Do not ever say that the desire to 'do good' by force is a good motive. Neither power-lust nor stupidity read more

Do not ever say that the desire to 'do good' by force is a good motive. Neither power-lust nor stupidity are good motives.

To know the pains of power, we must go to those who have it; to
know its pleasures, we read more

To know the pains of power, we must go to those who have it; to
know its pleasures, we must go to those who are seeking it: the
pains of power are real, its pleasure imaginary.

We have the power to make this the best generation of mankind in the history of the world - or read more

We have the power to make this the best generation of mankind in the history of the world - or to make it the last.

Self-reverence, self-knowledge, self-control -- these three alone lead to power.

Self-reverence, self-knowledge, self-control -- these three alone lead to power.

A few great minds are enough to endow humanity with monstrous power, but a few great hearts are not enough read more

A few great minds are enough to endow humanity with monstrous power, but a few great hearts are not enough to make us worthy of using it.

My opinion is, that power should always be distrusted, in
whatever hands it is placed.

My opinion is, that power should always be distrusted, in
whatever hands it is placed.

Neither art thou the man to catch the fiend and hold him!
[Ger., Du bist noch nicht der Mann read more

Neither art thou the man to catch the fiend and hold him!
[Ger., Du bist noch nicht der Mann den Teufel festzuhalten.]

Justice and power must be brought together, so that whatever is just may be powerful, and whatever is powerful may read more

Justice and power must be brought together, so that whatever is just may be powerful, and whatever is powerful may be just.

Man is born to seek power, yet his actual condition makes him a slave to the power of others.

Man is born to seek power, yet his actual condition makes him a slave to the power of others.