Who said “To know the pains of power, we must go to those who have it; to know its pleasures, we…”?

Verified

Charles Caleb Colton. A published source records them saying or writing it.

SourceVolume 1, Vol. I; CCCCXXVII (7th Edition, published by Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, in 1821)

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“To know the pains of power, we must go to those who have it; to know its pleasures, we must go to those who are seeking it. The pains of power are real; its pleasures imaginary.”
— Charles Caleb Colton
VerifiedVolume 1, Vol. I; CCCCXXVII (7th Edition, published by Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, in 1821) · evidencePower

Cite this quote

For academic work, cite the original where you can: Volume 1, Vol. I; CCCCXXVII (7th Edition, published by Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, in 1821).

APA

Colton, C. C. (n.d.). To know the pains of power, we must go to those who have it; to know its pleasures, we must go to those who are seeking it. The pains of power are real; its pleasures imaginary. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/22545-to-know-the-pains-of-power-we-must/

MLA

Colton, Charles Caleb. “To know the pains of power, we must go to those who have it; to know its pleasures, we must go to those who are seeking it. The pains of power are real; its pleasures imaginary.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/22545-to-know-the-pains-of-power-we-must/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Colton, Charles Caleb. “To know the pains of power, we must go to those who have it; to know its pleasures, we must go to those who are seeking it. The pains of power are real; its pleasures imaginary.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/22545-to-know-the-pains-of-power-we-must/.

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