How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #7
"Your race had shown a notable incapacity for dealing with the problems of its own rather small planet. When we arrived, you were on the point of destroying yourselves with the powers that science had rashly given you. Without our intervention, the Earth today would be a radioactive wilderness" (14.28)
With great power comes great responsibility, right? And if Peter Parker thinks the powers of a spider bring some killer responsibility, then he should just consider the responsibility of owning a nuclear bomb.
Quote #8
Was it possible, [Salomon] sometimes said to himself, that despite all their enormous intelligence the Overlords did not really understand mankind, and were making a terrible mistake from the best of motives? (15.47)
When you consider the question being posed here, the amount of power the Overlords have over mankind has the potential to be truly disastrous.
Quote #9
[George] had subconsciously assumed that the Overlords possessed all knowledge and all power—that they understood, and were probably responsible for, the things that had been happening to Jeff. (18.57)
The thing about power in Childhood's End is that there is always someone or something more powerful. For most of the story, you think Karellen is the most powerful being in the book, but then you learn he's a puppet of the Overmind. But is there something more powerful than the Overmind?