Skip to content
quotesby

About this quote

What does it mean?
Greater talents increase the ability to lead others away from the right path.
In plain terms
Smart people can lead others astray easily.
What can you take from it?
Talents can be used to mislead.

Where it applies

  • leadership
  • education
  • public life

Putting it to work

  • use talent wisely
  • check leaders
  • be cautious

Questions to consider

  • Who leads you?
  • How do you use talent?

Another view

It implies talent is inherently risky.

More from Theodore Dreiser

  1. 'Particulars, as every one knows, make for virtue and happiness; generalities are intellectually necessary evils. Not philosophers but fretsawyers and stamp co…

    Permalink to quote #3
  2. 'The most futile thing in this world is any attempt, perhaps, at exact definition of character. All individuals are a bundle of contradictions - none more so t…

    Permalink to quote #5
  3. Our civilization is still in a middle stage - scarcely beast in that it is no longer wholly guided by instinct; scarcely human, in that it is not yet wholly gu…

    Permalink to quote #2

Related quotes

  1. [Alan Cranston] understood power not as a reflection of status but as a tool with a purpose.' - Sen. Joseph Biden December 31, 2000 on Meet the Press

    Alan CranstonAlan Cranston quote #1
  2. The eminence cerise, the bolster behind the throne.

    Will SelfWill Self quote #2
  3. '...the importance of leadership and what it consists of: not lecturing and posturing and demanding, but demonstrating that your friends will be protected and …

    Paul WolfowitzPaul Wolfowitz quote #6