Quote by Percy Bysshe Shelley, Queen Mab

Power, like a desolating pestilence, Pollutes what'er it touches; and obedience,Bane of all genius, virtue, freedom, truth,Makes slaves of men, and, of the human frame,A mechanized automaton.

Power, like a desolating pestilence, Pollutes what'er it tou

Summary

This quote expresses the harmful effects of power and blind obedience. It argues that power, akin to a destructive epidemic, corrupts everything it comes into contact with. Likewise, obedience is portrayed as an enemy of creativity, virtue, freedom, and truth, reducing individuals to mere slaves and turning the human existence into an automated machine devoid of genuine thought and autonomy. Overall, the quote vigorously condemns the negative consequences of power and blind submission to authority.

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By Percy Bysshe Shelley, Queen Mab

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