--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To be given dominion over another is a…" description: "\"To be given dominion over another is a hard thing; to wrest dominion over another is a wrong thing; to give dominion of yourself to another is a wicked..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8e/toni-morrison-271_dominion_to-be-given-dominion-over-another-is-a-h_1339301.jpg" --- # To be given dominion over another is a hard thing; to… ![“To be given dominion over another is a hard thing; to wrest dominion over another is a wrong thing; to give dominion of yourself to another is a wicked thing.” quote by Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8e/toni-morrison-271_dominion_to-be-given-dominion-over-another-is-a-h_1339301.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8e/toni-morrison-271_dominion_to-be-given-dominion-over-another-is-a-h_1339301.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8e/toni-morrison-271_dominion_to-be-given-dominion-over-another-is-a-h_1339301.jpg) > “To be given dominion over another is a hard thing; to wrest dominion over another is a wrong thing; to give dominion of yourself to another is a wicked thing.” [Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Dominion over others is inherently problematic; imposing control is wrong, and surrendering oneself to another is harmful. **In simple terms:** Control over people is wrong and surrendering to control is harmful. Key Takeaway Respect autonomy and avoid domination. Themes power ethics human dignity Mood thoughtful serious Type ethical philosophical When to use this quote - relationships - leadership - political systems - personal boundaries Key Concepts authority moral philosophy Questions to Reflect On - How do you recognize when influence becomes domination? - What safeguards protect personal autonomy? A Different Perspective Power dynamics are complex and sometimes necessary for order. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dominion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dominion/) [Dominion Wicked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dominion-wicked-4519868/) [Dominion Wrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dominion-wrong-4519866/) [Given](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/given/) [Given Dominion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/given-dominion-4008878/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Hard things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard-things/) [Thing Dominion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thing-dominion-4519867/) [Wicked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wicked/) ## Related quotes > [“One chance, I thought. There is no protection but there is difference. You stood there in those shoes and the tall man laughed and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-morrison/one-chance-i-thought-there-is-no-protection-but-there-is-difference/) [Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/) > [For everything that God desires to do in the earth, He enters into partnership with those to whom He has already given dominion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myles-munroe/for-everything-that-god-desires-to-do-in-the-earth-he-enters-into/) [Myles Munroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myles-munroe/) > [“When you realize that you have dominion, nothing can stop on your way. It is time to exercise your God given dominion over the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kambi-njogu/when-you-realize-that-you-have-dominion-nothing-can-stop-on-your-way/) [Paul Kambi Njogu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kambi-njogu/) > [ It may be said of them \[the Hollanders\], as of the Spaniards, that the sun never sets upon their Dominions. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-gage/it-may-be-said-of-them-the-hollanders-as-of-the-spaniards-that-the/) [Thomas Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-gage/) > [Christ by his death destroying the works of the devil, procuring the Spirit for us, hath so killed sin, as to its reign in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-owen/christ-by-his-death-destroying-the-works-of-the-devil-procuring-the/) [John Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-owen/) > [God in heaven has dominion Over so many events. He can frustrate what seems inevitable, And bring to pass the thing that you least…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/god-in-heaven-has-dominion-over-so-many-events-he-can-frustrate-what/) [Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/) > [ The thing that was forfeited in the garden was regained. God gave him \[Adam\] dominion over the works of His hand. God made him… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-g-lake/the-thing-that-was-forfeited-in-the-garden-was-regained-god-gave-him/) [John G. Lake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-g-lake/) > [“Together my wife and I are building the kingdom of God, exercising dominion, beating back the weeds of stinky dippers, tending the garden God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul-jr-2/together-my-wife-and-i-are-building-the-kingdom-of-god-exercising/) [R.C. Sproul Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul-jr-2/) > [“The greatest dangers you can get into are the ones you see coming. 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Adam could fly like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benny-hinn/poverty-comes-from-hell-prosperity-comes-from-heaven-adam-had/) [Benny Hinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benny-hinn/) > [In giving us dominion over the animal kingdom God has signified His will that we subdue the beast within ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lancaster-spalding/in-giving-us-dominion-over-the-animal-kingdom-god-has-signified-his/) [John Lancaster Spalding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lancaster-spalding/) > [Dominion is a spy novel, a love story, and also I hope gives some sense of the difficulties faced by dissidents under any totalitarian…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-j-sansom/dominion-is-a-spy-novel-a-love-story-and-also-i-hope-gives-some-sense/) [C.J. Sansom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-j-sansom/) > [I would rather excel others in the knowledge of what is excellent than in the extent of my powers and dominion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-the-great/i-would-rather-excel-others-in-the-knowledge-of-what-is-excellent/) [Alexander the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-the-great/) ## More by Toni Morrison > [Perhaps that's what all human relationships boiled down to: Would you save my life? or would you take it?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-morrison/perhaps-that-s-what-all-human-relationships-boiled-down-to-would-you/) [Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/) > [There, in the center of that silence was not eternity but the death of time and a loneliness so profound the word itself had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-morrison/there-in-the-center-of-that-silence-was-not-eternity-but-the-death-of/) [Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/) > [In times of dread, artists must never choose to remain silent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-morrison/in-times-of-dread-artists-must-never-choose-to-remain-silent/) [Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/) > [“Not know it was hard;knowing it was harder”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-morrison/not-know-it-was-hard-knowing-it-was-harder/) [Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/) > [“Didn’t everything on God’s earth have or acquire defense?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-morrison/didn-t-everything-on-god-s-earth-have-or-acquire-defense/) [Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/) > [If you can't count, they can cheat you. 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We say twinkle because that is how it looks, but when a star feels itself,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-morrison/you-know-how-a-star-is-supposed-to-twinkle-we-say-twinkle-because/) [Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/) > [“There is no bad luck in the world but whitefolks”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-morrison/there-is-no-bad-luck-in-the-world-but-whitefolks/) [Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/) > [My father saw two black men lynched on his street in Cartersville, as a child. And I think seeing two black businessmen - not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-morrison/my-father-saw-two-black-men-lynched-on-his-street-in-cartersville-as/) [Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/) > [“She was fierce in the presence of death, heroic even, as she was at no other time. Its threat gave her direction, clarity, audacity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-morrison/she-was-fierce-in-the-presence-of-death-heroic-even-as-she-was-at-no/) [Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/) [Explore all 774 Toni Morrison quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/) ## More Dominion quotes > [I would rather excel others in the knowledge of what is excellent than in the extent of my powers and dominion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-the-great/i-would-rather-excel-others-in-the-knowledge-of-what-is-excellent/) [Alexander the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-the-great/) > [Dominion is a spy novel, a love story, and also I hope gives some sense of the difficulties faced by dissidents under any totalitarian…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-j-sansom/dominion-is-a-spy-novel-a-love-story-and-also-i-hope-gives-some-sense/) [C.J. Sansom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-j-sansom/) > [In giving us dominion over the animal kingdom God has signified His will that we subdue the beast within ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lancaster-spalding/in-giving-us-dominion-over-the-animal-kingdom-god-has-signified-his/) [John Lancaster Spalding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lancaster-spalding/) > [Poverty comes from Hell. Prosperity comes from Heaven. Adam had complete dominion over the earth and all it contains. A. Adam could fly like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benny-hinn/poverty-comes-from-hell-prosperity-comes-from-heaven-adam-had/) [Benny Hinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benny-hinn/) > [And the Truth turns out to be nothing less than the amazing but undeniable fact that the whole outer world -whether it be the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmet-fox/and-the-truth-turns-out-to-be-nothing-less-than-the-amazing-but/) [Emmet Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmet-fox/) > [Only he who has measured the dominion of force, and knows how not to respect it, is capable of love andjustice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-weil/only-he-who-has-measured-the-dominion-of-force-and-knows-how-not-to/) [Simone Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-weil/) > [“The greatest dangers you can get into are the ones you see coming. The ones that just happen are just roads waiting to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melody-manful/the-greatest-dangers-you-can-get-into-are-the-ones-you-see-coming-the/) [Melody Manful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melody-manful/) > [“Together my wife and I are building the kingdom of God, exercising dominion, beating back the weeds of stinky dippers, tending the garden God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul-jr-2/together-my-wife-and-i-are-building-the-kingdom-of-god-exercising/) [R.C. Sproul Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul-jr-2/) > [ The thing that was forfeited in the garden was regained. God gave him \[Adam\] dominion over the works of His hand. God made him… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-g-lake/the-thing-that-was-forfeited-in-the-garden-was-regained-god-gave-him/) [John G. Lake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-g-lake/) > [God in heaven has dominion Over so many events. He can frustrate what seems inevitable, And bring to pass the thing that you least…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/god-in-heaven-has-dominion-over-so-many-events-he-can-frustrate-what/) [Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/) > [Christ by his death destroying the works of the devil, procuring the Spirit for us, hath so killed sin, as to its reign in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-owen/christ-by-his-death-destroying-the-works-of-the-devil-procuring-the/) [John Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-owen/) > [ It may be said of them \[the Hollanders\], as of the Spaniards, that the sun never sets upon their Dominions. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-gage/it-may-be-said-of-them-the-hollanders-as-of-the-spaniards-that-the/) [Thomas Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-gage/) > [The impious presumption of legislators and rulers, civil as well as ecclesiastical, who, being themselves but fallible and uninspired men, have assumed dominion over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-impious-presumption-of-legislators-and-rulers-civil-as-well-as/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [In 1491 the Inka ruled the greatest empire on earth. Bigger than Ming Dynasty China, bigger than Ivan the Great’s expanding Russia, bigger than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-c-mann/in-1491-the-inka-ruled-the-greatest-empire-on-earth-bigger-than-ming/) [Charles C. 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