“Influence is like a savings account. The less you use it, the more you’ve got”
“Influence is like a savings account. The less you use it, the more you’ve got” is something that American politician, diplomat, and activist Andrew Young has said in several different forms. “Moral power is probably best when it’s not used. The less you use it, the more you have,” Young said in 1979. “Influence is like money in the bank. The less you use if, the better off you are,” Young said in 1980.
“Influence is like a savings account. The less you use it, the more you’ve got,” Young was quoted as saying in 1981.
Wikipedia: Andrew Young
Andrew Jackson Young, Jr. (born March 12, 1932) is an American politician, diplomat, and activist. Beginning his career as a pastor, Young was an early leader in the Civil Rights Movement, serving as executive director of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) and a close confidant to Martin Luther King Jr. Young later became active in politics, serving first as a U.S. Congressman from Georgia, then United States Ambassador to the United Nations, and finally Mayor of Atlanta. Since leaving political office, Young has founded or served in a large number of organizations working on issues of public policy and political lobbying.
13 September 1979, Atlanta (GA) Constitution, “Young Says He’s Certain Carter Will Not Change Policy In Africa” (Chicago Sun-Times), pg, 18A, cols. 2-3:
“The truth of it is, moral power is probably best when it’s not used. The less you use it, the more you have.”
14 August 1980, Newsday (Long Island, NY), “For Andy Young, a Diminished Role” by Les Payne, pg. 29, col. 3:
Other black leaders criticized the way Young used what influence he once had in the White House, seldom making demands of Carter or holding him accountable. “Influence is like money in the bank,” Young said. “The less you use if, the better off you are.”
19 October 1981, Muncie (IN) Evening Press, “Quotables,” pg. 4, col. 6:
Influence is like a savings account. The less you use it, the more you’ve got.—Andrew Young.
Google Books
A Treasury of Days:
365 Thoughts on the Art of Living
BY Dee Danner Barwick
Norwalk, CT: C.R. Gibson
1983
Pg. 85:
Influence is like a savings account. The less you use it, the more you’ve got.
ANDREW YOUNG
4 November 1986, Newsday (Long Island, NY), “A Few Words From the Wise On Politicians” compiled by Harold Helfer, pg. 58, col. 3:
Influence is like a savings account. The less you use it, the more you’ve got.
—Andrew Young
Google Books
An Easy Burden:
The civil rights movement and the transformation of America
By Andrew Young
New York, NY: HarperCollins
1996
Pg. 398:
“By yelling ‘Black Power’ all we’re doing is advertising the fact we don’t have any. Power is like money in the bank, the less you use it the more you have.”
Google Books
Mom Candy:
1,000 Quotes of Inspiration for Mothers
By Jena Pincott
New York, NY: Random House Reference
2016
Pg. 151:
Influence is like a savings account. The less you use it, the more you’ve got. —Andrew Young, politician and pastor