The essence of power is the knowledge that what you do is going to have an effect not just an immediate but perhaps a lifelong effect on the happiness and wellbeing of millions of people and so I think the essence of power is to be conscious of what it can mean for others.
Interpretation
Power holds the responsibility of shaping the future and well-being of many, requiring consciousness in decision-making.
In this quote, Bob Hawke emphasizes that true power is not merely about authority or control; it encompasses the awareness of one's actions and their potential long-term impact on the happiness and well-being of countless individuals. Leaders must recognize that their decisions can lead to profound consequences, which adds a layer of responsibility that comes with holding power.
In practice
This quote can be used in a speech addressing future leaders about the importance of ethical decision-making.
While society cannot provide employment for its members, the production/work/income nexus has to be abandoned as a justification for our present parsimony to the unemployed. An assumption cannot be used to justify making second-class citizens of those who are unfortunate enough to constitute living proof of the inaccuracy of that assumption.
My point was that the war was intrinsically wrong, and as a result of our participation we haven't improved Australia's security but created a greater danger at home and abroad.
Australia can no longer afford to go down the path of confrontation and fragmentation which has embittered and disfigured so many aspects of the national life.
I just loved him and he loved me... He was a most humble man, the most decent man I've ever met in my life and he always looked for the best in people to find positives and he said something to me that always remained with me. He said if you believe in the fatherhood of God you must necessarily believe in the brotherhood of man, it follows necessarily and even though I left the church and was not religious, that truth remained with me.
None of us can be sure of how long we will live. Because this is so, I think you should try not to think too much about dying but think about all the nice things that make life so precious to us all.
We are building together a nation in which there are no second-class Australians.
Teamwork remains a sustainable competitive advantage that has been largely untapped because it is hard to measure (teamwork impacts the outcome of an organization in such comprehensive and invasive ways that it's virtually impossible to isolate it as a single variable) and because it is extremely hard to achieve (it requires levels of courage and discipline that few executives possess) - ironically, building a strong team is very simple (it doesn't require masterful insights or tactics).
I say that every prince must desire to be considered merciful and not cruel. He must, however, take care not to misuse this mercifulness.
The raising of that flag on Suribachi means a Marine Corps for the next 500 years.
If we have to use force, it is because we are America. We are the indispensable nation. We stand tall. We see further into the future.
You have to look at leadership through the eyes of the followers and you have to live the message.
As your captain, I'm going to push you to not fall back on defense, but to play offense, and to play our match -- the Gospel, together.
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