Power Imbalance Quotes

Think of it in terms of men's and women's cultures: women live in male systems, know male rules, speak male language when around men, etc. But what do men really know about women? Only screwed up myths concocted to perpetuate the power imbalance. It is the same situation when it comes to dominant and non-dominant or colonizing and colonized cultures/ countries/ people. As a bilingual/bicultural woman whose native culture is not American, I live in an American system, abide by American rules of conduct, speak English when around English speakers, etc., only to be confronted with utter ignorance or concocted myths and stereotypes about my own culture.

-- Judit Moschkovich - "--But I Know You, American Woman ~ Cherrie L Moraga

It is rarely possible, when a human being is in deep need, to look upon somebody who offers help as merely another flawed human being with whom one is going to engage in a protracted conversation. A kind of wild idealization sets in, and we imagine the person in whom we confide to possess ineffable and valuable traits beyond those attainable by ordinary mortals. We ascribe value, and project qualities onto this person that almost never correspond with reality. It is a little bit like falling in love - powerful emotions are called forth. It takes a strong person not to exploit the ensuing power imbalance. ~ Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson

Destruction of privacy via surveillance programs engineered by Great Powers widens the existing power imbalance between the ruling elite and everyone else. Its impact on global south will be colossal. ~ Arzak Khan

On the other hand, she happily kept him informed about plans she had with other people, providing a steady flow of information about excursions that were about to happen, details of dates or parties that were always this close to coming together. As long as he listened, without complaint, to an endless description of activities that were supposed to happen without him, there was a 30 percent chance, at least, that Anna would change her mind at the last minute, claim to be unable to handle the unbearable burden of whatever her social plans were supposed to be, and decide to hang out with him instead. She'd arrive at his house and collapse in exaggerated relief: "I am so glad we're doing this, I was so not in the mood for another party at Maria's." As though they were both equally at the mercy of circumstance, similarly oblivious to the power dynamic that governed their "friendship. ~ Kristen Roupenian

I know all about the power imbalance that exists every time you meet someone who's seen you at yourmost vulnerable, whether or not it was your choice in the first place. How you have to hope that they don't use it against you in some way. ~ Ella Berman

A study of interactions between women and obstetricians offers an explanation. It described three levels of increasing power imbalance: In the first, you fight and lose; in the second you don't fight because you know you can't win. However, in the highest level of power differential, your preferences are so manipulated that you act against your own interests, but you are content. Elective [meaning requested for no medical reason, not to be confused with needed surgery planned in advance] repeat cesarean exemplifies that highest level. ~ Henci Goer

My sister only has one side of the story but she is sure that she knows the whole story because that is how the dysfunctional system works. We don't question everyone or even consider that there may be another side to the story but instead automatically believe the one who has the most power in the relationship. ~ Darlene Ouimet

Depression is the flip side of creative inspiration but it can be useful. It's telling you to stop for a little bit. You can become so fully absorbed in the world of creative work that it can lead to some imbalance in your life. ~ Shaun Tan

And, of course, he eventually found it - proving that genius often really is just persistence in disguise. In applying the entirety of his physical and mental energy - in never growing weary or giving up - Edison had outlasted impatient competitors, investors, and the press to discover, in a piece of bamboo, of all things, the power to illuminate the world. ~ Anonymous

Any power structure one of whose main goals was to prevent humans from fucking each other at will had to be extremely formidable. ~ Neal Stephenson

I know, child. What do you think's keeping me on this earth? Not easy to let go that kind of love. That kind of love's got the power to hold you tethered to a world you should have left a long time ago. ~ Kristen Ashley

To wipe all tears from off all faces is a task too hard for mortals; but to alleviate misfortunes is often within the most limited power: yet the opportunities which every day affords of relieving the most wretched of human beings are overlooked and neglected with equal disregard of policy and goodness. ~ Samuel Johnson

The source of evil is not God's power but mankind's freedom. ~ Lee Strobel

Power-over is amoral. Power-to is responsibility. ~ Gloria Feldt

None of us had ever encountered, or even imagined, such a power of amnesia, the possibility of a pit into which everything, every experience, every event, would fathomlessly drop, a bottomless memory-hole that would engulf the whole world. ~ Oliver Sacks

By discovering how our minds work, we can improve our learning power and unlock our true potential. ~ Robert Winston

Novel writing is World Building & Word Weaving (Neil Postman's terms). ~ J.M. Varner

The possession of unlimited power will make a despot of almost any man. There is a possible Nero in the gentlest human creature that walks. ~ Thomas Bailey Aldrich

Whoever is full of wisdom is naturally compassionate; in fact we recognize that someone has gained spiritual wisdom by seeing their compassionate behavior ... Individuals and countries with power need to develop wisdom and compassion, for without these attributes, there is a danger that the power will be used to oppress and exploit others. (31) ~ Ravi Ravindra

Dogma in power does have a unique chilling ingredient not exhibited by power, however ghastly, wielded for its own traditional sake. ~ Christopher Hitchens

However, the good news was that smaller, more flawed diamonds could potentially yield exceptional brilliance if given just the right cut and polish - only at a lesser price, which often gave more people hope. It is thanks to these smaller, more imperfect diamonds that the vast majority with modest means could experience the elation of sporting the empress of gemstones. Smaller diamonds undoubtedly possessed this unique power in their numbers. ~ Chiara Kelly

When she learned how much God loved her, how much he valued her, the soul-corroding shame lost its power. ~ Jo Ann Fore

We are given power to change the course of the world to our direction. ~ Sipendr

Writing is praying with me. You know a child would look up at every sentence and say, 'And what shall I say next?' That is just what I do; I ask Him that at every line He would give me not merely thoughts and power, but also every word, even the very rhymes. ~ Frances Ridley Havergal

I was a fool!" Percy roared, so loudly that Lupin nearly dropped his photograph. "I was an idiot, I was a pompous prat, I was a - a -"
"Ministry-loving, family-disowning, power-hungry moron," said Fred.
Percy swallowed.
"Yes, I was!"
"Well, you can't say fairer than that," said Fred, holding out his hand to Percy. ~ J.K. Rowling

Sahaja Yoga is the spontaneous union of the individual consciousness with the All-Pervading Divine Power ... ~ Nirmala Srivastava

Stop allowing people to disrespect your right to say no and enforce boundaries as a form of self-care. Make your yes valued by saying no when you don't want to say yes and make your no mean no without any explanation because you have the power to do so. ~ Tasha McCray

The supposed revelations of God to humanity through Christ, or the word of God to Mohammed through the angel Gabriel, had the power they did because they indicated new truths, new directions for followers. ~ Julian Baggini

The power of love and caring can change the world. ~ James Autry

Tragedy occurs whenever awareness exceeds power; and particularly where awareness of a major need exceeds the power to satisfy it. ~ Karl Jaspers

Within the scope of human cognitive experience, consciousness, when perceived, becomes awarenesss ...
Awareness is the qualia of consciousness ... Awareness is the perception of your presence in the now. Awareness in its pure state is nonlocal; there's no focal point in it. It is unbounded. Awareness, when managed and directed, becomes attention. By turning into attention, awareness becomes localized, and attains a focal point. Because of this feature, attention has the power to direct energy ... Attention has its most powerful expression in purposeful action. ~ Ilchi Lee

Because they were frightened of me." She crossed her arms as best she could. "Not because they respected me."
"I think we can both agree that fear is a type of respect."
"Perhaps." She looked slightly placated. "Everyone I meet who knows of my power fears me. Maybe I'm the most respected person in the world."
"Maybe," I agreed, and thunder rolled overhead. Ilsa glanced upwards, her features illuminated by a flicker of lightning.
We sat in silence for a few minutes longer, before I jumped down from the wagon.
"You don't fear me, though," Ilsa called as I searched for another stick. "I can tell. You think yourself more powerful."
She jumped as lightning cracked through the sky overhead. I heard several prisoners further back, exclaiming loudly.
"Maybe," I repeated, and started work on another dance as Ilsa watched. ~ Aprille Legacy

I don't think highly of the theoretical or explanatory power of of the theory of evolution. But I think that an evolutionary approach to biological problems is inescapable, and also that in so desperate a problem situation we must clutch gratefully even at a straw. So, I propose, to start, that we regard the human mind quite naively as if it were a highly developed bodily organ, and that we ask ourselves, as we might with respect to a sense organ, what it contributes to the household of the organism. ~ Karl R. Popper

And in that moment I think, I want to be that man. The dead man, I envy him. I want his power. The power years later, that you have over someone. Still. Your absence is greater than your presence. Presence is fleeting. Presence is easy. But absence? That's eternal. The great constant. Absence is everything. ~ Michael Hainey

Then, only a minute later, my mood & my world changed. I hit my first correct soprano 2 note. I don't even know where it came from, but I got it right. It was a D. The soprano 1 to my right was singing the B flat above me. I love that glorious high B flat & I should have been apoplectic with envy about not getting to sing it myself, but instead I was pinned to that D, vibrating with a wondrous musical rapport I'd never felt before. I was feeling harmony. Not just singing it, but physically feeling it. It was a rush. You don't experience this when you're singing the melody. I was completely in the power of the sound we were making together & I just stood there, afraid to move, thinking, Don't end, don't end, don't end. ~ Stacy Horn

Your power is in your story and all the wisdom it has brought you. ~ Angela Mayah Solstice

Women are made to be led, and counseled, and directed ... And if I am not a good man, I have no just right in this Church to a wife or wives, or the power to propagate my species. What then should be done with me? Make a eunuch of me, and stop my propagation. ~ Heber C. Kimball

Cordless vacuums are designed for quick jobs, but you need enough power to do the job; you don't want the power waning over time. ~ James Dyson

Poisonous people will try to destroy you when they recognize your power; this is because they fear what you might become. ~ Peprah Boasiako

Power needs plots because plots are secret until they unfold and the most gratifying kind of power is holding onto an explosive secret. ~ Glenn Haybittle

Command and obedience are but unfortunate necessities of human life: society in equality is its normal state. ~ John Stuart Mill

The nod of a head is such a small thing, it can mean so little, yet it is the gesture of assent that allows, that makes to be. The nod is the gesture of power, the yes. The numen. the presence of the sacred, is called by its name. ~ Ursula K. Le Guin

There is a biological power that is intrinsic to the woman, to the female condition. Because you are able to give life. You are the reproducer of the species. Men feel very weak in front of a woman because a woman is capable of eliciting a number of instincts in a man. And that is what has made men very nervous about women. ~ Gioconda Belli

I know who you are," she said. "You're my enemy. The true believer. The righteous man with the righteous mission. The one that jails people for reading and burns the books. That persecutes people who do exercises the wrong way. That dumps out the medicine and pisses on it. That pushes the button that sends the drones to drop the bombs. And hides behind a bunker and doesn't get hurt. Shielded by God. Or the state. Or whatever lie he uses to hide his envy and self-interest and cowardice and lust for power. It took me a while to see you, though. You saw me right away. You knew I was your enemy. Was unrighteous. How did you know it? ~ Ursula K. Le Guin

You will always be a puppet on someone else's line if you don't care enough about the big picture to let your tiny voice be heard. When it is combined with the tiny voices of millions of others that is the real power. ~ Kenneth Eade

In a basic sense, the greater the development of each individual the more able, more effective, and less needy of limiting or restricting others she or he will be. ~ Jean Baker Miller

Anything approaching the change that came over his features I have never seen before, and hope never to see again. Oh, I wasn't touched. I was fascinated. It was as though a veil had been rent. I saw on that ivory face the expression of sombre pride, of ruthless power, of craven terror
of an intense and hopeless despair. Did he live his life again in every detail of desire, temptation, and surrender during that supreme moment of complete knowledge? He cried in a whisper at some image, at some vision
he cried out twice, a cry that was no more than a breath:
The horror! The horror! ~ Joseph Conrad