You only have power over people so long as you don't take

Power is often misunderstood as an unshakable hold over others, but Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, who endured the horrors of Soviet labor camps, revealed a deeper truth: “You only have power over people so long as you don't take everything away from them. But when you've robbed a man of everything, he's no longer in your power—he's free again.” These words speak of a paradox. Power thrives on fear and control, yet when a person has lost all, even their fear, they can no longer be bound. In their utter despair, they find a strange and terrible freedom.

This truth was forged in the fires of oppression. Solzhenitsyn lived through the Gulag, where men and women were stripped of possessions, dignity, and even their identities. He saw that tyrants depend on leaving their victims with just enough hope to keep them obedient. Once hope and fear are gone, nothing remains for the oppressor to manipulate. A man who has nothing left cannot be threatened, for there is no punishment greater than what he has already endured.

History bears witness to this. In the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising during World War II, Jewish prisoners, knowing death awaited them either way, rose against their Nazi captors. They had been robbed of homes, families, and futures, yet this very emptiness made them fearless. Though the revolt was crushed, it showed the world that people stripped of everything could reclaim their power through defiance. The oppressors, who believed they held absolute control, found themselves powerless against those who had nothing left to lose.

This teaching is not only about nations and tyrants but also about the struggles within our own lives. Many rulers, leaders, and even those in relationships keep others under control by maintaining small illusions—the promise of safety, the threat of punishment. But when these illusions are shattered, and a soul sees the truth, it becomes ungovernable. That is why the most dangerous person to a tyrant is not the one who fears them, but the one who has transcended fear entirely.

For those who seek justice, Solzhenitsyn’s words are both a warning and a hope. They warn oppressors that their power is fragile, built on sand. And they give hope to the downtrodden, reminding them that even in their darkest hour, freedom can still be found—not in the external world, but within the unconquerable spirit.

Let this wisdom be passed to future generations: true power is never external. It lies in the soul’s resilience. When everything is taken away, when chains and threats no longer matter, a person stands beyond the reach of kings and empires. In that moment, they are no longer a victim but a force of destiny, and their very existence becomes a rebellion against tyranny.