nielsen Hayden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-nielsen-hayden/) > [I have to go make books. Sorry about that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-nielsen-hayden/i-have-to-go-make-books-sorry-about-that/) [Teresa Nielsen Hayden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-nielsen-hayden/) > [Didn't need the user icon to know you're white and male.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-nielsen-hayden/didn-t-need-the-user-icon-to-know-you-re-white-and-male/) [Teresa Nielsen Hayden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-nielsen-hayden/) > [Just because you’re on their side doesn’t mean they’re on your side.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-nielsen-hayden/just-because-you-re-on-their-side-doesn-t-mean-they-re-on-your-side/) [Teresa Nielsen Hayden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-nielsen-hayden/) > [I believe God put that itchy spot on our backs just exactly where we can't reach it in order to encourage us be nice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-nielsen-hayden/i-believe-god-put-that-itchy-spot-on-our-backs-just-exactly-where-we/) [Teresa Nielsen Hayden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-nielsen-hayden/) > [Plot is a literary convention. Story is a force of nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-nielsen-hayden/plot-is-a-literary-convention-story-is-a-force-of-nature/) [Teresa Nielsen Hayden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-nielsen-hayden/) > [Don't use metaphors in fantasy; your readers will take them literally. Or they may take them figuratively - but if so, they'll also take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-nielsen-hayden/don-t-use-metaphors-in-fantasy-your-readers-will-take-them-literally/) [Teresa Nielsen Hayden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-nielsen-hayden/) > [Sometimes writers say true things about the overall nature of publicity, promotion, and the publishing industry; but alas, not always.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-nielsen-hayden/sometimes-writers-say-true-things-about-the-overall-nature-of/) [Teresa Nielsen Hayden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-nielsen-hayden/) > [The advent of the internet has made so many things possible. Self- published recreational journalism has always been around; but back when you had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-nielsen-hayden/the-advent-of-the-internet-has-made-so-many-things-possible-self/) [Teresa Nielsen Hayden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-nielsen-hayden/) > [That's the great thing about doing good: Anyone can do it, any time, no waiting periods or batteries required.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-nielsen-hayden/that-s-the-great-thing-about-doing-good-anyone-can-do-it-any-time-no/) [Teresa Nielsen Hayden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-nielsen-hayden/) [Explore all 16 Teresa Nielsen Hayden quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-nielsen-hayden/) ## More Ifs quotes > [Women still, when they have breast cancer, go to work; they still lead their lives. They have to. I just did what I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-potter/women-still-when-they-have-breast-cancer-go-to-work-they-still-lead/) [Monica Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-potter/) > [Most of us are convinced that we are our egos, which is who we think we are. The ego is part of our incarnation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/most-of-us-are-convinced-that-we-are-our-egos-which-is-who-we-think/) [Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/) > [Histories never conclude; they just pause their prose. Their stories are, if they are truthful, untidy affairs, resistant to windings-up and sortings-out. They beat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-schama/histories-never-conclude-they-just-pause-their-prose-their-stories/) [Simon Schama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-schama/) > [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/) [Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/) > [Many individuals spend a considerable portion of their lifetimes in terror of one imagined catastrophe or another. The classic is that your immortal soul…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-neil-smith/many-individuals-spend-a-considerable-portion-of-their-lifetimes-in/) [L. Neil Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-neil-smith/) > [Obviously, if you don't love life, you can't enjoy an oyster.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-clark/obviously-if-you-don-t-love-life-you-can-t-enjoy-an-oyster/) [Eleanor Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-clark/) > [If I don't have pressure, I don't function.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ferran-adria/if-i-don-t-have-pressure-i-don-t-function/) [Ferran Adria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ferran-adria/) > [If you restore a car, and you're making money, then you're doing it wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/if-you-restore-a-car-and-you-re-making-money-then-you-re-doing-it/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [If we gave up our freedom as the price of security, we would no longer be the great nation that we are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/if-we-gave-up-our-freedom-as-the-price-of-security-we-would-no-longer/) [Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bader-ginsburg/) > [If my campaign is not in the debate, we will not be talking about how we really fix this problem of endless and expanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/if-my-campaign-is-not-in-the-debate-we-will-not-be-talking-about-how/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [Nothing is so powerful as an insight into human nature... what compulsions drive a man, what instincts dominate his action. If you know these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bernbach/nothing-is-so-powerful-as-an-insight-into-human-nature-what/) [William Bernbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bernbach/) > [But we are convinced that if we are to play a meaningful role nationally, and in the community of nations, we must be second…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-sarabhai/but-we-are-convinced-that-if-we-are-to-play-a-meaningful-role/) [Vikram Sarabhai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-sarabhai/) > [The thing about hitting kids is, think about if you were doing the same thing to another adult. Hitting your kid is really the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/the-thing-about-hitting-kids-is-think-about-if-you-were-doing-the/) [Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/) > [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) Browse all 94,303 Ifs quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If this power could be used for good, it wouldn't be this power.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Teresa Nielsen Hayden" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-nielsen-hayden/if-this-power-could-be-used-for-good-it-wouldn-t-be-this-power/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ifs" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-nielsen-hayden/if-this-power-could-be-used-for-good-it-wouldn-t-be-this-power/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/35e/teresa-nielsen-hayden-31945_ifs_if-this-power-could-be-used-for-good-it_2962961.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/35e/teresa-nielsen-hayden-31945_ifs_if-this-power-could-be-used-for-good-it_2962961.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/35e/teresa-nielsen-hayden-31945_ifs_if-this-power-could-be-used-for-good-it_2962961.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If this power could be used for good, it wouldn't be this power.” — Teresa Nielsen Hayden", "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": "Teresa Nielsen Hayden", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-nielsen-hayden/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If this power could be used...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-nielsen-hayden/if-this-power-could-be-used-for-good-it-wouldn-t-be-this-power/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-nielsen-hayden/if-this-power-could-be-used-for-good-it-wouldn-t-be-this-power/#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 } } ] } ```