Quotation by

John Steinbeck

Power does not corrupt. Fear corrupts... perhaps the fear of a loss of power.

Fear

Understanding this quote AI Analysis

Steinbeck suggests that having power itself isn't what causes people to act badly, but rather the anxiety about losing that power leads to corruption. This means that it is the fear tied to power, not power alone, that can make someone behave in harmful or unethical ways.

More by this author

All quotes by John Steinbeck →

More quotes about Fear

See all →

A nation that is afraid to let its people judge the truth and falsehood in an open market is a nation that is afraid of its people.

Pick the day. Enjoy it - to the hilt. The day as it comes. People as they come... The past, I think, has helped me appreciate the present - and I don't want to spoil any of it by fretting about the f…

I love the man that can smile in trouble, that can gather strength from distress, and grow brave by reflection. 'Tis the business of little minds to shrink, but he whose heart is firm, and whose cons…

We fear violence less than our own feelings. Personal, private, solitary pain is more terrifying than what anyone else can inflict.

What is needed, rather than running away or controlling or suppressing or any other resistance, is understanding fear that means, watch it, learn about it, come directly into contact with it. We are …

I have learned over the years that when one's mind is made up, this diminishes fear knowing what must be done does away with fear.