“One who comes into power often oppresses.”

— Ali , book Nahj al-Balagha

Nahj al-Balagha

Adopted from Wikiquote. Last update Nov. 29, 2023. History

Help us to complete the source, original and additional information

Do you have more details about the quote "One who comes into power often oppresses." by Ali?

Ali 124

cousin and son-in-law of the Islamic prophet Muhammad 601–661

Related quotes

“The oppressors, who oppress, exploit, and rape by virtue of their power, cannot find in this power the strength to liberate either the oppressed or themselves.”

Paulo Freire (1921–1997) educator and philosopher

Source: Pedagogia do oprimido (Pedagogy of the Oppressed) (1968, English trans. 1970), Chapter 1, on the oppressors

“Power in the hands of one who did not acquire it gradually, is often fatal to success.”

Napoleon Hill book Think and Grow Rich

Source: Think and Grow Rich (1938)
Context: Sons and daughters of wealthy men, and others who inherit money which they did not earn...

“Owing to the vigorous and elastic strength of man’s original power, necessity does not often require anything save the removal of oppressive bonds.”

Wilhelm Von Humboldt (1767–1835) German (Prussian) philosopher, government functionary, diplomat, and founder of the University of Berlin

The Limits of State Action (1792)
Context: Owing to the vigorous and elastic strength of man’s original power, necessity does not often require anything save the removal of oppressive bonds. From all these reasons (to which a more detailed analysis of the subject might add many more) it will be seen, that there is no other principle than this so perfectly accordant with the reverence we owe to the individuality of spontaneous beings, and with the solicitude for freedom which that reverence inspires. Finally, the only infallible means of securing power and authority to laws, is to see that they originate in this principle alone.

“When the forces of oppression come to maintain themselves in power against established law; peace is considered already broken.”

Ernesto Che Guevara book Guerrilla Warfare

Source: Guerrilla Warfare (1961), Ch. I: 1. Essence of Guerrilla Warfare

“It is doubtful if the oppressed ever fight for freedom. They fight for pride and power — power to oppress others.”

Eric Hoffer (1898–1983) American philosopher

Quoted in War and Conflict Quotations: A Worldwide Dictionary of Pronouncements from Military Leaders, Politicians, Philosophers, Writers and Others (1997) by Michael C. Thomsett and Jean F. Thomsett
Paraphrased variant: "I doubt if the oppressed ever fight for freedom..."
Context: It is doubtful if the oppressed ever fight for freedom. They fight for pride and power — power to oppress others. The oppressed want above all to imitate their oppressors; they want to retaliate.