--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A general rule is drawn which never or…" description: "\"“A general rule is drawn which never or rarely fails: that he who is the cause of another becoming powerful is ruined; because that pre-dominancy has b..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1fc/w-k-marriott-52354_beware_a-general-rule-is-drawn-which-never-or-r_1956746.jpg" --- # A general rule is drawn which never or rarely fails: that… ![“A general rule is drawn which never or rarely fails: that he who is the cause of another becoming powerful is ruined; because that pre-dominancy has been brought about either by astuteness or else by force, and both are distrusted by him who has been raised to power.” quote by W.K. Marriott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1fc/w-k-marriott-52354_beware_a-general-rule-is-drawn-which-never-or-r_1956746.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1fc/w-k-marriott-52354_beware_a-general-rule-is-drawn-which-never-or-r_1956746.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1fc/w-k-marriott-52354_beware_a-general-rule-is-drawn-which-never-or-r_1956746.jpg) > ““A general rule is drawn which never or rarely fails: that he who is the cause of another becoming powerful is ruined; because that pre-dominancy has been brought about either by astuteness or else by force, and both are distrusted by him who has been raised to power.”” [W.K. Marriott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-k-marriott/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Those who empower others to become powerful often see themselves ruined, as power shifts are distrusted by the newly powerful **In simple terms:** Helping others gain power can backfire because the new powerful distrust those who enabled them Key Takeaway Beware of enabling rivals without safeguards Themes politics leadership trust Mood cautious analytical Type political strategic When to use this quote - political campaigns - corporate promotions - mentor relationships Key Concepts Power transfer betrayal strategic risk Questions to Reflect On - How can one empower others while protecting oneself? - What safeguards prevent betrayal after empowerment? A Different Perspective Power dynamics are complex and can be manipulated by both parties ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Beware](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beware/) [Distrusted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/distrusted-365133/) [Distrusted Raised](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/distrusted-raised-3207689/) [Dominancy Brought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dominancy-brought-3207690/) [General Rule](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/general-rule-601615/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) [Rule Drawn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rule-drawn-3207691/) ## Related quotes > [“I was born a heretic. I always distrusted people who know so much about what God wants them to do to their fellows.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-b-anthony/i-was-born-a-heretic-i-always-distrusted-people-who-know-so-much/) [Susan B. Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-b-anthony/) > [“But his own mind was helpless against every moment's headline. He did nothing but leap into the mass of changes and explore them and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ondaatje/but-his-own-mind-was-helpless-against-every-moment-s-headline-he-did/) [Michael Ondaatje](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ondaatje/) > [“The world is divided into those who screw and those who do not. He distrusted those who did not—when they strayed from the straight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabriel-garc-a-m-rquez/the-world-is-divided-into-those-who-screw-and-those-who-do-not-he/) [Gabriel Garcia Marquez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabriel-garc-a-m-rquez/) > [“As Sean seem determined to shadow her every move, she concluded that young boys were much like cats. They insisted on giving their company…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-robb/as-sean-seem-determined-to-shadow-her-every-move-she-concluded-that/) [J.D. Robb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-robb/) > [Say nothing good of yourself, you will be distrusted; say nothing bad of yourself, you will be taken at your word.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/say-nothing-good-of-yourself-you-will-be-distrusted-say-nothing-bad/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Although most advice should be distrusted, particularly when it comes from myself . . . keep an open mind, Miss Hathaway. One should never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-kleypas/although-most-advice-should-be-distrusted-particularly-when-it-comes/) [Lisa Kleypas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-kleypas/) > [I've noticed, in the ebbs and flows of success and popularity, so much of it is fraudulent and to be distrusted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-bettany/i-ve-noticed-in-the-ebbs-and-flows-of-success-and-popularity-so-much/) [Paul Bettany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-bettany/) > [“Nothing moves me more than courage: so total a sacrifice deserved complete trust from me. But she never believed that I trusted her, since…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marguerite-yourcenar/nothing-moves-me-more-than-courage-so-total-a-sacrifice-deserved/) [Marguerite Yourcenar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marguerite-yourcenar/) > [ Not for nothing that \[Donald\] Trump, who himself has had some high unfavorable ratings, distrusted by a significant amount of the population and even… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/not-for-nothing-that-donald-trump-who-himself-has-had-some-high/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [All men having power ought to be distrusted to a certain degree.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/all-men-having-power-ought-to-be-distrusted-to-a-certain-degree/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [The more he became truly wise, the more he distrusted everything he knew.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/the-more-he-became-truly-wise-the-more-he-distrusted-everything-he/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [My opinion is, that power should always be distrusted, in whatever hands it is placed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-jones/my-opinion-is-that-power-should-always-be-distrusted-in-whatever/) [William Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-jones/) > [“She distrusted people who were happy all the time. It simply wasn’t necessary.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-ellis/she-distrusted-people-who-were-happy-all-the-time-it-simply-wasn-t/) [Tim Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-ellis/) > [These three ladies disliked and distrusted one another as heartily as the First Triumvirate of Rome, and their close alliance was probably for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mitchell/these-three-ladies-disliked-and-distrusted-one-another-as-heartily-as/) [Margaret Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mitchell/) > [“Samuel Vimes dreamed about Clues. He had a jaundiced view of Clues. He instinctively distrusted them. They got in the way. And he distrusted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/samuel-vimes-dreamed-about-clues-he-had-a-jaundiced-view-of-clues-he/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) ## More by W.K. Marriott > [“...if one is on the spot, disorders are seen as they spring up, and one can quickly remedy them; but if one is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-k-marriott/if-one-is-on-the-spot-disorders-are-seen-as-they-spring-up-and-one/) [W.K. Marriott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-k-marriott/) > [“Men will not look at things as they really are, but as they wish them to be--and are ruined.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-k-marriott/men-will-not-look-at-things-as-they-really-are-but-as-they-wish-them/) [W.K. Marriott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-k-marriott/) > [“The wish to acquire is in truth very natural and common, and men always do so when they can, and for this they will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-k-marriott/the-wish-to-acquire-is-in-truth-very-natural-and-common-and-men-2/) [W.K. Marriott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-k-marriott/) > [“Those who by valorous ways become princes...acquire a principality with difficulty, but they keep it with ease.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-k-marriott/those-who-by-valorous-ways-become-princes-acquire-a-principality-with/) [W.K. Marriott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-k-marriott/) > [“A wise man ought always to follow the paths beaten by great men, and to imitate those who have been supreme, so that if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-k-marriott/a-wise-man-ought-always-to-follow-the-paths-beaten-by-great-men-and-2/) [W.K. Marriott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-k-marriott/) > [“It is in reference to Pope Julius that Machiavelli moralizes on the resemblance between Fortune and women, and concludes that it is the bold…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-k-marriott/it-is-in-reference-to-pope-julius-that-machiavelli-moralizes-on-the/) [W.K. Marriott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-k-marriott/) [Explore all 7 W.K. Marriott quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-k-marriott/) ## More Beware quotes > [Beware of the strong possibility that any state of a human, whether good or bad, might be the case of any other fellow human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/beware-of-the-strong-possibility-that-any-state-of-a-human-whether/) [Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/) > [Beware of a naked person who promises to buy you clothes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/beware-of-a-naked-person-who-promises-to-buy-you-clothes/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Beware of the man who will not engage in idle conversation; he is planning to steal your walking stick or water your stock.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-emerson/beware-of-the-man-who-will-not-engage-in-idle-conversation-he-is/) [William Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-emerson/) > [Beware the power of the dark side.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-angleberger/beware-the-power-of-the-dark-side/) [Tom Angleberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-angleberger/) > [Beware of anyone who tries to please you all the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/beware-of-anyone-who-tries-to-please-you-all-the-time/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [“Beware of people – who underestimate others because of their feelings of inadequacy – when confronted with them, avoid taking it personally.” “লোকদের থেকে সাবধান থাকুন- যারা তাদের অপর্যাপ্ততার অনুভূতির কারণে অন্যদের অবমূল্যায়ন করে- যখন তাদের সাথে মুখোমুখি হন – ব্যক্তিগতভাবে নেওয়া এড়িয়ে চলুন।”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mozammel-khan/beware-of-people-who-underestimate-others-because-of-their-feelings/) [Mozammel Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mozammel-khan/) > [“Lies are like ants; there's never just one.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-ash/lies-are-like-ants-there-s-never-just-one/) [Julia Ash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-ash/) > [“Beware of paying attention or going back to what you once were, when God wants you to be something that you have never been.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/beware-of-paying-attention-or-going-back-to-what-you-once-were-when/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [“View a Copycat as a Stray Cat.. They stray through the day hunting down prey. They pick up a scent through steel or cement.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-addino/view-a-copycat-as-a-stray-cat-they-stray-through-the-day-hunting-down/) [Victoria Addino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-addino/) > [Beware of those who seek constant crowds; they are nothing alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/beware-of-those-who-seek-constant-crowds-they-are-nothing-alone/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [“I am not afraid of people who say all the wrong things that make others gasp in disbelief. I am afraid of the people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-joybell-c/i-am-not-afraid-of-people-who-say-all-the-wrong-things-that-make/) [C. JoyBell C](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-joybell-c/) > [Beware of over-great pleasure in being popular or even beloved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-fuller/beware-of-over-great-pleasure-in-being-popular-or-even-beloved/) [Margaret Fuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-fuller/) > [Beware of the fish people, they are the true enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-zappa/beware-of-the-fish-people-they-are-the-true-enemy/) [Frank Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-zappa/) > [“Be ware! Santa Claus is a fake profile.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ljupka-cvetanova/be-ware-santa-claus-is-a-fake-profile/) [Ljupka Cvetanova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ljupka-cvetanova/) > [Beware of fake relationship, they spell bound and seize you, and leave you to rot alone in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/beware-of-fake-relationship-they-spell-bound-and-seize-you-and-leave/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) [Browse all 304 Beware quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beware/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“A general rule is drawn which never or rarely fails: that he who is the cause of another becoming powerful is ruined; because that pre-dominancy has been brought about either by astuteness or else by force, and both are distrusted by him who has been raised to power.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "W.K. 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