Saul D. Alinsky: Power

Saul D. Alinsky was American community organizer and writer. Explore interesting quotes on power.
Saul D. Alinsky: 56 quotes0 likes

“If people don't think they have the power to solve their problems, they won't even think about how to solve them.”

Saul D. Alinsky

Source: Rules for Radicals: A Pragmatic Primer for Realistic Radicals

“For an elementary illustration of tactics, take parts of your face as the point of reference; your eyes, your ears, and your nose. First the eyes; if you have organized a vast, mass-based people’s organization, you can parade it visibly before the enemy and openly show your power. Second the ears; if your organization is small in numbers, then do what Gideon did: conceal the members in the dark but raise a din and clamor that will make the listener believe that your organization numbers many more than it does. Third, the nose; if your organization is too tiny even for noise, stink up the place.”

Saul D. Alinsky

Source: Rules for Radicals: A Practical Primer for Realistic Radicals (1971), p. 126

“In this world laws are written for the lofty aim of "the common good" and then acted out in life on the basis of the common greed. In this world irrationality clings to man like his shadow so that the right things get done for the wrong reasons—afterwards, we dredge up the right reasons for justification. It is a world not of angels but of angles, where men speak of moral principles but act on power principles; a world where we are always moral and our enemies always immoral; a world where "reconciliation" means that when one side gets the power and the other side gets reconciled to it, then we have reconciliation.”

Saul D. Alinsky

Source: Rules for Radicals: A Practical Primer for Realistic Radicals (1971), p. 13

“The Prince was written by Machiavelli for the Haves on how to hold power. Rules for Radicals is written for the Have-Nots on how to take it away.In this book we are concerned with how to create mass organizations to seize power and give it to the people; to realize the democratic dream of equality, justice, peace, cooperation, equal and full opportunities for education, full and useful employment, health, and the creation of those circumstances in which man can have the chance to live by values that give meaning to life.”

Saul D. Alinsky

Source: Rules for Radicals: A Practical Primer for Realistic Radicals (1971), p. 3

“Always remember the first rule of power tactics: Power is not only what you have but what the enemy thinks you have. The second rule is: Never go outside the experience of your people. When an action or tactic is outside the experience of the people, it results in confusion, fear, and retreat. […] The third rule is: Whenever possible go outside of the experience of the enemy. Here you want to cause confusion, fear, and retreat.”

Saul D. Alinsky

Source: Rules for Radicals: A Practical Primer for Realistic Radicals (1971), p. 126–127

“Change comes from power, and power comes from organization. In order to act, people must get together.”

Saul D. Alinsky

Source: Rules for Radicals: A Practical Primer for Realistic Radicals (1971), p. 113