Power is nothing unless you can turn it into influence.

The line draws a distinction between possessing formal authority (“power”) and achieving real-world outcomes (“influence”). It suggests that titles, resources, or coercive capacity matter only insofar as they can be translated into persuasion, coalition-building, credibility, and the ability to shape others’ choices. In diplomatic and institutional settings, power that cannot be converted into influence may be inert—blocked by legitimacy deficits, poor strategy, or resistance from allies and adversaries. The quote also implies a pragmatic ethic: effectiveness is measured by impact, not by status. Read this way, it is a reminder that leadership depends on converting capacity into consent and results.