short essay about power

His tongue was framed to music, And his hand was armed with skill, His face was the mould of beauty, And his heart the throne of will.

There is not yet any inventory of a man's faculties, any more than a bible of his opinions. Who shall set a limit to the influence of a human being? There are men, who, by their sympathetic attractions, carry nations with them, and lead the activity of the human race. And if there be such a tie, that, wherever the mind of man goes, nature will accompany him, perhaps there are men whose magnetisms are of that force to draw material and elemental powers, and, where they appear, immense instrumentalities organize around them. Life is a search after power; and this is an element with which the world is so saturated, — there is no chink or crevice in which it is not lodged, — that no honest seeking goes unrewarded. A man should prize events and possessions as the ore in which this fine mineral is found; and he can well afford to let events and possessions, and the breath of the body go, if their value has been added to him in the shape of power. If he have secured the elixir, he can spare the wide gardens from which it was distilled. A cultivated man, wise to know and bold to perform, is the end to which nature works, and the education of the will is the flowering and result of all this geology and astronomy.

All successful men have agreed in one thing, — they were causationists . They believed that things went not by luck, but by law; that there was not a weak or a cracked link in the chain that joins the first and last of things. A belief in causality, or strict connection between every trifle and the principle of being, and, in consequence, belief in compensation, or, that nothing is got for nothing, — characterizes all valuable minds, and must control every effort that is made by an industrious one. The most valiant men are the best believers in the tension of the laws. "All the great captains," said Bonaparte, "have performed vast achievements by conforming with the rules of the art, — by adjusting efforts to obstacles."

The key to the age may be this, or that, or the other, as the young orators describe; — the key to all ages is — Imbecility; imbecility in the vast majority of men, at all times, and, even in heroes, in all but certain eminent moments; victims of gravity, custom, and fear. This gives force to the strong, — that the multitude have no habit of self-reliance or original action.

We must reckon success a constitutional trait. Courage, — the old physicians taught, (and their meaning holds, if their physiology is a little mythical,) — courage, or the degree of life, is as the degree of circulation of the blood in the arteries. "During passion, anger, fury, trials of strength, wrestling, fighting, a large amount of blood is collected in the arteries, the maintenance of bodily strength requiring it, and but little is sent into the veins. This condition is constant with intrepid persons." Where the arteries hold their blood, is courage and adventure possible. Where they pour it unrestrained into the veins, the spirit is low and feeble. For performance of great mark, it needs extraordinary health. If Eric is in robust health, and has slept well, and is at the top of his condition, and thirty years old, at his departure from Greenland, he will steer west, and his ships will reach Newfoundland. But take out Eric, and put in a stronger and bolder man, — Biorn, or Thorfin, — and the ships will, with just as much ease, sail six hundred, one thousand, fifteen hundred miles further, and reach Labrador and New England. There is no chance in results. With adults, as with children, one class enter cordially into the game, and whirl with the whirling world; the others have cold hands, and remain bystanders; or are only dragged in by the humor and vivacity of those who can carry a dead weight. The first wealth is health. Sickness is poor-spirited, and cannot serve any one: it must husband its resources to live. But health or fulness answers its own ends, and has to spare, runs over, and inundates the neighborhoods and creeks of other men's necessities.

All power is of one kind, a sharing of the nature of the world. The mind that is parallel with the laws of nature will be in the current of events, and strong with their strength. One man is made of the same stuff of which events are made; is in sympathy with the course of things; can predict it. Whatever befalls, befalls him first; so that he is equal to whatever shall happen. A man who knows men, can talk well on politics, trade, law, war, religion. For, everywhere, men are led in the same manners .

The advantage of a strong pulse is not to be supplied by any labor, art, or concert. It is like the climate, which easily rears a crop, which no glass, or irrigation, or tillage, or manures, can elsewhere rival. It is like the opportunity of a city like New York, or Constantinople, which needs no diplomacy to force capital or genius or labor to it. They come of themselves, as the waters flow to it. So a broad, healthy, massive understanding seems to lie on the shore of unseen rivers, of unseen oceans, which are covered with barks, that, night and day, are drifted to this point. That is poured into its lap, which other men lie plotting for. It is in everybody's secret; anticipates everybody's discovery; and if it do not command every fact of the genius and the scholar, it is because it is large and sluggish, and does not think them worth the exertion which you do.

This affirmative force is in one, and is not in another, as one horse has the spring in him, and another in the whip. "On the neck of the young man," said Hafiz, "sparkles no gem so gracious as enterprise." Import into any stationary district, as into an old Dutch population in New York or Pennsylvania, or among the planters of Virginia, a colony of hardy Yankees, with seething brains, heads full of steam-hammer, pulley, crank, and toothed wheel, — and everything begins to shine with values. What enhancement to all the water and land in England, is the arrival of James Watt or Brunel! In every company, there is not only the active and passive sex, but, in both men and women, a deeper and more important sex of mind , namely, the inventive or creative class of both men and women, and the uninventive or accepting class. Each plus man represents his set, and, if he have the accidental advantage of personal ascendency, — which implies neither more nor less of talent, but merely the temperamental or taming eye of a soldier or a schoolmaster, (which one has, and one has not, as one has a black moustache and one a blond,) then quite easily and without envy or resistance, all his coadjutors and feeders will admit his right to absorb them. The merchant works by book-keeper and cashier; the lawyer's authorities are hunted up by clerks; the geologist reports the surveys of his subalterns; Commander Wilkes appropriates the results of all the naturalists attached to the Expedition; Thorwaldsen's statue is finished by stone-cutters; Dumas has journeymen; and Shakespeare was theatre-manager, and used the labor of many young men, as well as the playbooks.

There is always room for a man of force, and he makes room for many. Society is a troop of thinkers, and the best heads among them take the best places. A feeble man can see the farms that are fenced and tilled, the houses that are built. The strong man sees the possible houses and farms. His eye makes estates, as fast as the sun breeds clouds.

When a new boy comes into school, when a man travels, and encounters strangers every day, or, when into any old club a new comer is domesticated, that happens which befalls, when a strange ox is driven into a pen or pasture where cattle are kept; there is at once a trial of strength between the best pair of horns and the new comer, and it is settled thenceforth which is the leader. So now, there is a measuring of strength, very courteous, but decisive, and an acquiescence thenceforward when these two meet. Each reads his fate in the other's eyes. The weaker party finds, that none of his information or wit quite fits the occasion. He thought he knew this or that: he finds that he omitted to learn the end of it. Nothing that he knows will quite hit the mark, whilst all the rival's arrows are good, and well thrown. But if he knew all the facts in the encyclopaedia, it would not help him: for this is an affair of presence of mind, of attitude, of aplomb: the opponent has the sun and wind, and, in every cast, the choice of weapon and mark; and, when he himself is matched with some other antagonist, his own shafts fly well and hit. 'Tis a question of stomach and constitution. The second man is as good as the first, — perhaps better; but has not stoutness or stomach, as the first has, and so his wit seems over-fine or under-fine.

Health is good, — power, life, that resists disease, poison, and all enemies, and is conservative, as well as creative. Here is question, every spring, whether to graft with wax, or whether with clay; whether to whitewash or to potash, or to prune; but the one point is the thrifty tree. A good tree, that agrees with the soil, will grow in spite of blight , or bug, or pruning, or neglect, by night and by day, in all weathers and all treatments. Vivacity, leadership, must be had, and we are not allowed to be nice in choosing. We must fetch the pump with dirty water, if clean cannot be had. If we will make bread, we must have contagion, yeast, emptyings, or what not, to induce fermentation into the dough: as the torpid artist seeks inspiration at any cost, by virtue or by vice, by friend or by fiend, by prayer or by wine. And we have a certain instinct, that where is great amount of life, though gross and peccant, it has its own checks and purifications, and will be found at last in harmony with moral laws.

We watch in children with pathetic interest, the degree in which they possess recuperative force. When they are hurt by us, or by each other, or go to the bottom of the class, or miss the annual prizes, or are beaten in the game, — if they lose heart, and remember the mischance in their chamber at home, they have a serious check. But if they have the buoyancy and resistance that preoccupies them with new interest in the new moment, — the wounds cicatrize, and the fibre is the tougher for the hurt.

One comes to value this plus health, when he sees that all difficulties vanish before it. A timid man listening to the alarmists in Congress, and in the newspapers, and observing the profligacy of party, — sectional interests urged with a fury which shuts its eyes to consequences, with a mind made up to desperate extremities, ballot in one hand, and rifle in the other, — might easily believe that he and his country have seen their best days, and he hardens himself the best he can against the coming ruin. But, after this has been foretold with equal confidence fifty times, and government six per cents have not declined a quarter of a mill, he discovers that the enormous elements of strength which are here in play, make our politics unimportant. Personal power, freedom, and the resources of nature strain every faculty of every citizen. We prosper with such vigor, that, like thrifty trees, which grow in spite of ice, lice, mice, and borers, so we do not suffer from the profligate swarms that fatten on the national treasury. The huge animals nourish huge parasites, and the rancor of the disease attests the strength of the constitution. The same energy in the Greek Demos drew the remark, that the evils of popular government appear greater than they are; there is compensation for them in the spirit and energy it awakens. The rough and ready style which belongs to a people of sailors, foresters, farmers, and mechanics, has its advantages. Power educates the potentate. As long as our people quote English standards they dwarf their own proportions. A Western lawyer of eminence said to me he wished it were a penal offence to bring an English law-book into a court in this country, so pernicious had he found in his experience our deference to English precedent. The very word 'commerce' has only an English meaning, and is pinched to the cramp exigencies of English experience. The commerce of rivers, the commerce of railroads, and who knows but the commerce of air-balloons, must add an American extension to the pond-hole of admiralty. As long as our people quote English standards, they will miss the sovereignty of power; but let these rough riders, — legislators in shirt-sleeves, — Hoosier, Sucker, Wolverine, Badger, — or whatever hard head Arkansas, Oregon, or Utah sends, half orator, half assassin, to represent its wrath and cupidity at Washington, — let these drive as they may; and the disposition of territories and public lands, the necessity of balancing and keeping at bay the snarling majorities of German, Irish, and of native millions, will bestow promptness, address, and reason, at last, on our buffalo-hunter, and authority and majesty of manners . The instinct of the people is right. Men expect from good whigs, put into office by the respectability of the country, much less skill to deal with Mexico, Spain, Britain, or with our own malcontent members, than from some strong transgressor, like Jefferson, or Jackson, who first conquers his own government, and then uses the same genius to conquer the foreigner. The senators who dissented from Mr. Polk's Mexican war, were not those who knew better, but those who, from political position, could afford it; not Webster, but Benton and Calhoun.

This power, to be sure, is not clothed in satin. 'Tis the power of Lynch law, of soldiers and pirates; and it bullies the peaceable and loyal. But it brings its own antidote; and here is my point, — that all kinds of power usually emerge at the same time; good energy, and bad; power of mind, with physical health; the ecstasies of devotion, with the exasperations of debauchery. The same elements are always present, only sometimes these conspicuous, and sometimes those; what was yesterday foreground, being to-day background, — what was surface, playing now a not less effective part as basis. The longer the drought lasts, the more is the atmosphere surcharged with water. The faster the ball falls to the sun, the force to fly off is by so much augmented. And, in morals, wild liberty breeds iron conscience; natures with great impulses have great resources, and return from far. In politics, the sons of democrats will be whigs; whilst red republicanism, in the father, is a spasm of nature to engender an intolerable tyrant in the next age. On the other hand, conservatism, ever more timorous and narrow, disgusts the children, and drives them for a mouthful of fresh air into radicalism.

Those who have most of this coarse energy, — the 'bruisers,' who have run the gauntlet of caucus and tavern through the county or the state, have their own vices, but they have the good nature of strength and courage. Fierce and unscrupulous, they are usually frank and direct, and above falsehood. Our politics fall into bad hands, and churchmen and men of refinement, it seems agreed, are not fit persons to send to Congress. Politics is a deleterious profession, like some poisonous handicrafts. Men in power have no opinions, but may be had cheap for any opinion, for any purpose, — and if it be only a question between the most civil and the most forcible, I lean to the last. These Hoosiers and Suckers are really better than the snivelling opposition. Their wrath is at least of a bold and manly cast. They see, against the unanimous declarations of the people, how much crime the people will bear; they proceed from step to step, and they have calculated but too justly upon their Excellencies, the New England governors, and upon their Honors, the New England legislators. The messages of the governors and the resolutions of the legislatures, are a proverb for expressing a sham virtuous indignation, which, in the course of events, is sure to be belied.

In trade, also, this energy usually carries a trace of ferocity. Philanthropic and religious bodies do not commonly make their executive officers out of saints. The communities hitherto founded by Socialists, — the Jesuits, the Port-Royalists, the American communities at New Harmony, at Brook Farm, at Zoar, are only possible, by installing Judas as steward. The rest of the offices may be filled by good burgesses. The pious and charitable proprietor has a foreman not quite so pious and charitable. The most amiable of country gentlemen has a certain pleasure in the teeth of the bull-dog which guards his orchard. Of the Shaker society, it was formerly a sort of proverb in the country, that they always sent the devil to market. And in representations of the Deity, painting, poetry, and popular religion have ever drawn the wrath from Hell. It is an esoteric doctrine of society, that a little wickedness is good to make muscle; as if conscience were not good for hands and legs, as if poor decayed formalists of law and order cannot run like wild goats, wolves, and conies; that, as there is a use in medicine for poisons, so the world cannot move without rogues; that public spirit and the ready hand are as well found among the malignants. 'Tis not very rare, the coincidence of sharp private and political practice, with public spirit, and good neighborhood.

I knew a burly Boniface who for many years kept a public-house in one of our rural capitals. He was a knave whom the town could ill spare. He was a social, vascular creature, grasping and selfish. There was no crime which he did not or could not commit. But he made good friends of the selectmen, served them with his best chop, when they supped at his house, and also with his honor the Judge, he was very cordial, grasping his hand. He introduced all the fiends, male and female, into the town, and united in his person the functions of bully, incendiary, swindler, barkeeper, and burglar. He girdled the trees, and cut off the horses' tails of the temperance people, in the night. He led the 'rummies' and radicals in town-meeting with a speech. Meantime, he was civil, fat, and easy, in his house, and precisely the most public-spirited citizen. He was active in getting the roads repaired and planted with shade-trees; he subscribed for the fountains, the gas, and the telegraph; he introduced the new horse-rake, the new scraper, the baby-jumper, and what not, that Connecticut sends to the admiring citizens. He did this the easier, that the peddler stopped at his house, and paid his keeping, by setting up his new trap on the landlord's premises.

Whilst thus the energy for originating and executing work, deforms itself by excess, and so our axe chops off our own fingers, — this evil is not without remedy. All the elements whose aid man calls in, will sometimes become his masters, especially those of most subtle force. Shall he, then, renounce steam, fire, and electricity, or, shall he learn to deal with them? The rule for this whole class of agencies is, — all plus is good; only put it in the right place.

Men of this surcharge of arterial blood cannot live on nuts, herb-tea, and elegies; cannot read novels, and play whist; cannot satisfy all their wants at the Thursday Lecture, or the Boston Athenaeum. They pine for adventure, and must go to Pike's Peak; had rather die by the hatchet of a Pawnee, than sit all day and every day at a counting-room desk. They are made for war, for the sea, for mining, hunting, and clearing; for hair-breadth adventures, huge risks, and the joy of eventful living. Some men cannot endure an hour of calm at sea. I remember a poor Malay cook, on board a Liverpool packet, who, when the wind blew a gale, could not contain his joy; "Blow!" he cried, "me do tell you, blow!" Their friends and governors must see that some vent for their explosive complexion is provided. The roisters who are destined for infamy at home, if sent to Mexico, will "cover you with glory," and come back heroes and generals. There are Oregons, Californias, and Exploring Expeditions enough appertaining to America, to find them in files to gnaw, and in crocodiles to eat. The young English are fine animals, full of blood, and when they have no wars to breathe their riotous valors in, they seek for travels as dangerous as war, diving into Maelstroms; swimming Hellesponts; wading up the snowy Himmaleh; hunting lion, rhinoceros, elephant, in South Africa; gypsying with Borrow in Spain and Algiers; riding alligators in South America with Waterton; utilizing Bedouin, Sheik, and Pacha, with Layard; yachting among the icebergs of Lancaster Sound; peeping into craters on the equator; or running on the creases of Malays in Borneo.

The excess of virility has the same importance in general history, as in private and industrial life. Strong race or strong individual rests at last on natural forces, which are best in the savage, who, like the beasts around him, is still in reception of the milk from the teats of Nature. Cut off the connection between any of our works, and this aboriginal source, and the work is shallow. The people lean on this, and the mob is not quite so bad an argument as we sometimes say, for it has this good side. "March without the people," said a French deputy from the tribune, "and you march into night: their instincts are a finger-pointing of Providence, always turned toward real benefit. But when you espouse an Orleans party, or a Bourbon, or a Montalembert party, or any other but an organic party, though you mean well, you have a personality instead of a principle, which will inevitably drag you into a corner."

The best anecdotes of this force are to be had from savage life, in explorers, soldiers, and buccaneers. But who cares for fallings-out of assassins, and fights of bears, or grindings of icebergs? Physical force has no value, where there is nothing else. Snow in snow-banks, fire in volcanoes and solfataras is cheap. The luxury of ice is in tropical countries, and midsummer days. The luxury of fire is, to have a little on our hearth: and of electricity, not volleys of the charged cloud, but the manageable stream on the battery-wires. So of spirit, or energy; the rests or remains of it in the civil and moral man, are worth all the cannibals in the Pacific.

In history, the great moment is, when the savage is just ceasing to be a savage, with all his hairy Pelasgic strength directed on his opening sense of beauty: — and you have Pericles and Phidias, — not yet passed over into the Corinthian civility. Everything good in nature and the world is in that moment of transition, when the swarthy juices still flow plentifully from nature, but their astringency or acridity is got out by ethics and humanity.

The triumphs of peace have been in some proximity to war. Whilst the hand was still familiar with the sword-hilt, whilst the habits of the camp were still visible in the port and complexion of the gentleman, his intellectual power culminated: the compression and tension of these stern conditions is a training for the finest and softest arts, and can rarely be compensated in tranquil times, except by some analogous vigor drawn from occupations as hardy as war.

We say that success is constitutional; depends on a plus condition of mind and body, on power of work, on courage; that it is of main efficacy in carrying on the world, and, though rarely found in the right state for an article of commerce, but oftener in the supersaturate or excess, which makes it dangerous and destructive, yet it cannot be spared, and must be had in that form, and absorbents provided to take off its edge.

The affirmative class monopolize the homage of mankind. They originate and execute all the great feats. What a force was coiled up in the skull of Napoleon! Of the sixty thousand men making his army at Eylau, it seems some thirty thousand were thieves and burglars. The men whom, in peaceful communities, we hold if we can, with iron at their legs, in prisons, under the muskets of sentinels, this man dealt with, hand to hand, dragged them to their duty, and won his victories by their bayonets.

This aboriginal might gives a surprising pleasure when it appears under conditions of supreme refinement, as in the proficients in high art. When Michel Angelo was forced to paint the Sistine Chapel in fresco, of which art he knew nothing, he went down into the Pope's gardens behind the Vatican, and with a shovel dug out ochres, red and yellow, mixed them with glue and water with his own hands, and having, after many trials, at last suited himself, climbed his ladders, and painted away, week after week, month after month, the sibyls and prophets. He surpassed his successors in rough vigor, as much as in purity of intellect and refinement. He was not crushed by his one picture left unfinished at last. Michel was wont to draw his figures first in skeleton, then to clothe them with flesh, and lastly to drape them. "Ah!" said a brave painter to me, thinking on these things, "if a man has failed, you will find he has dreamed instead of working. There is no way to success in our art, but to take off your coat, grind paint, and work like a digger on the railroad, all day and every day."

Success goes thus invariably with a certain plus or positive power: an ounce of power must balance an ounce of weight. And, though a man cannot return into his mother's womb, and be born with new amounts of vivacity, yet there are two economies, which are the best succedanea which the case admits. The first is, the stopping off decisively our miscellaneous activity, and concentrating our force on one or a few points; as the gardener, by severe pruning, forces the sap of the tree into one or two vigorous limbs, instead of suffering it to spindle into a sheaf of twigs.

"Enlarge not thy destiny," said the oracle: "endeavor not to do more than is given thee in charge." The one prudence in life is concentration; the one evil is dissipation: and it makes no difference whether our dissipations are coarse or fine; property and its cares, friends, and a social habit, or politics, or music, or feasting. Everything is good which takes away one plaything and delusion more, and drives us home to add one stroke of faithful work. Friends, books, pictures, lower duties, talents, flatteries, hopes, — all are distractions which cause oscillations in our giddy balloon, and make a good poise and a straight course impossible. You must elect your work; you shall take what your brain can, and drop all the rest. Only so, can that amount of vital force accumulate, which can make the step from knowing to doing. No matter how much faculty of idle seeing a man has, the step from knowing to doing is rarely taken. 'Tis a step out of a chalk circle of imbecility into fruitfulness. Many an artist lacking this, lacks all: he sees the masculine Angelo or Cellini with despair. He, too, is up to Nature and the First Cause in his thought. But the spasm to collect and swing his whole being into one act, he has not. The poet Campbell said, that "a man accustomed to work was equal to any achievement he resolved on, and, that, for himself, necessity not inspiration was the prompter of his muse."

Concentration is the secret of strength in politics, in war, in trade, in short, in all management of human affairs. One of the high anecdotes of the world is the reply of Newton to the inquiry, "how he had been able to achieve his discoveries?" — "By always intending my mind." Or if you will have a text from politics, take this from Plutarch: "There was, in the whole city, but one street in which Pericles was ever seen, the street which led to the market-place and the council house. He declined all invitations to banquets, and all gay assemblies and company. During the whole period of his administration, he never dined at the table of a friend." Or if we seek an example from trade, — "I hope," said a good man to Rothyschild, "your children are not too fond of money and business: I am sure you would not wish that." — "I am sure I should wish that: I wish them to give mind, soul, heart, and body to business, — that is the way to be happy. It requires a great deal of boldness and a great deal of caution, to make a great fortune, and when you have got it, it requires ten times as much wit to keep it. If I were to listen to all the projects proposed to me, I should ruin myself very soon. Stick to one business, young man. Stick to your brewery, (he said this to young Buxton,) and you will be the great brewer of London. Be brewer, and banker, and merchant, and manufacturer, and you will soon be in the Gazette."

Many men are knowing, many are apprehensive and tenacious, but they do not rush to a decision. But in our flowing affairs a decision must be made, — the best, if you can; but any is better than none. There are twenty ways of going to a point, and one is the shortest; but set out at once on one. A man who has that presence of mind which can bring to him on the instant all he knows, is worth for action a dozen men who know as much, but can only bring it to light slowly. The good Speaker in the House is not the man who knows the theory of parliamentary tactics, but the man who decides off-hand. The good judge is not he who does hair-splitting justice to every allegation, but who, aiming at substantial justice, rules something intelligible for the guidance of suitors. The good lawyer is not the man who has an eye to every side and angle of contingency, and qualifies all his qualifications, but who throws himself on your part so heartily, that he can get you out of a scrape. Dr. Johnson said, in one of his flowing sentences, "Miserable beyond all names of wretchedness is that unhappy pair, who are doomed to reduce beforehand to the principles of abstract reason all the details of each domestic day. There are cases where little can be said, and much must be done."

The second substitute for temperament is drill, the power of use and routine. The hack is a better roadster than the Arab barb. In chemistry, the galvanic stream, slow, but continuous, is equal in power to the electric spark, and is, in our arts, a better agent. So in human action, against the spasm of energy, we offset the continuity of drill. We spread the same amount of force over much time, instead of condensing it into a moment. 'Tis the same ounce of gold here in a ball, and there in a leaf. At West Point, Col. Buford, the chief engineer, pounded with a hammer on the trunnions of a cannon, until he broke them off. He fired a piece of ordnance some hundred times in swift succession, until it burst. Now which stroke broke the trunnion? Every stroke. Which blast burst the piece? Every blast. "Diligence passe sens," Henry VIII. was wont to say, or, great is drill. John Kemble said, that the worst provincial company of actors would go through a play better than the best amateur company. Basil Hall likes to show that the worst regular troops will beat the best volunteers. Practice is nine tenths. A course of mobs is good practice for orators. All the great speakers were bad speakers at first. Stumping it through England for seven years, made Cobden a consummate debater. Stumping it through New England for twice seven, trained Wendell Phillips. The way to learn German, is, to read the same dozen pages over and over a hundred times, till you know every word and particle in them, and can pronounce and repeat them by heart. No genius can recite a ballad at first reading, so well as mediocrity can at the fifteenth or twentieth readying. The rule for hospitality and Irish 'help,' is, to have the same dinner every day throughout the year. At last, Mrs. O'Shaughnessy learns to cook it to a nicety, the host learns to carve it, and the guests are well served. A humorous friend of mine thinks, that the reason why Nature is so perfect in her art, and gets up such inconceivably fine sunsets, is, that she has learned how, at last, by dint of doing the same thing so very often. Cannot one converse better on a topic on which he has experience, than on one which is new? Men whose opinion is valued on 'Change, are only such as have a special experience, and off that ground their opinion is not valuable. "More are made good by exercitation, than by nature," said Democritus. The friction in nature is so enormous that we cannot spare any power. It is not question to express our thought, to elect our way, but to overcome resistances of the medium and material in everything we do. Hence the use of drill, and the worthlessness of amateurs to cope with practitioners. Six hours every day at the piano, only to give facility of touch; six hours a day at painting, only to give command of the odious materials, oil, ochres, and brushes. The masters say, that they know a master in music, only by seeing the pose of the hands on the keys; — so difficult and vital an act is the command of the instrument. To have learned the use of the tools, by thousands of manipulations; to have learned the arts of reckoning, by endless adding and dividing, is the power of the mechanic and the clerk.

I remarked in England, in confirmation of a frequent experience at home, that, in literary circles, the men of trust and consideration, bookmakers, editors, university deans and professors, bishops, too, were by no means men of the largest literary talent, but usually of a low and ordinary intellectuality, with a sort of mercantile activity and working talent. Indifferent hacks and mediocrities tower, by pushing their forces to a lucrative point, or by working power, over multitudes of superior men, in Old as in New England.

I have not forgotten that there are sublime considerations which limit the value of talent and superficial success. We can easily overpraise the vulgar hero. There are sources on which we have not drawn. I know what I abstain from. I adjourn what I have to say on this topic to the chapters on Culture and Worship. But this force or spirit, being the means relied on by Nature for bringing the work of the day about, — as far as we attach importance to household life, and the prizes of the world, we must respect that. And I hold, that an economy may be applied to it; it is as much a subject of exact law and arithmetic as fluids and gases are; it may be husbanded, or wasted; every man is efficient only as he is a container or vessel of this force, and never was any signal act or achievement in history, but by this expenditure. This is not gold, but the gold-maker; not the fame, but the exploit.

If these forces and this husbandry are within reach of our will, and the laws of them can be read, we infer that all success, and all conceivable benefit for man, is also, first or last, within his reach, and has its own sublime economies by which it may be attained. The world is mathematical, and has no casualty, in all its vast and flowing curve. Success has no more eccentricity, than the gingham and muslin we weave in our mills. I know no more affecting lesson to our busy, plotting New England brains, than to go into one of the factories with which we have lined all the watercourses in the States. A man hardly knows how much he is a machine, until he begins to make telegraph, loom, press, and locomotive, in his own image. But in these, he is forced to leave out his follies and hindrances, so that when we go to the mill, the machine is more moral than we. Let a man dare go to a loom, and see if he be equal to it. Let machine confront machine, and see how they come out. The world-mill is more complex than the calico-mill, and the architect stooped less. In the gingham-mill, a broken thread or a shred spoils the web through a piece of a hundred yards, and is traced back to the girl that wove it, and lessens her wages. The stockholder, on being shown this, rubs his hands with delight. Are you so cunning, Mr. Profitloss, and do you expect to swindle your master and employer, in the web you weave? A day is a more magnificent cloth than any muslin, the mechanism that makes it is infinitely cunninger, and you shall not conceal the sleezy, fraudulent, rotten hours you have slipped into the piece, nor fear that any honest thread, or straighter steel, or more inflexible shaft, will not testify in the web.

Ralph Waldo Emerson left the ministry to pursue a career in writing and public speaking. Emerson became one of America's best known and best-loved 19th-century figures. More About Emerson

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• Knowledge Is Power Essay

Knowledge is Power Essay

500+ words essay on knowledge is power.

An individual gets knowledge from every experience in life. The knowledge that a child receives in school decides his/her future life and place in society. Knowledge is related to knowing something. It is a sum of human understanding of the world, whether it is physical, biological, social, mental or spiritual. In simple terms, knowledge is the sum of human understanding of the material and mental reality, and power is defined as the capacity to make someone do something that he/she wants. So, knowledge makes us powerful. With the help of this essay, students will know the importance of knowledge and how it helps people to gain power. With the help of knowledge, we can easily solve any kind of problem in our lives. They can also refer to the list of CBSE essays to practise essays on different topics and improve their writing section.

What Does “Knowledge is Power” Mean?

Knowledge is Power is a proverb. It means that knowledge is more powerful than any type of physical strength. Knowledge empowers people to achieve great results. A knowledgeable person is respected in society. From the annals of history, we can see that great scholars and preachers like Aristotle and Swami Vivekananda are remembered even today. Good teachers and professors are still admired in society as they have ample knowledge that they share with students. With good knowledge and hard work, it is never too late to amass wealth to become so powerful.

To understand ‘knowledge is power’ more clearly, let’s take an example. Suppose a group of people get lost in a dark jungle, and only one of them knows the path out of the woods. So, he will show the path to others, and the rest of them will follow him. So, knowledge here made him win and gained him the power to lead the group members. In a similar way, society can also be taken as a jungle. In society, people get power with knowledge. Everyone silences to the knowledgeable person in society, and no one follows an ignorant person.

Relationship between Knowledge and Power

The sloka from Sanskrit exemplifies the greatness of education or knowledge. It clearly states the relationship between knowledge and power:

विद्यां ददाति विनयं,

विनयाद् याति पात्रताम्।

पात्रत्वात् धनमाप्नोति,

धनात् धर्मं ततः सुखम्॥

Vidya Dadati Vinayam,

Vinaya yaati Patrataam |

Patratvad Dhanamaapnoti,

Dhanaad Dharamam Tatah Sukham ||

The meaning of shloka is that through learning/knowledge, we get humility. Through humility, we get worthiness. From worthiness, we get wealth. From wealth, we do good deeds, and good deeds give us happiness. In simple words, it means that knowledge helps an individual to grow in society. It makes a person humble and disciplined. With humility and proper discipline, a person gets the height of achievement in life. With the achievement of success, a person is termed as powerful in society.

Knowledge is a very powerful tool which can be used in our daily life to improve ourselves, thereby, society and nation. It comes after many experiences. Sometimes a bad experience also teaches a very important lesson in life.

Students must have found this essay on ‘knowledge is power’ useful for improving their essay writing skills. They can get the study material and the latest update on CBSE/ICSE/State Board/Competitive Exams at BYJU’S.

Frequently Asked Questions on Knowledge is Power Essay

Why is knowledge an important resource.

The education and knowledge that a student receives at school (at a young age) help the child build his future and career in an appropriate, successful manner.

What is the meaning of the phrase ‘Knowledge is power’?

It means that knowledge and wisdom are stronger assets than physical or financial strength. It is important for a person to acquire knowledge before aiming for other things.

Does knowledge indicate only textual reading?

Knowledge automatically means impartition of moral values, ethics, behavioural etiquette, etc. Textual reading is only a basic and primary form of knowledge.

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Handout A: Background Essay – The Balance of Power between the Legislative and Executive Branches

Background Essay—The Balance of Power Between the Legislative and Executive Branches

Directions: Read the essay and answer the critical thinking questions at the end.

The constitutional principles of the American Founding that guided American politics before the Civil War were increasingly altered as a new approach to governance become predominant in the early twentieth century. The rise of an administrative state centralized more power in the hands of federal agencies in the executive branch and blurred the relationship of the branches of government and their respective constitutional powers. Even though the Constitution specifically granted authority to Congress to regulate interstate commerce in its enumerated powers in Article I, Section 8, Congress increasingly delegated that authority to the executive branch.

In the late nineteenth century, railroads and corporations began to grow exponentially as big business became larger through waves of mergers. Soon, trusts began to exercise monopolistic control over several industries and over the broader economy. Although they benefitted workers with jobs and often consumers with falling prices on goods, they also created an incredibly wealthy ruling class that formed corrupt ties to politicians.

Many Americans began to fear the effects of the rise of big business. Progressive thinkers of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries advocated the idea that only the federal government had the national power to regulate business. They believed that educated, scientific experts could rationalize the economic and social order by bringing efficiency to the marketplace. The experts would regulate business from the bureaucracy with new executive agencies where they would supposedly be free from political decision-making and its potential for corruption.

The Congress passed the Interstate Commerce Act in 1887 and the Sherman Anti-Trust Act in 1890 to regulate railroads and big business. The Justice Department prosecuted illegal trusts in industry, and Congress created the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) to monitor the rates railroads charged and regulate other trade practices.

During the presidencies of Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson, Congress significantly increased the number of executive agencies to regulate commerce. Roosevelt argued that, “Corporations should be managed with due regard of the public as a whole,” and presided over a large expansion of federal regulatory power. The Hepburn Act (1906) increased the ICC’s power and allowed it to set rates for railroad shipping. The uproar over Upton Sinclair’s The Jungle led to the passage of the Meat Inspection Act and the Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906, which created the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) with additional power over interstate commerce. Therefore, Congress delegated its authority to administrative agencies.

President Woodrow Wilson also supported enhancing executive authority over interstate commerce. He asserted that progressives sought to “interpret the Constitution according to the Darwinian principle” of a living Constitution with new meanings in different ages. Congress passed several key pieces of legislation that delegated authority to the executive to manage the economy. The most important were the Federal Reserve Act (1913), which established the Federal Reserve, and the Clayton Antitrust Act (1914),which created the Federal Trade Commission with power to manage competitive practices. World War I greatly enhanced federal executive power as the government nationalized the railroads and the War Industries Board directed the wartime economy. The executive had assumed many of powers constitutionally granted to Congress.

The progressive vision of the administrative state regulating the economy and commerce continued in the New Deal. President Franklin D. Roosevelt and a Democratic Congress struggled to find a way to deal with the worldwide crisis of the Great Depression. As the economy collapsed and unemployment skyrocketed, Congress passed a number of emergency laws with more regard for relieving suffering and stimulating the economy than worrying about the strict constitutionality of legislation.

Congress passed the National Industrial Recovery Act (NIRA) in 1933 and suspended antitrust legislation due to the economic emergency and allowed for “industrial self-regulation.” It created the National Recovery Administration (NRA) which was an executive agency that worked with business to set production quotas, prices of goods, and wages for each industry. The NRA (instead of Congress) regulated commerce between the states and within states.

The NIRA angered most constituencies that it was supposed to help. Big business resented the intrusion and regulation, consumers were angry over rising prices, and workers felt the promised right to strike was not adequately protected. Journalist Walter Lippmann complained, “The excessive centralization… [is] producing a revulsion of feeling against bureaucratic control of American economic life.” President Roosevelt defended economic cooperation and regulation against the former “individual self-interest and group selfishness” that he argued characterized American capitalism. The NIRA was quickly challenged in the courts and a case made its way to the Supreme Court.

The Schechter brothers owned two kosher butcher shops in New York City and operated under minute NRA regulations that controlled every step in how chickens were sold to a customer. The government accused them of selling unhealthy chickens and violating several parts of the poultry codes. The “sick chicken” case was decided by the Supreme Court in 1935.

In Schechter Poultry Corp. v. United States (1935), the Supreme Court unanimously ruled that the NIRA was unconstitutional. Since the Schechter slaughterhouses conducted business within the state of New York, Congress (or any executive agency) could not regulate intrastate trade. More importantly, the Court held that Congress could not delegate its authority of regulating commerce to an executive agency such as the NRA since it violated the separation of powers. Justice Louis Brandeis even privately told administration officials: “I want you to go back and tell the president that we’re not going to let this government centralize everything.”

President Roosevelt was furious that the Court had restricted his ability to use the New Deal to resolve the economic crises as he and Congress saw fit. At a press conference, Roosevelt told reporters, “We have been relegated to the horse-and-buggy definition of interstate commerce.”

Nevertheless, the Supreme Court relented to Roosevelt’s expansive vision of federal regulatory power through the commerce clause a few years later. Congress continued to transfer its authority over regulating interstate commerce to the executive branch which continued to grow in power throughout the twentieth century.

This delegation of legislative power over to federal agencies fundamentally changed Congress. Instead of a deliberative body, representing the people in the creation of laws, Congress became more of an oversight body, which assumed the ability to supervise the dozens of newly-established agencies. Since Congress created and authorized the agencies (and funded them, too), Congress could intervene when an agency took the wrong course of action. Now an oversight body as opposed to a lawmaking body, Congress placed more authority in its committees to hold oversight hearings and monitor the administrative state in other ways.

Other institutions adapted to delegation as well. The president, in particular, began to use the bureaucracy to make policy outside of the legislative process, through executive actions in which Congress was not involved. And the people began to look more to the president as a policymaker than their elected representatives in Congress.

CRITICAL THINKING QUESTIONS

• What is an administrative state? How did the United States shift to being more administrative in policies and procedures?
• What were/are the effects of Congress delegating power to executive agencies?
• Why were anti-trust measures put in place by Congress? Were they necessary? Were they effective?
• In your opinion, has a growth in executive power infringed upon or supported constitutional principles? Explain your answer.

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Student Essay: The Power of Stories to Inspire Strong Leaders

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Maya S. is a Muslim, Egyptian and student athlete who has lived in Saudi Arabia for most of her life. She is 16 and a junior at the American International School of Riyadh, where she is enrolled in the International Baccalaureate program.

In this Student Essay of the Week, Maya talks about how building a platform for others to share their stories has helped her understand why welcoming diversity of thought and experience will make her a stronger, more empathetic leader.

Three steps forward and two steps back. That was my reality during the privilege walk.

In October 2018, I was selected along with 50 other high school students to attend a leadership trip to a farm outside Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. We believed that we were all going to learn about how to become leaders with strong voices. However, the trip took a completely unexpected and inspiring turn. Instead, we left knowing how to listen first and speak second.

At the farm, we participated in an activity called a privilege walk , where we were asked to step forward or backward in response to certain questions. From the responses, it became obvious that all of us were struggling with something that those around us knew nothing about.

I learned that the girl beside me once wondered where her next meal would come from. The girl beside her was afraid to leave the house at night because she had been assaulted. The boy to my left had been held at gunpoint. And the boy beside him had a mental disorder. This realization hit me hard. I was able to understand that although it’s impossible for us all to experience the same things, it is possible for us to try and listen to each other and understand each other’s differences. I began to appreciate the meaning of finding beauty in diversity. During that trip I learned that true leaders listen to the voices of others, and as a result they are able to enrich their own points of view.

“Living with anxiety is like feeling alive through the motions of life, but never freely living. It’s being aware of my surroundings, but lost in another world inside my head.”

During the summer of that year, someone I loved dearly was faced with medical issues, and my family began dealing with a lot of uncertainty. Even when it was all over, I felt lost and changed. I couldn’t explain it, but I wished that someone understood. I then began thinking of the people standing around me that day in Riyadh during the privilege walk, and everyone around the world like us. Did we all feel the same desire to be understood? How could we all feel seen and valued, regardless of our stories? I wanted to hear more about the stories of all those kids I met that day in line. I wanted to understand how we all ended up there, despite our different paths. I wanted to create something that would allow them to express their stories.

That summer, I started Voice of Change , a weblog that allows other teenagers to contribute writing that reflects the experiences that have shaped them. The first story I received was “Purpose,” from a girl struggling with depression. She wrote, “Purpose: a reason, a given, motivation , a point. We all live life because we have a purpose. We realize that there is a point, we have motivation and a reason to live. We look forward to things and create opportunities for ourselves. We see a future. Imagine living life feeling as though you have no purpose… That means no reason, no motivation, simply no point… the best way to describe this feeling is as if [you’re] dead. This feeling is depression.”

After I posted the article, which talked about how depression impacted the author’s life, I received comments, emails and texts from others saying that the article communicated what they needed to hear and couldn’t put into words. This initial response fueled the rest of my work. I began receiving other stories about challenging experiences, ranging from sexual assault and racial discrimination, to losing a loved one and struggling with body image. Here are a few powerful quotes from these articles:

“I’m not sure who or what I’m living for, but I’d never want to risk my family members feeling as I do right now. It’s okay that I’m suffering right now, because I have faith that it will pass, eventually it will.” – “Live On”

“I am not ignorant because I’m Arab. I’m not a terrorist because I’m Muslim. I am not a thug because I’m black. I am not who I am because of what you see on the news. I am who I am because of what I’ve been through, and what I have become.” – “Assume”

“Living with anxiety is like feeling alive through the motions of life, but never freely living. It’s being aware of my surroundings but lost in another world inside my head.” – “I Choose Life”

I see my Voice of Change journey as having so much to do with becoming a better leader. It has helped me to see clearly the type of leader I hope to become. I have developed a stronger perspective by understanding the voices and stories of others. I have become more empathetic to other people’s struggles, a quality I will need when I run my own business one day. You can’t understand your customers’ wants or your employees’ needs if you don’t listen and appreciate where they’re coming from. Also, Voice of Change has shown me how much our experiences shape us and contribute to how we see the world and solve problems. Each person offers a unique voice and a different perspective – all powerful and important in their own way.

Related Links

• The Privilege Walk
• What Is Empathy? (Sesame Street)
• Knowledge@Wharton: The Emotional Intelligence Deficit
• Wharton’s McNulty Leadership Program

Conversation Starters

What is empathy and why is it such an important leadership quality? How is empathy related to storytelling? Use the Related Links with this article if you need to better understand empathy.

How have your experiences shaped you? Share your story in the Comment section of this article.

Maya writes that she has come to appreciate “how much our experiences shape us and contribute to how we see the world and solve problems.” Diversity of thought is incredibly powerful in the business world. Why does it hold such value? How does it enrich the team dynamic and important outcomes?

6 comments on “ Student Essay: The Power of Stories to Inspire Strong Leaders ”

Hi Maya, Thank you for sharing your fantastic story with us. Being able to appreciate the people around you and, in first place, yourself is one of the major keys to success and, most importantly, happiness in life, at least according to my experience. We all come from different environments and experiences, the same ones which make us who we are, in our uniqueness and diversity, as you clearly and beautifully stated in your essay. Appreciation is one of those emotions, if that’s how we want to define it, I have learned to consider and embrace later in life, but it is surely the one all the rest comes down to: appreciation for life, appreciation for love from our beloved ones… Having dealt throughout life with friends who coped with depression and anxiety, I can say I have experienced the emotional upheaval that tends to follow this kind of acknowledgements. It gives you a completely different perspective on the world, on the people that surround you and on the way you look at your very own life. On the other hand, I’ve been lucky enough to feel the wonderful sense of relief and joy which comes after helping this people, which taught me the value of the word, indeed, appreciation. In the same way I’ve been able to help my dearest friends deal with these horrible feelings and find a way out of them, I find what you have done with this very same individuals awesome: not only giving them a voice through the blog, but giving their peers the chance to find sympathy and reassurance in their words. Keep it up! And take care.

Sonder – n. The realization that each random passerby is living a life as vivid and complex as your own—populated with their own ambitions, friends, routines, worries and inherited craziness (The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows).

I believe that sonder, a short and simple made-up word to describe a complex feeling, perfectly captures the spirit of Maya and her article. Maya realized the complexity of the lives of those around her, that every stranger on the leadership trip had their own unique story to tell, filled with their personal struggles. She reaches the conclusion that “each person offers a unique voice and a different perspective – all powerful and important in their own way.”

Sonder, and more broadly, empathy, is a crucial element of being a good leader. I had my own moment of sonder last summer when I had the opportunity to volunteer at my local Chinese senior center. I started volunteering there because I had to fill my school’s requirement for service hours but ended up gaining much more out of it than that. At first, I was wary of taking on the job because my Chinese conversational skills were acceptable at best and rudimentary at worst. However, I quickly found that the seniors were very welcoming and were just happy that someone was willing to sacrifice their time to help out. I performed tasks such as preparing and serving food as well as helped teach ESL and citizenship classes. I learned about the hard work ethic of the workers and volunteers around me while washing apples. I learned about the amiability and habits of the seniors in the lunchroom. There would always be those in the back table playing cards, the younger seniors chatting in the front, and the seasoned mahjong players upstairs. I even had the chance to hear some of their rich stories, stories of their journeys of emigrating from communist China, stories of their successful children, stories of their war experiences, and stories of their hope in America. I truly understood that these seniors, whom I would not have given a second glance on the street, lived such deep and meaningful lives, each of which would be a thrilling standalone novel.

Just like Maya learned to understand those from different backgrounds, I was able to empathize with these seniors and develop an appreciation for their experiences. We should all have empathy for each other in this world full of division and hatred. Sonder helps us have that empathy not only with those close to us but with everyone around us.

When I became the youngest Student Council President of my school, my idea of a strong leader was someone who could command and lead a group of people with total authority the way they like it. So, that’s what I tried to do during my early days as a leader. I thought I would be a strong leader by commanding the student council and demonstrating my full authority over the rest. But after the first month, like Maya, the experience of being a leader took a completely unexpected and inspiring turn. I learned, like Maya, that you have to listen first and speak second. It is by listening to others that makes you a stronger leader because it is easier to command and display your authority. But it is harder to swallow your pride and listen to others when their opinions or stories differ from yours.

Therefore, in the Student Council that I am in, I launched an initiative called “Listen Monday” with the purpose of listening to everyone’s opinions and views in the student council and utilizing them for the betterment of the school.

By understanding the voices of others it has helped me develop a better perspective. I have become more empathetic to others. Listening to others has allowed me to see the full picture that I have never seen. And because I see the bigger picture, I realized that other’s experiences can help shape how I see the world and solve problems. As Maya said, each person offers a unique voice and a different perspective, all-powerful and important in their own way.

I want to thank Maya for inspiring me.

When I became the youngest Student Council President of my school, my idea of a strong leader was someone who could command and lead a group of people with total authority the way they like it. So, that’s what I tried to do during my early days as a leader. I thought I would be a strong leader by commanding the student council and demonstrating my full authority over the rest. But after the first month, like Maya, the experience of being a leader took a completely unexpected and inspiring turn. I learned, like Maya, that you have to listen first and speak second. It is by listening to others that makes you a stronger leader because it is easier to command and display your authority. But it is harder to swallow your pride and listen to others when their opinions or stories differ from yours.

Therefore, in the Student Council that I am in, I launched an initiative called “Listen Monday” with the purpose of listening to everyone’s opinions and views in the student council and utilizing them for the betterment of the school.

By understanding the voices of others it has helped me develop a better perspective. I have become more empathetic to others. Listening to others has allowed me to see the full picture that I have never seen. And because I see the bigger picture, I realized that other’s experiences can help shape how I see the world and solve problems. As Maya said, each person offers a unique voice and a different perspective, all-powerful and important in their own way. I realized exhaustively now that a strong leader is someone that listens first and speak second.

I want to thank Maya for inspiring me to become a better leader.

Hello L Dau K!

Thank you for sharing your experience and lessons as a student council president. Listening to your implementation of listening Mondays has brought me back to a time when I was the storyteller, pouring my life out, not to a student council president, but to my mother.

Before the story begins, I must tell you about my mother. She is a very successful corporate leader of hundreds of people. Of course, when it comes to life, she’s never lost her footing when it comes to parenting. Her dogma for me was always the same as that for her employees. She required me to write a time schedule and reflect on life every day and report my academic progress to her with a PowerPoint presentation every week. Similar to your listening Mondays, but coerced. Of course, these rules also apply to her employees. I argued with her countless times, berating her for treating me, at the time, a 12-year-old, as her employee. Perhaps you have already begun to detest my mother’s parenting philosophy, or that she is just another derelict mother who neglects her children’s emotional needs to give her career 100%. But she was a mother for the first time, and I as her oldest child witnessed her growth and how she became a leader, both to her employees and to me.

Where should I begin my story with this leader? As I counted the episodes that flashed through my mind, neither the long conversation in the evening breeze nor the laughing conversation in the dark living room seemed like the most appropriate beginning of the story. Puzzled, I put down my thoughts and sat down to recall the beginning of our conversations. There’s no longer nameless fear and tension when she approaches me, dreading to hear what she has to say. Instead, I always walked up to her when I found her alone, and the dialogue always began with a sigh. I told her many stories about young love, friends, hobbies, and self-reflection, all parts of me that I was reluctant to reveal in PowerPoints. She is busy all day but never said no when I started a conversation. I could feel that she valued every part of our communication, regardless of how nonsensical it was, taking it wholeheartedly. She would sit down and listen to every word I had to say, and she would take to heart every hint of emotion I tried to convey. She did her best to understand my passions, cater to my needs, and embrace my sentiments. And that’s one of the most valuable lessons she’s taught me as a leader.

My mother’s growth as a leader came naturally to her as she listened to every ebullient story and every heart-wrenching sob. She did what many leaders, even in family relationships, fail to do: give the most attention to her children and subordinates, dwelling on their stories, bringing herself into their emotions, and living their experiences. Simply receiving a comment differentiates from understanding the root of their feedback. Through sharing stories with my mother, as my thoughts became words and leaped out of my mouth, my thoughts received a carrier. The stories I told were imparted with meaning through the process of communication. These words made me who I am and marked every footprint of mine. Not only giving her a chance to guide me but giving me a chance to recourse, bonding two unknown souls by building emotional bridges rather than giving ice-cold PowerPoint presentations. I myself am walking on those bridges, and I will be learning to build them up. Through open communication, we can build bridges high enough to see the world from a bigger view, see the tips of Mt. Everest, hear the mumbles of rhinoceros and vaquitas, and unveil a side of the world that we have never seen before.

In her essay “The Power of Stories to Inspire Strong Leaders”, Maya S. quotes “I was able to understand that although it’s impossible for us to all experience the same things, it is possible for us to try and listen to each other and understand each other’s differences. I began to appreciate the meaning of finding beauty in diversity. During that trip I learned that true leaders listen to the voices of others, and as a result they are able to enrich their own points of view.” This quote taught me that in order to be understood, one must learn to understand.

As an international student living in the states, my school days were certainly different from most of my classmates. There were a lot more plane rides, more hours of memorizing English vocabulary, and less people that paid attention to the struggles I went through. It was hard to focus on the upside of life when I knew that my comfort zone was about 6800 miles away. I felt like I was drowning in my own world, and was unsure of what I needed to do to get out of it.

As time passed, I did learn to embrace my new home. That started with a simple step: Learning about how people here lived. I added Kendrick Lamar and Olivia Rodrigo to my playlist, started to watch the NBA, and reached out for corrections when I didn’t recognize an English word. As I began to understand and appreciate what was around me, it was way easier to fit in. My struggles started to pay off as I received multiple honors and varsity MVP awards. Apart from Academics, I also became much more active in the social circle. I learned more about life here from my new friends, and also taught them some parts of life that I left behind back in Korea. After these changes, I could proudly say that I’m definitely leading my own life.

Maya’s story of the privilege walk reminded me of the change in my perspective before and after trying to understand American culture. At first I was hesitant in getting to know the new environment, but now I see the hidden value of entirely different customs, just like how Maya was able to understand the children with more depth. Furthermore, something Maya did that I greatly appreciate is that she didn’t just stop from enlightenment and took action to advocate for her beliefs. I believe that Maya’s propulsion of creating the “Voice of Change” weblog exemplifies what leaders do to promote their voice to the world. As a person aspiring to be a global leader and a businessman, I was greatly inspired by Maya’s quotes of insight and her action to spread her words.

Our world today is heavily interconnected, and the effects of collaborating across diverse backgrounds have never been more apparent. As I reflect on Maya’s quote and my own understanding, I am reminded that true leaders are distinguished by their ability to seek harmony in differences. My journey from a foreign student drowning in isolation to a confident participant in a global community underscores the transformative power of understanding others to be understood. Of course there are still customs that I cannot resonate with, like pineapple on pizza. But as I step forward into a world of connections and communications, I carry with me the invaluable lesson that true understanding is the cornerstone of meaningful process.

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Dr Rob Yeung is an organisational psychologist at leadership consultancy Talentspace

Do you want more power at work? Psychologists define power as an individual’s subjective belief that they have influence over precious resources – including the major resource that is the behaviour of others.

People typically feel more powerful when in possession of attributes such as education, interpersonal skills, physical characteristics (including height and attractiveness), knowledge, wealth and seniority within organisations. Feelings of power can also be greatly boosted or subdued by the thoughts at the forefronts of our minds.

Powerful people are more willing to sacrifice the welfare of others in order to achieve their goals

Power has multiple, positive consequences. People with more power experience more positive emotions, are more optimistic and feel more able to share their authentic opinions with others. A study led by Tilburg University’s Maarten Boksem also found that feelings of power significantly increase left frontal brain activity, which is associated with approach-oriented tendencies. In other words, people who feel powerful are more motivated to approach challenges than avoid them.

Risky business

However, feelings of power also have drawbacks – most of which are not apparent to powerful people. They are more likely to underestimate the amount of time that projects take. They take more risky decisions and express higher levels of unwarranted confidence in their decisions. They also more easily dehumanise other people – being more willing to sacrifice the welfare of others in order to achieve their goals.

When powerful people feel incompetent, they may be more likely to behave aggressively, too. Management psychologists Nathanael Fast and Serena Chen found that self-doubting professionals who described their jobs as affording them greater formal authority and power were more likely to agree with questionnaire statements such as ‘I can’t help getting into arguments when people disagree with me’ and ‘Given enough provocation, I may hit another person’. Similarly anxious professionals but with less formal authority reported fewer aggressive behaviours.

Power reduces the inclination to pay attention to and empathise with others

The interpersonal downsides of power are supported by neuroscientific studies. Jeremy Hogeveen and colleagues at Wilfrid Laurier University discovered that powerful people’s brains exhibit less motor resonance: reduced activation of the mirror neuron system when watching another person’s behaviour. This suggests that power reduces the inclination to pay attention to and empathise with others.

To mitigate against the dangers of power, it is rarely enough to have clear rules and procedures sanctioning against inappropriate behaviour. Instead, the people responsible for enforcing them must have been given abundant authority and power to implement them properly.

If you are in a position of power, you can help yourself. When making decisions, compensate for excessive confidence by vigorously encouraging others to speak up in dissent. Don’t just assume that your behaviour is well-regarded, either; actively seek feedback on your behaviour – ideally through anonymous channels so that people can speak freely. Also, consider hiring a coach who can tell you hard truths.

Dominance vs prestige

To accrue power, consider the two distinct routes to getting it. Dominance involves capturing and maintaining power through intimidation and coercion – for example, via threats of punishment and demoting or controlling talented individuals who may threaten an individual’s dominance. In contrast, prestige involves demonstrating skills, knowledge and behaviours that others find beneficial – for example, showing concern for others’ wellbeing.

Making insightful or helpful comments is a tactic that generates prestige

In meetings, speaking more and talking over others are dominance tactics; making insightful or helpful comments is a tactic that generates prestige. Individuals who combine both sets of tactics tend to gain the most attention.

Neither path to power is better in all situations. Factors including country culture and the local economy also affect people’s appetite for dominance versus prestige tactics.

Leaders using dominance tactics can get results quickly by initiating fear-based compliance, which may be especially useful during crises when action is needed without delay. However, dominance-wielding leaders typically seize power from the reluctant or outright unwilling, meaning that others may look for ways to rebel against the dominant, disliked leaders.

Prestige-oriented leaders try to create supportive, collaborative, inspirational environments such that others freely give power to their leaders. However, gaining power through prestige is considerably more time-consuming and effortful than using dominance. Prestige tactics may be less effective when applied to others who are themselves highly dominant or who prefer the clarity that comes from being asked to follow orders without question.

In the short term, you can boost your feelings of power by spending several minutes recalling and writing about a past situation in which you had power – influence over another person or persons. Experiments have shown that this intervention helps people to behave noticeably more confidently and persuasively – for example, during job interviews.

More information

Watch Dr Rob Yeung’s video on how building up your sources of power can help you and your career.

Visit ACCA’s wellbeing hub for advice and resources to support your mental health at work.

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Knowledge Is Power Essay | Essay on Knowledge Is Power for Students and Children

February 14, 2024 by Prasanna

Knowledge Is Power Essay: Knowledge is a state of awareness and understanding. It refers to facts or information obtained, the wisdom acquired through learning, life’s experiences, and skill enhancement.

Knowledge gives one the power to mobilize in the right direction. That’s the reason knowledge is powerful. Acquiring knowledge means a person obtains resourcefulness and criticizes the informative and useful data. This makes a person well-informed and makes them take d intelligent decisions based on their everyday situations, awareness, and understanding.

You can read more  Essay Writing about articles, events, people, sports, technology many more. Like this about knowledge is power essay.

Thus, the statement ‘ pen is mightier than a sword’ is right as the knowledge gives a man more powerful than a sword. The more knowledge one acquires, the more powerful he/she becomes.

Short and Long Essay on Knowledge is Power in English for Students and Children

Below is a descriptive essay on knowledge is power for students on the topic, consisting of 400-500 words.  A short essay is provided for children consisting of 150-200 words.

Long Essay on Knowledge is Power in English 500 words

This extended essay is suitable for students studying in classes 6,7,8, 9, and 10, respectively. This essay is written to assist and guide success to those aspiring students applying for competitive examinations.

Knowledge is a broad concept with no possible ending. Acquiring knowledge involve steps such as communication, logic, perception, and cognitive processes. Knowledge is a human’s capacity to identify and accept the truth. However, it can be used for positive well-being as well as negative purposes. Thus gives the power to create and destroy at the same time. Knowledge can be used for personal growth as well as the growth of a community, state, and nation. However, some people use knowledge negatively, leading to the harm of individuals or society on the whole.

Only a few people understand the real importance of knowledge. The statement ‘every educated person is knowledgeable; however, every knowledgeable person is educated’ might not make sense but is the truth. The world around us homes many educated people who still have no subject knowledge of what they have studied.

Knowledge helps you ride a bike, play the piano, solve a riddle, etc. It helps us prevent us from making the same mistake twice. Besides, one cannot buy knowledge; one has to earn his/her way to it.

Today’s world needs the power of knowledge and education. Without this, life becomes impossible to keep up the fast-paced world. However, knowledge on one particular subject will not aid your success. It is equally important to know how to make effective use of knowledge to succeed. Besides, one should know the other aspects of a subject.

Knowledge is an essential tool to obtain positive changes in our country or society. It gives individuals the future’s glance and our in development. All countries are technologically advanced and use advanced machinery and tools through the result of knowledge. Deadly weapons and explosives do not make a country powerful, rather knowledge towards betterment does.

Knowledge impacts and influences our growth and relationship with work and life. It can last for a lifetime and is highly essential for personal growth and development. One can acquire knowledge through any form such as art, dance, history, architecture, or even from one’s personal development. Knowledge gives one wisdom to make life-changing decisions in life. However, to learn more, progress, and achieve one’s goals, it is important to adopt a positive mindset.

A country’s growth and development is not through harmful weapons and armory, but with the amount of knowledgeable people. This is the real power of knowledge.

Shared knowledge helps one communicate and understand others. When we discuss certain topics with our family, friends, or elders, we give as well acquire knowledge. Through communication, we can recognize our growth and learn more to clear our doubts.

A knowledgeable person is the richest, and it cannot be stolen. However, power and money can be taken anytime. Knowledge holds the potential to solve life-related problems. It sharpens one’s problem solving and reasoning skills and aids in the smooth functioning of one’s brain. Through knowledge, we become smart enough to solve problems efficiently.

Thus, it is rightly said that knowledge helps people to bloom and keeps them away from corruption. It brings prosperity and happiness to one’s community or nation. Above all, knowledge opens doors to success.

Short Essay on Knowledge is Power in English 200 words

The short essay is suitable for children up to class 6, respectively. To help the children with their essay assignments and provide a framing guideline for comprehension.

The famous proverb ‘knowledge is power’ was stated by Francis Bacon. This proverb means that knowledge is indeed the most powerful. Knowledge is the difference that separates man from animals. Human beings are said to be the most powerful creatures because of the power of knowledge.

Knowledge plays a significant role in our lives and lets us know the effective ways to solve uneventful circumstances. Knowledge is great fame that helps us get easy access to success, name, fame, position, and power in life. Even though money and strength are important tools of power, nothing is more powerful than knowledge. However, our money and strength cannot buy or steal knowledge. Knowledge can only be achieved only through devotion, patience, and continuous practice.

Knowledge helps us improve our potential quality of life. Knowledge is the only valuable thing that cannot be stolen and remains in our lives forever. We need to distribute our knowledge with others for the betterment of the others. Knowledge gives one revolutionary idea that will help for the betterment of the community or nation on the whole.

So, we can say that knowledge is a pillar to success and happiness.

10 Lines on Knowledge is Power Essay in English

• The proverb ‘Knowledge is Power’ means that knowledge is the real power that stays with us throughout our life
• Knowledge bears great importance in our life
• Knowledge assists us to differentiate between right and wrong. It helps us overcome any situations and dangers around us
• It helps in the growth and development of one’s community or nation.
• Through the effective use of knowledge, one can achieve success life
• Knowledge impacts our personal development and influences our growth and relationship with work and life.
• With the help of knowledge, one can solve problems. It enhances our reasoning and problem-solving skills.
• One needs to remain open-minded to accept and learn knowledge. It helps in building a strong base.
• Communication plays a vital role in transferring knowledge. It helps us identify our mistakes and help us clarify our doubts.
• Knowledge shapes our personal and professional life and helps us achieve success.

FAQ’s on Knowledge is Power Essay

Question 1. What does the proverb ‘Knowledge is Power’ mean?

Answer: This proverb ‘Knowledge is Power’ means that knowledge is indeed the most powerful and valuable thing in our life. It is a state of awareness and understanding.

Question 2. Who quoted the proverb ‘ Knowledge is Power’?

Answer: Francis Bacon quoted the famous proverb

Question 3. Why is Knowledge important?

Answer: Knowledge is important as it helps in communication, personal growth, and development, the success of an individual and nation, and solves problems.

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Essay on Knowledge is Power

The phrase ‘knowledge is power’ is a very commonly used and popular phrase signifying the importance of knowledge in life and the power that it holds. I have given below three essays on knowledge is power, of varying lengths, covering all the aspects of the phrase.

Short and Long Essays on Knowledge is Power in English

I believe these essays of 100 words, 250 words and 600 words may help you elaborate the topic in an easiest way:

Knowledge is Power Essay 10 Lines (100 – 150 Words)

1) Knowledge is power when it is applied to the benefit of humanity.

2) Knowledge helps us to live life to the fullest.

3) We should use our knowledge in an appropriate manner.

4) The inappropriate use of knowledge is viewed as a crime.

5) Knowledge and intelligence make humans supreme creatures.

6) Progress without knowledge is impossible.

7) Knowledge helps to eliminate ignorance from our minds.

8) It is the only thing that increases if shared.

9) Knowledge enables us to avoid numerous difficult situations.

10) A physically disabled person can be powerful with knowledge.

Essay 1 (250 Words) – Meaning and Origin

Introduction

‘Knowledge is Power’ is a quotation that’s being used for ages. It conveys the significance of knowledge in life and teaches that knowledge is the actual power one can have.

‘Knowledge is power’ means that the knowledge that a person has acquired is the only true power that he has. Powerful in a way that it can shape your career, make you successful, and helps you overcome hurdles in your way. Nothing else could help you like the way your knowledge does. You make your future plans relying on your knowledge and steadily make progress. Knowledge helps you earn money, respect, and success in whatever field you are.

Moreover, come what may, you can’t lose your knowledge and it will always stay with you. Rest all the materialistic possessions come and go, but your knowledge stays with you.

The Latin translation of the phrase ‘knowledge is power’ is attributed to Sir Francis Bacon, an English philosopher and Statesman. The phrase “ipsa scientia est” appears in one of Bacon’s Latin works titled ‘Meditationes Sacrae (1597). The phrase translates to ‘knowledge itself is power’ in English.

However the exact phrase ‘scientia potentia est’ was written for the first time by Thomas Hobbes, who served as a secretary to Bacon. In his 1668 version of the Leviathan, Hobbes mentioned the phrase ‘scientia potentia est’ meaning ‘wisdom is power’ in English. It is an understandable fact that wisdom is acquired only through knowledge.

Knowledge is power is a very important phrase, telling us the significance of knowledge and that it is the true power a man can possess.

Essay 2 (400 Words) – How Knowledge gives Power

The quote ‘knowledge is power’ is widely used to convey the importance of knowledge in life and its true worth. Knowledge is the real power that any human can possess. It is much worth than physical power or any other possessions.

Value of Knowledge in Real Life

In real life, knowledge is worth more than anything else. It is a very basic skill that helps you walk through life and also make progress. Knowledge in real life is of two categories. One is the knowledge that you acquire through your senses as you grow up, other is the knowledge that is fed to you by your school, institution, etc.

The knowledge that you acquire by watching others around you, helps you in making everyday decisions based on wit and wisdom. It is the knowledge that tells you that bees can sting or you might get yourself injured if you take that jump. These are common worldly knowledge that you acquire as you grow up. Knowledge of this kind is very useful in real life.

Why Knowledge is Valuable than Money?

Knowledge is more valuable than money because it cannot be bought with money; rather money can be acquired using knowledge in the right way. Moreover, money is temporary and can be lost owing to several conditions. You can lose a great amount of your money in paying your medical bills or other miscellaneous expenses. But if you have the required knowledge and the skill sets, you can make use of them anytime to gain back money and materialistic possessions.

Knowledge-Power Relationship

Knowledge is indeed the real power a man can have. It is the power to control your life and make steady progress in the right direction. Without knowledge, you might have physical strength but that is only temporary and will be lost with time. On the other hand, knowledge is your true power and will help you walk through life. With knowledge, you can achieve whatever milestone you desire in your life. Without knowledge, you would be powerless and clueless about what to do with your life. The knowledge-power relationship is a direct one – as you gain more knowledge, you certainly become more powerful.

Knowledge is the true power that one can acquire in life. Compared to it all other powers are worthless and have lesser value. Knowledge is the real power that drives your life and makes you successful.

Essay 3 (500 – 600 Words) – Knowledge is Power, Learning is Superpower

‘Knowledge is Power’ is a quotation that establishes knowledge as the greatest virtue of a man. It states that the true power a man could have is the knowledge he possesses. Everything else is temporary and can be obtained using knowledge in the right way.

Importance of Knowledge in Life

Knowledge is very important in life; in fact, it is the basic foundation stone upon which life progresses. Knowledge is the most essential quality a human could have. So many things in life – money, love, relationships, career, etc. all depend on one’s quality of knowledge. These can be obtained through knowledge. The best thing about knowledge is that it is permanent – once you have acquired it, no power in the world can delete it. Rest everything i.e. money, wealth, relationships, can be lost with time, but knowledge grows every moment and can well be used to claim back the losses.

Knowledge decides your life’s worth and how successful you would be. Friends will respect you; people will love you when you have knowledge. Without knowledge, there would be no acknowledgment. Therefore, knowledge is very important in life.

How Knowledge Gives Power?

The relationship between knowledge and power is the strongest and truest relationship among all. Let me explain. What do you understand by power? Most people confuse power with physical prowess, but that’s only a misconception. The real power rather lies in your knowledge that you possessed. Knowledge makes you witty and in a way more powerful than someone physically stronger than you but less knowledgeable.

The power that knowledge gives you can be used to handle your life and achieve your life goals. Can anything else – money, friends, relatives, etc will help you achieve that milestone? Absolutely not! Only knowledge can get you what you want to do in life. This is the real power of knowledge.

Also, there are many real-life situations when only your knowledge can help you but not your physical strength. Your physical strength has its own limitations and can’t be applied to face real-life problems. There you need wisdom and wit that only knowledge can give you.

Knowledge is Power Learning is Superpower

Knowledge and learning are inseparable. When you gain knowledge, you learn too. Learning unleashes your true potential as a human. It acquaints you with your own abilities like memory, grasping power, etc., and constantly improves them.

It is the superpower than lies within you and needs to be improved regularly. Something that is only possible when you strive to learn. Only when you learn that you will possess knowledge. For example, if someone is known to have good knowledge of Physics, that means he/she is familiar with all the concepts of the subject and is always ready to face a test. But, how has he/she has possessed the knowledge? Only through regularly learning the new concepts of the subject! Isn’t it so? Only if you learn that you acquire knowledge. It is true for every field of knowledge. When you don’t learn or have only superficial knowledge of anything, that doesn’t really help.

Superficial or part knowledge isn’t good and rather it may be harmful at times. Part knowledge will impact your ability to see the final results. Only if you have learned enough to gain complete knowledge of something, that you will be knowledgeable in true sense. It is, therefore, true that ‘knowledge is power and learning is a superpower’.

Knowledge is the most valuable skill a human can acquire. Without knowledge, there is no wisdom and hence no growth or progress. Knowledge and learning are two essential prerequisites for prosperity and growth in life.

FAQs: Frequently Asked Questions

Ans . Knowledge means to know or understand something and it is attained by learning and experience.

Ans . The famous quote ‘Knowledge is power’ has been created by Sir Francis Bacon.

Ans . Knowledge is power because it makes us intelligent and helps us in making better decisions.

Ans . Yes, education helps us in attaining knowledge and skills.

Ans . The best method of improving our knowledge is reading.

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Short Essay on Power of Media [100, 200, 400 Words] With PDF

In today’s lesson, you will learn how you can write short essays on ‘Power of Media.’ There will be three different sets of short essays on the same topic covering different word limits. 

Short Essay on Power of Media in 100 Words

The term ‘’media’’ is derived from the word ‘’medium’’, which refers to the way through which information is transferred from one person to another. Media as the collection of several types of equipment enable the spreading of news and messages far and wide.

Several modes of communication like television, telephone, radio, internet, newspaper, advertisements, allow us to impart knowledge about important issues in our life. Media is extremely powerful in its speed of spreading accurate information. At any specific time, we observe how media personals work at several places and give us the news most required. Any scandal, rumour, facts,  everything is noted by the media and explained to us in due course. 

Short Essay on Power of Media in 200 Words

Media is the way of mass communication and entertainment. It is the process through which the masses of people are communicated and united under one single piece of information. Media or the several forms of information medium fall under the group of information technology.

All of them act together to deliver error-free news and information so that democracy is not disturbed by fake information. Media includes newspapers, magazines, telephone, television, internet, advertisement, emails, messages, cinemas, and others. Media acts through both audio and visual effects to create the maximum effect. 

The biggest power of media lies in its potential to persuade people to take necessary action. When we hear a newsreader dictating the news, then the listeners are swayed by the intonation of the reader. The person speaks in order to claim the truthfulness of the piece of information. In the exact same manner, a newspaper is organized to direct the opinions of the readers in a certain course.

Advertisements are the most powerful ways of media. We are highly influenced by it and inspired to take ready actions that are necessary. At present, the internet is the media that share all news with the greatest speed. 

Short Essay on Power of Media in 400 Words

The influence of media in our lives is of immense importance. It not only imparts us news and pieces of information but is the biggest source of entertainment. Cinema and music as parts of media give us pure joy and happiness, which also enables us to entertain ourselves. Yet the majority of the media is concentrated on gathering correct information and delivering it to the country.

Media includes newspapers, radio, T.V., telephone, internet, advertisements, placards and posters, and others. All these are our constant companions that allow us to form our opinions on different issues regarding life, society, and country. 

Media is powerful in its mode of persuasion. The biggest capacity of any media equipment is that it can easily manipulate the opinion of people and allow them to form a specific sort of perspective. The best weapon in this regard is the newspaper. The way a newspaper is arranged and the headlines are prepared, makes this persuasion quite easy. The visual and literal aspects of a newspaper are the sole power of media. The same goes for the advertisements as well.

The visual and written content of advertisements equally influences us to buy a product or service. For the newsreaders, their intonation is the power. The way they narrate a news story enables listeners to realize the significance of the news. The diction of a newsreader is important in this regard that helps to grab the attention of the people. Media is the potential way to unite the country under one principle and equal opinion. The issue lies with the efficiency of the journalist.

He risks every danger so as to collect authentic news for the benefit of mankind. The efficiency of the strength of media lies at every stratum of collecting the information and converting it into the news. Be it the print media or the audio method, all require this adept nature to strongly create a safe environment for news channels.

Media is both effective and effective. In this regard, the nature of the internet can be considered. Even in the most difficult circumstances internet becomes the den of evil and fake news. It creates unnecessary commotion among innocent folks and is equally responsible for disrupting the peace and stability of the nation.

The capacity to create public opinion is used for dangerous purposes and the power of media is wasted for the benefit of evil people. It is thus the knowledge of the people to not accept all news blindly. Media is effective in spreading the news within the shortest period. However, careful utilization of this power is expected.

Hopefully, after going through this session, you have a  holistic idea about writing short essays on the topic ‘Power of Media.’ I have written these essays in very simple words for a better understanding of all kinds of students. Kindly comment down your doubts, if you still have any. 

Keep browsing our website to read more such short essays on various important topics. And don’t forget to join us on Telegram to get all the latest updates. Thank you. 

MY PERSONAL COMPASS ESSAY: The Power of a Smile

• by Clifton B. Parker
• October 07, 2005

I believe in the power of a smile. A smile can be a subtle twitch of the jaw muscles or a large grin with both rows of teeth showing much like a third-grader on picture day.

Smiling is contagious. One of my goals every day is to smile, whether to myself or to someone else, even a complete stranger. I have a neighbor, an elderly Chinese woman, I have no clue as to what her name is, yet every day when I leave my house I see her on her morning walk and we smile to each other. I once was on the W-line bus on my way to campus and I smiled to a person sitting across from me. I later realized the person was in one of my classes and I introduced myself as the guy that smiled to her on the bus. This person and I have become the closest of friends. I recently had a friend pass away, Johnny Napier, and at his funeral his parents had put up his senior portrait from high school. This was no ordinary senior portrait, however; it was Johnny smiling with a set of joke teeth in his mouth. Johnny's parents knew it was the way Johnny would have wanted us to remember him because he had the power to bring a smile to the faces of his family and friends.

Smiling is what grounds me; it stabilizes and makes me feel more in control every day. It reminds me that, despite the fast pace of life, I must always remember to be happy and appreciate the little things in life. Smiling helps me overcome times of fear, anxiety and nervousness. Smiling helps me express to others my proudest moments. Smiling helps me convey love for others. Sometimes, when no words can be spoken, a smile is all that is needed to fill the air.

The smile is a universal sign of happiness. I believe it is the ultimate connection between all humankind. No matter how big or small, if a smile is genuine it creates an ineffable feeling in the atmosphere. I believe in the power of a smile to make the saddest of circumstances a little better. I believe in the power of a smile to enrich the happiest experiences in life. I believe in the power of a smile to transcend all barriers between individuals and to create special moments in life.

Media Resources

Clifton B. Parker, Dateline, (530) 752-1932, [email protected]

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Essay on Women Empowerment for Students and Children

500+ words essay on women empowerment.

Women empowerment refers to making women powerful to make them capable of deciding for themselves. Women have suffered a lot through the years at the hands of men. In earlier centuries, they were treated as almost non-existent. As if all the rights belonged to men even something as basic as voting. As the times evolved, women realized their power. There on began the revolution for women empowerment.

As women were not allowed to make decisions for them, women empowerment came in like a breath of fresh air. It made them aware of their rights and how they must make their own place in society rather than depending on a man. It recognized the fact that things cannot simply work in someone’s favor because of their gender. However, we still have a long way to go when we talk about the reasons why we need it.

Need for Women Empowerment

Almost every country, no matter how progressive has a history of ill-treating women. In other words, women from all over the world have been rebellious to reach the status they have today. While the western countries are still making progress, third world countries like India still lack behind in Women Empowerment.

Moreover, the education and freedom scenario is very regressive here. Women are not allowed to pursue higher education, they are married off early. The men are still dominating women in some regions like it’s the woman’s duty to work for him endlessly. They do not let them go out or have freedom of any kind.

In addition, domestic violence is a major problem in India. The men beat up their wife and abuse them as they think women are their property. More so, because women are afraid to speak up. Similarly, the women who do actually work get paid less than their male counterparts. It is downright unfair and sexist to pay someone less for the same work because of their gender. Thus, we see how women empowerment is the need of the hour. We need to empower these women to speak up for themselves and never be a victim of injustice .

How to Empower Women?

There are various ways in how one can empower women. The individuals and government must both come together to make it happen. Education for girls must be made compulsory so that women can become illiterate to make a life for themselves.

Women must be given equal opportunities in every field, irrespective of gender. Moreover, they must also be given equal pay. We can empower women by abolishing child marriage. Various programs must be held where they can be taught skills to fend for themselves in case they face financial crisis .

Most importantly, the shame of divorce and abuse must be thrown out of the window. Many women stay in abusive relationships because of the fear of society. Parents must teach their daughters it is okay to come home divorced rather than in a coffin.

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Essay on Perseverance

Students are often asked to write an essay on Perseverance in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

100 Words Essay on Perseverance

Understanding perseverance.

Perseverance means to continue doing something despite difficulties. It’s like a small boat in a stormy sea, not giving up but fighting against the waves.

The Importance of Perseverance

Perseverance in action.

Imagine you’re learning to ride a bike. You’ll fall many times, but if you persevere, you’ll eventually succeed. This is the power of perseverance.

In conclusion, perseverance is the key to success. It helps us to stay focused and achieve our dreams.

250 Words Essay on Perseverance

Introduction.

Perseverance is an invaluable human trait, often seen as the ability to steadfastly endure hardships to achieve goals. It serves as the backbone of success, enabling individuals to navigate through life’s challenges and uncertainties.

The Essence of Perseverance

Perseverance metamorphoses dreams into reality. It is not about the absence of failures or difficulties, but rather the resilience to continue despite them. It’s the audacity to keep trying, the tenacity to keep pushing, and the endurance to withstand the storm. It’s the grit that transforms ordinary individuals into extraordinary achievers.

Perseverance and Success

Perseverance in the face of failure.

Failure is an inevitable part of life. However, perseverance teaches us to view failure not as a dead-end but as a stepping stone to success. It encourages us to learn from our mistakes, adapt, and persist in the face of adversity.

500 Words Essay on Perseverance

Perseverance, often referred to as grit, is the consistent effort to achieve a long-term goal despite adversities, failures, and obstacles. It is the ability to remain steadfast in the face of difficulties, a quality that is integral to human development and success.

The Significance of Perseverance

Perseverance is a critical determinant of success. Whether in academics, sports, business, or personal life, perseverance plays a pivotal role. It is the driving force that keeps us going even when the odds are stacked against us. It is perseverance that turns the impossible into possible, the unattainable into attainable.

Perseverance and Failure

Thomas Edison, the inventor of the electric light bulb, failed a thousand times before he succeeded. When asked about his failures, Edison famously said, “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” This statement epitomizes the essence of perseverance.

Perseverance in the Modern World

Perseverance is a virtue that can be cultivated and nurtured. It requires a shift in mindset, viewing challenges as opportunities rather than obstacles. It requires the ability to stay focused on our goals, even when progress seems slow or non-existent.

In the end, perseverance is not just about achieving our goals. It is about who we become in the process. It builds character, fosters resilience, and teaches us the value of hard work and dedication. As the saying goes, “The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” It is perseverance that ensures we keep taking those steps, no matter how difficult the journey may be.

If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:

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Home — Essay Samples — Literature — Short Story — Jack’s Adventure in “Short Story of Grumpy”

Jack's Adventure in "Short Story of Grumpy"

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Published: Jun 13, 2024

Words: 671 | Page: 1 | 4 min read

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Election latest: Audience shouts 'shame' as PM endures tough end to latest TV showdown

Rishi Sunak has said he's "incredibly angry" about allegations Conservative candidates placed bets on the date of the general election. The prime minister and other party leaders faced voters on a special edition of the BBC's Question Time.

Thursday 20 June 2024 23:07, UK

• General Election 2024

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Election date betting scandal

• PM 'incredibly angry' over election betting claims
• Tory candidate facing probe 'considering legal action'
• 'More names' to come out | Chart shows huge surge in bets
• Catch-up: What we know so far about betting allegations
• Live reporting by Samuel Osborne

Party leaders face voter questions

• Sunak endures shouts of 'shame'
• Starmer 'worried' about rise of far right in Europe
• Lib Dem leader 'not proud' of everything coalition did
• SNP's Swinney vows to keep on pursuing independence

Election essentials

• Manifesto pledges: Alliance Party | Conservatives | Greens | Labour | Lib Dems | Plaid Cymru | Reform | SNP | Sinn Fein | Workers Party
• Trackers:  Who's leading polls? | Is PM keeping promises?
• Campaign Heritage:  Memorable moments from elections gone by
• Follow Sky's politics podcasts:  Electoral Dysfunction | Politics At Jack And Sam's
• Read more:  Who is standing down? | Key seats to watch | What counts as voter ID? | Check if your constituency is changing | Guide to election lingo | Sky's election night plans

It's been a busy evening in the Politics Hub.

We've had the prime minister enduring shouts of "shame" during a special edition of the BBC's Question Time, which also saw Sir Keir Starmer, John Swinney and Sir Ed Davey face audience questions.

Here are the main things you need to know this evening:

• Rishi Sunak  faced shouts of "shame" when he attacked the European Convention on Human Rights as a "foreign court";
• The prime minister said he was "incredibly angry" about allegations of betting on the date of the election ;
• Sir Keir Starmer  said he was "genuinely worried" about right-wing tendencies across Europe;
• Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey confessed he was "not proud" of some of the things the party did during its time in coalition with the Conservatives;
• And the SNP's John Swinney admitted he may have contributed to a politics of polarisation but said he will keep pursuing independence.
• Before all of that, the Greens co-leader Adrian Ramsay  told Sophy Ridge  he rejected comparisons with Liz Truss for proposing to borrow COVID levels of money to fund his party's manifesto;
• But back to the betting scandal engulfing the Conservative party...
• Laura Saunders, the Tory candidate  facing a probe over allegedly betting on the timing of the election, has said she "will be cooperating with the Gambling Commission" investigation but is "considering legal action";
• Ms Saunders is married to  Tony Lee  - the Conservative director of campaigns - with reports that he as well faces a probe after going on leave from CCHQ;
• The Gambling Commission has said it's considering launching an investigation into a " small number of people" ;
• Sky News understands more names are set to emerge  - this graph shows a huge surge in bets placed on the day before Mr Sunak made his announcement:
• Elsewhere, Northern Ireland's Alliance Party has published its general election manifesto , featuring reform of Stormont's devolved structures as a key objective;
• And the Scottish Greens have launched their manifesto too , outlining plans for a wealth tax on the richest people in the UK.

Thank you for following our political coverage throughout the day.

Please see our 10pm bulletin for the key points from an evening of tough questions for the leaders of the four major parties in the UK.

Join us again tomorrow from 7am for the latest updates.

By Megan Harwood-Baynes , digital investigations reporter

A Conservative attack ad featuring Sadiq Khan has been pulled from the party's platforms after just one day.

The advert, which ran across the Meta sites Facebook and Instagram, said: "Sadiq Khan wants to divide us", while warning voters "don't let Sadiq Khan win again".

It encouraged voters to vote for them and not Reform. It ran for one day on 19 June.

Mr Khan ran for mayor of London back in May, clinching a historic third term by a comfortable 276,000 votes over Tory rival Susan Hall. He is not running for election again on 4 July.

Sky News reached out to the Conservatives to ask why they were running an attack ad against Mr Khan - and why it had been taken down - they did not respond with a comment.

It comes as an exclusive poll for Sky News and YouGov shows the Conservative party is on track for a near wipeout, with Labour predicted to take 425 seats - including almost all in London. Reform are projected to return five MPs.

The online advert was viewed by up to 35,000 accounts, and cost the party up to £499 to run. The largest audience for it was over 45s.

Rishi Sunak suddenly becomes animated when he's asked why he called the election for 4 July (see previous post). 

He defends his campaign against Liz Truss and claims Labour's plans would be as damaging as hers.

We're getting some raw politics now from the PM with the inevitable tax attack on Labour. Apart from his tough words on Tory betting, it's the most punchy he's been in his half hour.

He's also punchy with a young questioner who says leaving the European Convention on Human Rights would be inhumane.

But he's unconvincing when Fiona Bruce asks why he calls the European court a "foreign court" when it was set up by countries including Britain and has a British judge.

And it gets worse. The audience shouts "shame!" when he attacks the "foreign court" again. 

That sort of talk may play well with Tory activists and voters flirting with Reform UK, but it went down very badly here.

It was a bad ending for the PM at the end of his half-hour and the two-hour election programme.

The prime minster says he called the election early because he felt he had delivered economic stability to the country.

Pressed on whether he is glad he called the election when he did, Mr Sunak says "it was the right moment" and he is glad.

In an attack on his predecessor, he claims what Sir Keir Starmer is promising "is the same fantasy that Liz Truss did".

After his strong answer on the betting scandal, surprisingly Rishi Sunak struggles to answer Fiona Bruce's persistent questions on his national service proposals. 

You'd think he'd have better prepared answers on a flagship election policy.

He’s also very dismissive of an audience member who says Brexit has been a disaster for young people. 

Sounding irritated, he says those arguments were debated in 2016, and he's not going to over them again.

"I come from an NHS family," Mr Sunak then tells a questioner about NHS waiting lists. 

Really? Never knew that. (At least we didn’t get "my father was a toolmaker" from Sir Keir this time.)

Like Sir Keir, Mr Sunak is facing detailed questions about issues like the NHS. More detail! 

And surprisingly he hasn't attacked Labour on tax – yet!

He'll be pleased, though, that he was asked early on about the Tory betting scandal. He had a strong answer on that that will make headlines. 

Not sure much else from Mr Sunak will, so far.

Mr Sunak has avoided engaging with criticism of the Tory's national service policy, suggesting it would be "politicising the armed forces during an election campaign".

Asked about comments from Lord West of Spithead, a former chief of the naval staff and Labour peer who reportedly called the policy "bonkers", the prime minister says: "Well it wouldn't be appropriate to start politicising the armed forces during an election campaign."

Mr Sunak insisted the military route was optional, despite the proposed national service scheme being compulsory.

But when asked what sanctions people could face for not taking part, Mr Sunak gave "access to finance" among other examples.

Asked if this meant taking away people's bank cards, he laughs and says: "There's lot of different models around Europe."

Mr Sunak is asked why Brexit has been mostly absent from the Conservatives' campaign so far.

"We had all these debates several years ago, I'm not going to relitigate them," the prime minister says.

"Our job now is to get on and make sure we realise all the benefits of that."

He gives the example of free ports as a benefit of Brexit and says it is how "we are attracting the investment and jobs".

He adds: "The choice of this election is about the future. We're not going to go back to Brexit. This is about the future…

"And actually, outside of the EU, we're able to do things that will drive more growth, create more jobs and allow me to cut more taxes."

The first two questions to Rishi Sunak are tough.

The first was about integrity in politics after the Tories' five prime ministers since 2010, the second about the betting scandal.

On betting, he says he's "incredibly angry" and if anyone has broken the law they should face the full force of the law. 

And he adds: "I will ensure they will be booted out of the Conservative Party." 

Tough talk. Let's see if it happens.

Rishi Sunak is challenged on the fact two Conservative Party candidates and the Conservatives' director of campaigning are being investigated by the Gambling Commission over allegations of betting on the timing of the election.

An audience member asks if this is "the absolute epitome of the lack of ethics that we have had to tolerate from the Conservative party for years and years"?

The prime minister says: "I was incredibly angry to learn of these allegations. It is a really serious matter."

He continues: "I want to be crystal clear that if anyone has broken the rules, they should face the full force of the law."

Quizzed over why the candidates have not been suspended while the investigations take place, Mr Sunak says: "All I can say is, they are serious investigations. It's right they are done thoroughly, confidentially."

He says if anyone has broken the rules, he will "make sure they are booted out of the Conservative Party".

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