Isak Dinesen Quotes

The native must realize that colonialism never gives anything away for nothing.

I always remember I'm the monkey and he's the organ-grinder.

The American way is to seduce a man by bribery and make a prostitute of him. Or else to ignore him, starve him into submission and make a hack out of him.

She make me beg for it until she give it up

The man can only ride you when your back is bent.

You can maintain power over people, as long as you give them something. Rob a man of everything, and that man will no longer be in your power.

Power is fortified not just by what it destroys, but also by what it creates. Not just by what it takes, but also by what it gives. And powerlessness reaffirmed not just by the helplessness of those who have lost, but also by the gratitude of those who have (or think they have) gained.

I own your pleasure," I whispered into his mouth. "I'll take it if you won't give it to me.

Sex, drugs, money, power etc. Just because you get to choose your master doesn't mean you aren't a slave.

I would rather you love me, but if not love, fear will do.

Civilization, let me tell you what it is. First the soldier, then the merchant, then the priest, then the lawyer. The merchant hires the soldier and priest to conquer the country for him. First the soldier, he is a murderer; then the priest, he is a liar; then the merchant, he is a thief; and they all bring in the lawyer to make their laws and defend their deeds, and there you have your civilization!

Men will let you abuse them if only you will make them laugh.

You keep folks so intimidated. You can give them money, access, but they're still scared. And as long as you're scared, you're on the plantation.

Who owns a man, Durnik?” the blond young man asked sadly. “The one who rules him, or the one who pays him?

The things they don't tell you in schools these days, geez. Have a look at your owners. The politicians are put there to give you the idea you have freedom of choice. You don't. You have no choice; you have owners. They own you. They own everything.

To need to dominate others is to need others. The commander is dependent.

Harassment is about power---the undue exercise of power by a superior over a subordinate.

What is it that would make a creature as fierce, majestic and powerful as a lion is, subject itself to the intimidation of a man a whip and a chair? The lion has been taught to forget what it is.

I was sitting in the looping studio late one night, and I had this epiphany that they weren't paying me for my acting, for God's sake, but to own me. And from then on, it became clear and an awful lot easier to deal with.

Karl Marx, a visionary, figured out that you can control a slave much better by convincing him he is an employee.

As long as imperialism exists it will, by definition, exert its domination over other countries. Today that domination is called neocolonialism.

If you get deep enough, you get trapped. Stop calling yourself a user. You are being used.

A dominant wolf's desire to protect was a strong instinct- Samuel was very dominant. Give him an inch, and he's take over the world- my life, if I let him. Mercy

Oh you weak, beautiful people who give up with such grace. What you need is someone to take hold of you

The weak may be joked out of anything but their weakness.