A good use of power is to share it.
When we resent anyone for taking power from us, then we must be very wary. We may begin to act like the Jewish leaders who resented Jesus, and note what their resentment led to!
Knowledge may be power, but knowledge plus love trumps that.
The most beautiful form of power is servanthood.
A good leader welds power openly; speaking face-to-face about problems and taking the lead in dialoguing fair solutions with skill and class. But a dysfunctional leader hides in a pack of backroom cronies, and eggs his hitmen on to score some points and get the bloody win.
Power corrupts, but absolute power uncorrupts absolutely. God, the only true absolute power, uncorrupts our corruption with redemption.
Ritual deference contains no love and respect, but powerful people’s overwhelming need to be bowed to blinds them to that.
The ethical use of power is to protect — think Joseph.
To give power and take it back may be a form of punishment or it may take the form of abuse. The motive determines everything.
Being first is often played off as a position of power; note all the litigation over patents.
Last is a form of power; the power of the final word and the power of the servant.
To try to please everyone is to ultimately please no one.
Choosing to be in the middle is power — the power to not need to be first and to not suffer from being last.
Abusers condemn the misbehavior they cause; cause a reaction and blame the reactor.
Revanchist motives usually deeply compromise a good heart.
Power is in not being influenced. It’s called freedom.
A man with wealth and power who lacks love and respect is a man to be pitied.
The four horsemen of unresolved conflicts are criticalness, stubbornness, harshness and the deep and pervasive need to win at all cost. These power plays ride hard over the top of love and mercy.
Be careful not to adopt a theology to justify the use of power. A theology that camps on predestination may be a justification for neglecting your responsiblity, excluding rivals and exterminating foes; a theology of free will may be a justification for an overblown sense of human responsiblity and the exaggerated use of force.
Tacticus: “They terrify lest they should fear.” Who do you scare to keep from being afraid?
