"In the United States, though power corrupts, the expectation of power paralyzes"
- John Kenneth Galbraith
About this Quote
This quote by John Kenneth Galbraith talks to the concept that power can have a corrupting impact on people, however the expectation of power can be much more destructive. In the United States, the idea of power can be so alluring that it can lead people to do dishonest things in order to gain it. However, the expectation of power can be a lot more incapacitating, as it can lead individuals to end up being so focused on attaining power that they end up being unable to act. This can cause a lack of action and an absence of development, as people ended up being so focused on the concept of power that they forget to actually do something with it. Eventually, this quote speaks to the concept that power can be a corrupting impact, however the expectation of power can be a lot more damaging.