Power is a fundamental force that drives human progress and achievement. Riddles about power test our understanding of how power operates in society, relationships, and within ourselves. Solving these riddles requires wit, wisdom and an examination of what power truly means.
Power Riddles – The Questions
Society
1. I allow a few to control the many. I am seen but cannot be touched. What am I?
2. I make the weak feel strong and distort the lives of others. With me, you can change the course of history. What am I?
3. I am given to some and taken from others. Some fight to retain me while others gain me without effort. What am I?
4. I am always desired but not always used wisely. You may find me in tyrants or statesmen alike. What am I?
5. I am the child of ambition and greed. I forge both order and chaos. Tyrants cling to me desperately. What am I?
6. I enforce the rules but often perpetuate injustice. You may find me on the belt of a king or in the hand of an oppressor. What am I?
7. I allow many to benefit from the work of a few. I can liberate but I can also corrupt. What am I?
8. I am a form of control handed from one ruler to the next. I provide order but stifle progress. What am I?
9. I spread quickly and can topple kings. I liberate the oppressed but may bring chaos if unchecked. What am I?
10. I allow the many to select their leaders. My practices may seem disorderly but I ultimately provide stability. What am I?
Relationships
11. I can make the meek feel mighty but used unwisely I become a poison. You may find me in a charismatic leader. What am I?
12. I am easily given but not so easily taken away. I am potent when used sparingly but dangerous in excess. What am I?
13. I am a coin always spent, never held. I elicit smiles when exchanged but frowns when exploited. What am I?
14. I am freely given by the gracious and grasped desperately by the needy. You may find me in a benevolent king or humble beggar alike. What am I?
15. I expand when generously shared. The more one gives of me, the more one gains in return. What am I?
16. I am seen where respect is mutual and trust has been earned. You cannot demand me but you can cultivate me. What am I?
17. I am subtle but my presence is felt. I forge bonds that hold strong in crisis. What am I?
18. I am hard-won but easily lost. I am forged by deeds, not words. What am I?
19. I am freely given but cannot be bought. I represent the ties that bind families, allies and nations. What am I?
20. I thrive where ambition is tempered by wisdom. My absence invites chaos while my presence brings order. What am I?
Self
21. I expand with confidence but recede with doubt. I am earned through effort yet lost through neglect. What am I?
22. I am a fortress for the weak but a prison for the tyrannical. What am I?
23. I am the parent of justice and mercy. The wise know my limits while fools know no bounds. What am I?
24. I seduce the ambitious and fuel visions of greatness, yet in excess I corrupt absolutely. What am I?
25. I allow a man to reshape his world but may destroy him if not controlled. What am I?
26. I instill confidence in the shaken and caution in the cocky. Too much, and I become arrogance. Too little, and I breed insecurity. What is the key that unlocks my proper measure?
27. I am the juice that fuels achievement but stagnates without periodic renewal. What am I?
28. I am the lifeline for the hopeful but a noose for the tyrant. What am I?
29. I germinate, nurture, and destroy with patience and care. Applied unwisely I poison; applied judiciously I bring life. What am I?
30. I expand with pride but recede with ego. What am I?
Power Riddles – The Answers
Society
1. I allow a few to control the many. I am seen but cannot be touched. What am I? Authority
2. I make the weak feel strong and distort the lives of others. With me, you can change the course of history. What am I? Power
3. I am given to some and taken from others. Some fight to retain me while others gain me without effort. What am I? Privilege
4. I am always desired but not always used wisely. You may find me in tyrants or statesmen alike. What am I? Power
5. I am the child of ambition and greed. I forge both order and chaos. Tyrants cling to me desperately. What am I? Control
6. I enforce the rules but often perpetuate injustice. You may find me on the belt of a king or in the hand of an oppressor. What am I? Authority
7. I allow many to benefit from the work of a few. I can liberate but I can also corrupt. What am I? Freedom
8. I am a form of control handed from one ruler to the next. I provide order but stifle progress. What am I? Tradition
9. I spread quickly and can topple kings. I liberate the oppressed but may bring chaos if unchecked. What am I? Revolution
10. I allow the many to select their leaders. My practices may seem disorderly but I ultimately provide stability. What am I? Democracy
Relationships
11. I can make the meek feel mighty but used unwisely I become a poison. You may find me in a charismatic leader. What am I? Influence
12. I am easily given but not so easily taken away. I am potent when used sparingly but dangerous in excess. What am I? Trust
13. I am a coin always spent, never held. I elicit smiles when exchanged but frowns when exploited. What am I? Favor
14. I am freely given by the gracious and grasped desperately by the needy. You may find me in a benevolent king or humble beggar alike. What am I? Mercy
15. I expand when generously shared. The more one gives of me, the more one gains in return. What am I? Respect
16. I am seen where respect is mutual and trust has been earned. You cannot demand me but you can cultivate me. What am I? Loyalty
17. I am subtle but my presence is felt. I forge bonds that hold strong in crisis. What am I? Camaraderie
18. I am hard-won but easily lost. I am forged by deeds, not words. What am I? Honor
19. I am freely given but cannot be bought. I represent the ties that bind families, allies and nations. What am I? Loyalty
20. I thrive where ambition is tempered by wisdom. My absence invites chaos while my presence brings order. What am I? Balance of power
Self
21. I expand with confidence but recede with doubt. I am earned through effort yet lost through neglect. What am I? Self-esteem
22. I am a fortress for the weak but a prison for the tyrannical. What am I? Discipline
23. I am the parent of justice and mercy. The wise know my limits while fools know no bounds. What am I? Wisdom
24. I seduce the ambitious and fuel visions of greatness, yet in excess I corrupt absolutely. What am I? Ambition
25. I allow a man to reshape his world but may destroy him if not controlled. What am I? Passion
26. I instill confidence in the shaken and caution in the cocky. Too much, and I become arrogance. Too little, and I breed insecurity. What is the key that unlocks my proper measure? Self-knowledge
27. I am the juice that fuels achievement but stagnates without periodic renewal. What am I? Motivation
28. I am the lifeline for the hopeful but a noose for the tyrant. What am I? Purpose
29. I germinate, nurture, and destroy with patience and care. Applied unwisely I poison; applied judiciously I bring life. What am I? Influence
30. I expand with pride but recede with ego. What am I? Confidence
Conclusion
Power takes many forms and has many facets. It enables both great good and terrible evil. These riddles about power demonstrate that how we gain, use and relate to power defines our character and shapes society. Power corrupts when wielded without wisdom and virtue. Yet power ennobles when grounded in justice and compassion. May we all reflect carefully on how to properly harness the power we hold over others, over society and within ourselves.
