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Power, like a desolating pestilence, Pollutes whate'er it touches; and obedience, Bane… — Percy Bysshe Shelley

Poem

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 · 1813
★ 1.9
Other tags relating to this quote
Topic
Nature of powerPower relationsPower
Medium
Poem
Time
1813
Person
Percy Bysshe Shelley
Provenance
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.
Original citation
Shelley, Percy Bysshe. Queen Mab; A Philosophical Poem; With Notes. London, 1813, pt. 3.

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Power may justly be compared to a great River, while kept within its due Bonds, is both Beautiful and Useful; but when it overflows its Banks, it is then too impetuous to be stemm'd, it bears down all before it, and brings Destruction and Desolation wherever it comes. If then this is the Nature of Power, let us at least do our Duty, and like wise Men (who value Freedom) use our utmost Care to support Liberty, the only Bulwark against lawless Power, which in all Ages has sacrificed to it's wild Lust and boundless Ambition, the Blood of the best Men that ever liv'd.

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