You cannot have power for good without having power for evil too. Even mother's milk nourishes murderers as well as heroes.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Power is neutral and can be used for both good and evil equally.
- In plain terms
- Power used for good also enables evil, just like milk feeds both heroes and murderers.
- What can you take from it?
- Recognize the dual nature of power.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Can power be purely good?
- How do we mitigate the evil potential of power?
Another view
Some forms of power are inherently benevolent or malevolent.
More from George Bernard Shaw
I can't talk religion to a man with bodily hunger in his eyes.
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