By the power elite, we refer to those political, economic, and military circles which as an intricate set of overlapping cliques share decisions having at least national consequences. In so far as national events are decided, the power elite are those who decide them.

No one can be truly powerful unless he has access to the command of major institutions, for it is over these institutional means of power that the truly powerful are, in the first instance, truly powerful . . .

Every revolution has its counterrevolution - that is a sign the revolution is for real.

People with advantages are loath to believe that they just happen to be people with advantages.

Prestige is the shadow of money and power.

In the world of the celebrity, the hierarchy of publicity has replaced the hierarchy of descent and even of great wealth.

To overcome the academic prose you have first to overcome the academic pose.