--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Let's face it: we live at a time when…" description: "\"Let's face it: we live at a time when government is less and less powerful, less and less effective, and the agent of social change, at least for the i..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d38/tibor-kalman-20659_agent_let-s-face-it-we-live-at-a-time-when-gov_2290337.png" --- # Let's face it: we live at a time when government is less… ![“Let's face it: we live at a time when government is less and less powerful, less and less effective, and the agent of social change, at least for the immediate future, is the corporation.” quote by Tibor Kalman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d38/tibor-kalman-20659_agent_let-s-face-it-we-live-at-a-time-when-gov_2290337.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d38/tibor-kalman-20659_agent_let-s-face-it-we-live-at-a-time-when-gov_2290337.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d38/tibor-kalman-20659_agent_let-s-face-it-we-live-at-a-time-when-gov_2290337.png) > “Let's face it: we live at a time when government is less and less powerful, less and less effective, and the agent of social change, at least for the immediate future, is the corporation.” [Tibor Kalman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tibor-kalman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Government influence is waning while corporate power drives social change. **In simple terms:** Corporations now shape society more than governments. Key Takeaway Recognize corporate impact on society. Themes power society change corporations government Mood critical analytical Type observational commentary When to use this quote - policy analysis - business strategy - activism - community organizing Key Concepts political economy social influence corporate responsibility Questions to Reflect On - How does corporate power affect democracy? - What responsibilities should corporations bear? A Different Perspective Corporations may prioritize profit over public good. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Corporation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corporation/) [Future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/future/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Social](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social/) [Social change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social-change/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [The future of any corporation is as good as the value system of the leaders and followers in the organization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-r-narayana-murthy/the-future-of-any-corporation-is-as-good-as-the-value-system-of-the/) [N. R. Narayana Murthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-r-narayana-murthy/) > [The most important invention that will come out of the corporate research lab in the future will be the corporation itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-seely-brown/the-most-important-invention-that-will-come-out-of-the-corporate/) [John Seely Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-seely-brown/) > [“Are they a secret part of the American government or a powerful private corporation? Is there a difference? To me, it doesn’t matter. It’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nnedi-okorafor/are-they-a-secret-part-of-the-american-government-or-a-powerful/) [Nnedi Okorafor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nnedi-okorafor/) > [The war on drugs has made government more powerful, citizens less free, and hasn't helped users or addicts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-mitchell/the-war-on-drugs-has-made-government-more-powerful-citizens-less-free/) [Victor Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-mitchell/) > [The founders had a strong distrust for centralized power in a federal government. So they created a government with checks and balances. This was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-taft-benson/the-founders-had-a-strong-distrust-for-centralized-power-in-a-federal/) [Ezra Taft Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-taft-benson/) > [You have this kind of cross between abandonment and savior, and I think it's going to show that how a government as powerful as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-greene/you-have-this-kind-of-cross-between-abandonment-and-savior-and-i/) [Stanley Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-greene/) > [Why is it that any time government takes over something for a few years, its assumed that people are too incompetent to do it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-sanchez/why-is-it-that-any-time-government-takes-over-something-for-a-few/) [Julian Sanchez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-sanchez/) > [“government must be powerful enough to be effective and to control unruly factions in the society, but not so powerful as to be able…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/government-must-be-powerful-enough-to-be-effective-and-to-control/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It is a belief in human potential that has guided me through my time in Government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gove/it-is-a-belief-in-human-potential-that-has-guided-me-through-my-time/) [Michael Gove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gove/) > [It is often too late by the time the government reacts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vandana-shiva/it-is-often-too-late-by-the-time-the-government-reacts/) [Vandana Shiva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vandana-shiva/) > [Every time the government grows we lose more of who we are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-beck/every-time-the-government-grows-we-lose-more-of-who-we-are/) [Glenn Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-beck/) > [We may not always recognize it, but government plays a bigger role in our lives than any other single person or institution. We spend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-browne/we-may-not-always-recognize-it-but-government-plays-a-bigger-role-in/) [Harry Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-browne/) > [By adopting programs to distribute substantial amounts of income, a nation guarantees that its government will become more powerful and invasive in other ways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-higgs/by-adopting-programs-to-distribute-substantial-amounts-of-income-a/) [Robert Higgs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-higgs/) > [These are people who don't believe the government can possibly get too big. It's not possible for it to get too big. It's not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/these-are-people-who-don-t-believe-the-government-can-possibly-get/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [When a government becomes powerful it is destructive, extravagant and violent; it is an usurer which takes bread from innocent mouths and deprives honorable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/when-a-government-becomes-powerful-it-is-destructive-extravagant-and/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) ## More by Tibor Kalman > [By definition, when you make something no one hates, no one loves it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tibor-kalman/by-definition-when-you-make-something-no-one-hates-no-one-loves-it/) [Tibor Kalman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tibor-kalman/) > [Your children will smash your understanding, knowledge and reality. You will be better off. Then they will leave. You'll miss them forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tibor-kalman/your-children-will-smash-your-understanding-knowledge-and-reality-you/) [Tibor Kalman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tibor-kalman/) > [I am interested in imperfections, quirkiness, insanity, unpredictability. That's what we really pay attention to anyway. We don't talk about planes flying; we talk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tibor-kalman/i-am-interested-in-imperfections-quirkiness-insanity-unpredictability/) [Tibor Kalman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tibor-kalman/) > [Pictures are so good at giving people information that they're not looking for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tibor-kalman/pictures-are-so-good-at-giving-people-information-that-they-re-not/) [Tibor Kalman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tibor-kalman/) > [Some people... cling to the idea that the photograph is an inherently real or honest image and as such is always on a different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tibor-kalman/some-people-cling-to-the-idea-that-the-photograph-is-an-inherently/) [Tibor Kalman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tibor-kalman/) > [If you don't have an idea, all you have is style.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tibor-kalman/if-you-don-t-have-an-idea-all-you-have-is-style/) [Tibor Kalman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tibor-kalman/) > [What is said determines who listens and who understands. Graphic design is a language, but graphic designers are so busy worrying about the nuances…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tibor-kalman/what-is-said-determines-who-listens-and-who-understands-graphic/) [Tibor Kalman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tibor-kalman/) > [I'm always trying to turn things upside down and see if they look any better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tibor-kalman/i-m-always-trying-to-turn-things-upside-down-and-see-if-they-look-any/) [Tibor Kalman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tibor-kalman/) > [The perfect state of creative bliss is having power (you are 50) and knowing nothing (you are 9). This assures an interesting and successful outcome.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tibor-kalman/the-perfect-state-of-creative-bliss-is-having-power-you-are-50-and/) [Tibor Kalman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tibor-kalman/) > [You'll never go wrong when you work with someone smarter than you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tibor-kalman/you-ll-never-go-wrong-when-you-work-with-someone-smarter-than-you/) [Tibor Kalman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tibor-kalman/) > [The difference between good design and great design is INTELLIGENCE](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tibor-kalman/the-difference-between-good-design-and-great-design-is-intelligence/) [Tibor Kalman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tibor-kalman/) > [To me, nothing is more vibrant than having the power to do something but not having the experience of knowing what's right and what's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tibor-kalman/to-me-nothing-is-more-vibrant-than-having-the-power-to-do-something/) [Tibor Kalman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tibor-kalman/) > [I believe that this whole question of some photography being true and some untrue is a non-question. Photography is not objective; it never was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tibor-kalman/i-believe-that-this-whole-question-of-some-photography-being-true-and/) [Tibor Kalman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tibor-kalman/) > [I'm not as good a writer as I'd like to be; therefore, I like to use images to tell stories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tibor-kalman/i-m-not-as-good-a-writer-as-i-d-like-to-be-therefore-i-like-to-use/) [Tibor Kalman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tibor-kalman/) > [Consumer culture is contradiction in terms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tibor-kalman/consumer-culture-is-contradiction-in-terms/) [Tibor Kalman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tibor-kalman/) [Explore all 30 Tibor Kalman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tibor-kalman/) ## More Agent quotes > [I said to my agent, 'I want short, sharp, well-paid jobs because I haven't got time for anything else.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-whitelaw/i-said-to-my-agent-i-want-short-sharp-well-paid-jobs-because-i-haven/) [Billie Whitelaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-whitelaw/) > [I was in Vietnam, and I was exposed to Agent Orange. 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The idea was to write a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glen-duncan/in-a-fit-of-pique-i-said-to-my-agent-i-m-going-to-write-something-you/) [Glen Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glen-duncan/) > [You can change. And you can be an agent of change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-dern/you-can-change-and-you-can-be-an-agent-of-change/) [Laura Dern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-dern/) > [Anuj Bahari has always been a really good literary agent for me. What a good agent does is that he manages many of your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amish-tripathi/anuj-bahari-has-always-been-a-really-good-literary-agent-for-me-what/) [Amish Tripathi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amish-tripathi/) > [To be the agent whose touch changes nature from a wild force to a work of art is inspiration of the highest order.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-rodale/to-be-the-agent-whose-touch-changes-nature-from-a-wild-force-to-a/) Robert Rodale > [Every imperial agent wants to reduce what is possible to what is available.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-brueggemann/every-imperial-agent-wants-to-reduce-what-is-possible-to-what-is/) [Walter Brueggemann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-brueggemann/) > [I wonder what an agent would do if he had to travel with the band he's booking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-lou-williams/i-wonder-what-an-agent-would-do-if-he-had-to-travel-with-the-band-he/) [Mary Lou Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-lou-williams/) > [I never had trouble getting an agent. I went out and got my first couple roles, and literally within six months I never had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-norris/i-never-had-trouble-getting-an-agent-i-went-out-and-got-my-first/) [Dean Norris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-norris/) > [When it comes to transfers, I leave everything with my agent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hulk/when-it-comes-to-transfers-i-leave-everything-with-my-agent/) [Hulk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hulk/) > [The short story and the truth is that I was taking vocal lessons here in New York... One day, instead of my lesson, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lesley-gore/the-short-story-and-the-truth-is-that-i-was-taking-vocal-lessons-here/) [Lesley Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lesley-gore/) > [I don't know if I'd want to be a Secret Service agent. In the movies, it's exciting and romantic and all that. 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