Power, like a desolating pestilence,
Pollutes whate'er it touches; and obedience,
Bane of all genius, virtue, freedom, truth,
Makes slaves of men, and, of the human frame,
A mechanized automation.

Percy Bysshe Shelley

Queen Mab

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More information about this quote

Topic

Nature of power Power relations Power

Author

Percy Bysshe Shelley

Source

Queen Mab

Medium

Poem

Language

English

Time

1813 1810s 19th century

Occupation

Poet Writer

From

United Kingdom Europe

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Shelley, Percy Bysshe. Queen Mab; A Philosophical Poem; With Notes. London, 1813, pt. 3.

Current Citation

Shelley, Percy Bysshe. "Queen Mab." Percy Bysshe Shelley: The Major Works, edited by Zachary Leader and Michael O'Neill. Oxford University Press, 2009, pt. 3.

Illustrated Quote

A quote by Percy Bysshe Shelley about nature of power: “Power, like a desolating pestilence, Pollutes whate'er it touches;…”
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A quote by Percy Bysshe Shelley about nature of power: “Power, like a desolating pestilence, Pollutes whate'er it touches;…”
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A quote by Percy Bysshe Shelley about nature of power: “Power, like a desolating pestilence, Pollutes whate'er it touches;…”
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Related Quotes

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Another quote from the 1810s

And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there-
O! say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free, and the home of the brave!

Francis Scott Key

The Star-Spangled Banner

More information about this quote
Topic
American flag

Author

Francis Scott Key
Source
The Star-Spangled Banner
Medium
Song
Language
Engish
Time
1814 1810s 19th century
Authentication Score 3
Original Citation

Key, Francis Scott. "Defence of Fort M'Henry." Analectic Magazine, 1814.

Current Citation

Key, Francis Scott. The Star-Spangled Banner. Composed by John Stafford Smith. Became official national anthem of the United States on March 3, 1931.

Another quote about Power

Every Communist must grasp the truth: "Political power grows out of the barrel of a gun."

Mao Zedong

Read this quote at marxists.org
More information about this quote
Topic
Power Political theory Politics
Speaker
Mao Zedong
Medium
Speech
Genre
Political speech
Language
Chinese
Time
1938 1930s 20th century
Authentication Score 2
Citation

Zedong, Mao. "Problems of War and Strategy." Sixth Plenary Session of the Sixth Central Committee of the Party. 6 Nov. 1938, Yan'an, China.