We shall never prevent the abuse of power if we are not prepared to limit power in a way which occasionally may prevent its use for desirable purposes.
Attribution disputed; shown as originally published.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- To stop power from being misused, we must accept limits on it, even if those limits sometimes stop good things from happening.
- In plain terms
- Limiting power is necessary to prevent abuse, even if it occasionally hinders desirable outcomes.
- What can you take from it?
- Accept constraints on authority to safeguard against abuse.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What limits would you accept to prevent abuse?
- Is efficiency worth the risk of unchecked power?
Another view
Limiting power might sometimes block beneficial initiatives.
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