"Power is not an institution, and not a structure; neither is it a certain strength we are endowed with; it is the name that one attributes to a complex strategical situation in a particular society"
- Michel Foucault
About this Quote
In this quote, Michel Foucault is highlighting that power is not a concrete thing, however rather a concept that is utilized to explain a particular circumstance in a provided society. He is suggesting that power is not an institution, structure, or strength that is intrinsic in a person or group, but rather a strategic scenario that is created by the characteristics of a society. Foucault is emphasizing that power is not a static concept, however rather something that is continuously shifting and altering depending on the context of a given society. He is recommending that power is not something that can be quickly specified, however rather something that is constantly progressing and adjusting to the changing characteristics of a society. Ultimately, Foucault is stressing that power is a complex concept that is constantly changing and developing, and can not be quickly defined or comprehended.
"Having soon discovered to be great, I must appear so, and therefore studiously avoided mixing in society, and wrapped myself in mystery, devoting my time to fasting and prayer"