Other related topics at: Authority/Government/State 96. Abuse of Power; Government; Power "I would not give half a guinea to live under one form of Government rather than another. It is of no moment to the happiness of an individual. Sir, the danger of the abuse of power is nothing to a private man." Boswell: Life Link 375. Authority; Power; Wealth "When the power of birth and station ceases, no hope remains but from the relevence of money. Power and wealth supply the place of each other. Power confers the ability of gratifying our desire without the consent of others. Wealth enables us to obtain the consent of others to our gratification. Power, simply considered, whatever it confers on one, must take from another. Wealth enables its owner to give to others, by taking only from himself. Power pleases the violent and proud: wealth delights the placid and the timorous. Youth therefore flies at power, and age grovels after riches." Johnson: Journey to the Western Islands of Scotland Link 1,063. Power "All power has its sphere of activity, beyond which it produces no effect." Johnson: Rambler #101 (March 5, 1751) -- from Hilarius, a fictional correspondent Link 1,123. Power; Temptation "Power and superiority are so flattering and delightful that, fraught with temptation, and exposed to danger as they are, scarcely any virtue is so cautious or any prudence so timorous as to decline them." Johnson: Rambler #114 (April 20, 1751) Link 1,315. Power "There are few minds to which tyranny is not delightful; Power is nothing but as it is felt, and the delight of superiority is proportionate to the resistance overcome." Johnson: Letter to Hester Thrale (October 21, 1779) Link 1,359. Power; Wealth "It is difficult to conjecture, from the conduct of him whom we see in a low condition, how he would act if wealth and power were put into his hands." Johnson: Rambler #172 (November 9, 1751) Link 1,360. Power; Wealth "It is generally agreed, that few men are made better by affluence or exaltation." Johnson: Rambler #172 (November 9, 1751) Link 1,505. Government; Power Power is always gradually stealing away from the many to the few, because the few are more vigilant and consistent; it still contracts to a smaller number, till in time it centers in a single person.     Thus all the forms of governments instituted among mankind, perpetually tend towards monarchy; and power, however diffused through the whole community, is by negligence or corruption, commotion or distress, reposed at last in the chief magistrate. Johnson: Adventurer #45 (March 27, 1753) Link 1,566. Knowledge; Power "All knowledge is of itself of some value. There is nothing so minute or inconsiderable, that I would not rather know it than not. In the same manner, all power, of whatever sort, is of itself desirable. A man would not submit to learn to hem a ruffle, of his wife, or his wife's maid; but if a mere wish could attain it, he would rather wish to be able to hem a ruffle. Boswell: Life of Johnson Link