POWER | Curious Quotes

This week on Curious Quotes and Universal Themes we delve into the concept of POWER! As Marvel comic creator Stan Lee advised us, "With great power there must also come -- great responsibility!" The choices available for this week's theme were a bit overwhelming. Let's just say that there are a great deal of people who have shared their ideas about power. Let's take a closer look at these five quotes from Herodotus, Alice Walker, Amanda Gorman, James Baldwin, and Mahatma Gandhi. 

Consider this list of generalizations related to the universal theme of POWER. What does the term POWER make you think of? Which of the four items do you connect the most to? Describe a time when you have seen one of these generalizations in real life. What other things do you feel are also true about power? 

This quote comes Greek Historian, Herodotus (c.484 BC - c.425 BC). He is often referred to as "The Father of History". However, in more recent history, scholars have critically questioned the accuracy of some of his facts and have even gone as far as to brand him "The Father of Lies". This image is of a fragment of papyrus from c. 430 BC of his Histories. 

Have you ever felt the pain of knowing something but being powerless? What was the circumstance? Why do you think that Herodotus would have said this? Describe a time when you may have seen this take place. 

What do you think Alice Walker is trying to say here? When have you seen people give up their powerful by thinking that they did not have any power? Are there situations where we are powerless? What situations do we have more power than we may realize? 

Take a look at this image of Alice Walker. What do you notice about the photograph. Did you notice how her shadow casts an interesting profile on the background? 

What does this quote from Amanda Gorman remind you of? If you haven't seen her read the inauguration poem, The Hill We Climb,  take a moment to watch it. Why do you think that poems are read as part of the Inauguration? Where else are poems a part of a ceremony? How can fear lead to power? 

Author James Baldwin presents us with the interrelated nature of morality and power. What do you think James Baldwin is trying to say? Where have you seen one in power demonstrate a lack of morality? 

We end this week with a quote from Mahatma Gandhi. This photograph is a studio portrait. I also included his signature in the bottom lefthand corner. How does this quote relate to the previous one from Baldwin? Are they saying the same thing or something completely different? Who makes the better point in your opinion? 

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