Power Dynamics Quotes

“Was it my idea to have him hurt me, or did he just let me think it was?”
― Eliza Clark, Boy Parts

“Do you like it rough? I think so. I think I must. Men are rough, aren't they? Have I always had a taste for rough stuff, or did I acquire that? In the back of Lesley's car, on the floor of a friend's house, half-conscious with my underwear around my ankles? Was it my idea to have him hurt me, or did he just let me think it was?”
― Eliza Clark, Boy Parts

“BDSM, in its nature, is a very intimate and intelligent therapy, if done properly.”
― Silver Vixxxen, Miss. A and Johnny's European Escapade LONDON: Femme Fatale Rescue Diaries

“We needed something to nurture, and they needed nurturing. Constant attention made you need it even more. The band never learned to be alone and neither did we. But if they were starved for attention and we were, too, didn't we make a perfect pair?”
― Sarah Priscus, Groupies

“Questions about the validity of violence should have been directed to those institutions that held and continue to hold a monopoly on violence: the police, the prisons, the military.”
― Angela Y. Davis, Freedom is a Constant Struggle: Ferguson, Palestine and the Foundations of a Movement

“There should be a better way to offer something, anything, to people who need it. And yet no transaction is uncomplicated, no relationship is without a power dynamic, and “help” isn’t always what we think it is.”
― Ada Limon

“rotted down from manhood by their hopeless misery on the isle; wonted to cringe in all things to their lord, himself the worst of slaves; these wretches were now become wholly corrupted to his hands. He used them as creatures of an interior race; in short, he gaffles his four animals, and makes murderers of them; out of cowards fitly manufacturing bravoes.”
― Herman Melville , The Encantadas and Other Stories

“Their most destructive untruth is that it is very easy for any American to make money. They will not acknowledge how in fact hard money is to come by, and, therefore, those who have no money blame and blame and blame themselves. This inward blame has been a treasure for the rich and powerful.”
― Kurt Vonnegut Jr., Slaughterhouse-Five

“Somewhere, I heard the phrase, ‘When money talks, no one checks the grammar.’ That’s what all this was about—money, money, and more money.

For money, girls sacrificed their own lives; for money, they risked sexually transmitted diseases; for money, they were willing to step beyond their convictions. For money, the agency treated us like trash thrown on the street; for money, they were willing to risk our health, safety, and everything else, and for money, they had a few select girls they treated decently.

It was never about people, morals, or decency.”
― Anna Rajmon, ELIS: Irish call girl

“Do I like the obedience? Or the thrill of his approval? My brain is too hazy to decide if this is submission, or survival.
Can’t it be both?”
― Isabel van Loen, Lowered Lashes

“Equality of condition and equality of opportunity must provide the foundation of an interdependent nation with building blocks found in dignity and respect given to every American, regardless of socioeconomic status.”
― Julie Banks Lewis, Critical Masses: Who Wins, Who Loses, Who Decides

“But I think mostly I just wanted her to … make me real, the way you’re real when the beautiful people look at you, and talk to you, and let you fuck them.”
― Gretchen Felker-Martin, Manhunt

“A toxic system represents a malevolent force that leads to the death of the invisible.”
― William Castano-Bedoya, We the Other People: The Beggars of the Mercury Lights

“You do not eat these carnivorous animals, you imitate them; you hunger only for the innocent and gentle beast who do no harm to anyone, who are attached to you, who serve you,and that you devour as a reward for their servicers.”
― Jacques Derrida, The Beast and the Sovereign, Volume I

“So many things that never should have belonged to him had become his.”
― Genevieve Wheeler, Adelaide

“Let me break down a paradox that women see far too often-men who admire strong, free-spirited women but ultimately want to cage them. Why? Because for those men power is only fun when it's a challenge. But here's the truth: strong women were never meant to be tamed. That's a fact. Another one for you is that the traditional man wants a woman to be submissive yet he never falls in love with submissive women.”
― Trevor Noah

“You're scared of me right now," Borne said. "But all I did is what you both do.”
― Jeff VanderMeer, Borne

“But Julian's long fingers caught her chin again, redirecting her attention.
"Watch," he commanded, his steel-blue eyes holding ancient hunger as his other hand moved to his belt with deliberate slowness.”
― Taylor Jade Beckett, Nyx Sanctum: THE CLUB

“Taxi Driver”
There’s a strange kind of liberation in being just a taxi driver— the freedom tucked inside that word: just.

Because you’re just a driver, no one truly sees you. Yet you see it all— the absurdities, the shallows, the beauty, sorrow, joy, heartbreak—passengers unknowingly exposed.

They grant you a diluted respect, sometimes half-fake, sometimes not at all— because you’re just a taxi driver.

But they leave you be. No one's scheming to steal your seat. They want you in that seat. They ride with you because, for now, it’s a seat they don’t desire.

Still, like all fleeting liberations, this too carries disappointment— a bittersweet sting.

You realize the only reason they leave you alone is because you've escaped into a seat they never wanted in the first place. And that hurts.”
― Louis Yako, سرطان في كل مكان [Cancer Everywhere]

“You could argue that the killers of JFK learned from Shakespeare's Julius Caesar not to be such overt assassins. The symbolism of the killing was still there but the modus operandi hid the perpetrators. The ultimate coup d'états school their murderous heirs: shed the target's blueprint blood via a covert coup de grâce.”
― Stewart Stafford

“The transition from being hurt to hurting was natural. Even though I didn’t really know why he’d started crying – it felt like something I did. It felt like being a great big black widow and realizing that all the male spiders were tiny and weak and covered in soft vulnerable bits, whereas I had this hard, shiny thorax and great big teeth.”
― Eliza Clark

“It feels like I’m living in two worlds at once. One where I steam milk and refill napkin dispensers. And one where David Montclair says things like "I'll take care of the rest.”
― Isabel van Loen, Lowered Lashes

“Good,” he murmurs, his eyes satisfied and certain. “Then I’ll take care of the rest.”
― Isabel van Loen, Lowered Lashes

“That’s where you’ll end up when you try to take control,” he murmurs, looking down at me.”
― Isabel van Loen

“His hand leaves the back of the seat. He places it, instead, flat on my thigh. He looks at me, not at the men.
“That’s enough.”
I feel my cheeks flush. I set my glass down.
Then he turns to the table—composed, gracious.
“Gentlemen, don’t encourage her,” he says, his tone lighter.”
― Isabel van Loen, Lowered Lashes

“Wordlessly, he continues spanking, finding a rhythm.
I gasp, breathing in muffled sobs as prickling sensation turns to searing pain.
“I won’t, sir,” I whimper, defeated.
I give a ragged cry as he smacks me one last time.
“You’re sure?” he asks, steadying his hand on my stinging skin. “Because I can do this all night.”
“Yes, sir,” I whisper, voice shaking.
At that, his touch softens. He presses his hand against my warm skin, rubbing slow, grounding circles along the curve of my hip.
He leans over me, pressing a kiss to the nape of my neck.
“Good girl, Mia,” he murmurs, his voice low and pleased. He turns me gently, pulling me into his lap.
The weight of his arm over me steadies my breath again. I rest my head on his chest, melting into the closeness I’ve been craving.”
― Isabel van Loen, Lowered Lashes

“Great. How’s Mr. Capital Gains?”
“Good,” I say. “Really good.”
“How’s the sex?”
I smile. “Well.. pretty amazing. He’s kind of, uh…”
I pause.
“What?” she says.
“He likes it… a little rough, I guess.”
“Rough how?” Lidia says, unphased.
“Well,” I say slowly, “he spanked me last night.”
“My god,” she exhales. “I love it. Was it a rush? I’ve heard it’s a rush.”
I laugh. Lidia’s probably the only person in the world I could tell that to.
“Yeah, I think so,” I say. “It was kind of hot.”
Lidia laughs. “It’s only hot because he’s a millionaire.”
― Isabel van Loen, Lowered Lashes

“I glance over at David. He rests his hand lightly at the small of my back, guiding me across the floor. We step down a gilded hallway, the pale-blue walls trimmed with ornate gold. The lighting, soft and warm, seems to blur the edges of everything it touches.”
― Isabel van Loen, Lowered Lashes

“I glance up at him. The dim evening light makes his jaw look even more chiseled.
“You behaved impeccably tonight,” he says.
I smile, surprised. “Thank you.”
His hand catches mine, his thumb brushing over my knuckles before he returns it to the wheel.
The townhouse is quiet when we step inside, the soft click of the door behind us marking the end of the evening’s formality.
I slip out of my heels and set them gently by the door. David hangs up his suit jacket, his eyes on me.
He extends a hand, then leads me into the living room, flicking on one lamp as we walk in.”
― Isabel van Loen, Lowered Lashes

“I think about being… dominated,” I admit, my eyes squeezed shut. “And maybe… being spanked. Disciplined.”
David moans calmly. “I think most women do. Tell me more,” he coaxes.”
― Isabel van Loen, Lowered Lashes