"No power in society, no hardship in your condition can depress you, keep you down, in knowledge, power, virtue, influence, but by your own consent."

Power

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Thematic Reflection

This quotation examines the core nature of Power as articulated by William Ellery Channing. Within historical and literary traditions, reflections on Power provide actionable mental models, challenging individuals to evaluate personal ethics, self-discipline, and daily actions.

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About William Ellery Channing

William Ellery Channing was the foremost Unitarian preacher in the United States in the early nineteenth century and, along with Andrews Norton (1786–1853), one of Unitarianism's leading theologians. Channing was known for his articulate and impassioned sermons and public speeches, and as a prominent thinker in the liberal theology of the day. His religion and thought were among the chief influences on the New England Transcendentalists although he never countenanced their views, which he saw as extreme. His espousal of the developing philosophy and theology of Unitarianism was displayed especially in his "Baltimore Sermon" of May 5, 1819, given at the ordination of the theologian and educator Jared Sparks (1789–1866) as the first minister of the newly organized First Independent Church of Baltimore.

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More by William Ellery Channing

"The office of government is not to confer happiness, but to give men the opportunity to work out happiness for themselves."

— William Ellery Channing
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"Life has a higher end, than to be amused."

— William Ellery Channing
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"Faith is love taking the form of aspiration."

— William Ellery Channing
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"It is not the quantity but the quality of knowledge which determines the mind's dignity."

— William Ellery Channing
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More about Power

"I think Republicans need to take income inequality more seriously. Not because I favor equality of outcomes. I do not. I think the Right is correct to stress merit and earned rewards, not handouts and forced equality. But I think what Republicans are blind to is that power corrupts."

— Jonathan Haidt
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"Physical strength in a woman - that's what I am."

— Tina Turner
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"The great and admirable strength of America consists in this, that America is truly the American people."

— Jacques Maritain
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"We draw our strength from the very despair in which we have been forced to live. We shall endure."

— Cesar Chavez
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