Conflict Management Quotes

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be?

You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn't serve the world. There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We are born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.

It's not just in some of us, it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."

Marianne Williamson (I have also seen this quote attributed to Nelson Mandela)

The ability to influence decisions

"Power is the ability to influence the decisions of others." 

Roger Fisher

The minute you don't want power

“The most exquisite paradox… as soon as you give it all up, you can have it all. As long as you want power, you can't have it. The minute you don't want power, you'll have more than you ever dreamed possible.”
Ram Dass

What the enemy thinks you have

“Power is not only what you have but what the enemy thinks you have.”
Saul Alinsky

The capacity to translate intention into reality

"Power is the capacity to translate intention into reality and sustain it."
Warren Bennis

Conflict between the powerful and the powerless

“Washing one’s hands of the conflict between the powerful and the powerless means to side with the powerful, not to be neutral.”
Paulo Freire

Level Playing Fields

“Those who think it’s level playing field usually have box seats.”

Anon

To test a man’s character

“Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.”
Abraham Lincoln

Real power and energy

“In organizations, real power and energy is generated through relationships. The patterns of relationships and the capacities to form them are more important than tasks, functions, roles, and
positions.”
Margaret Wheatley

The measure of a man

“The measure of a man is what he does with power.”
Pittachus