Quote of the day
The quote of the day:
“All power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. The more I’ve learned, the less I believe it. Power doesn’t always corrupt. What power always does is reveal. When a guy gets into a position where he doesn’t have to worry anymore, then you see what he wanted to do all along.”
-Robert Caro, Interviewed in Esquire, 12/16/09
Did not read his book on Robert Moses yet, but have read his LBJ series and they are a fantastic exploration of political power and how it is used in Washington. Throughout his life LBJ was the very personification of the type of ambition and avarice of the truly power hungry individual. I think this quote is applicable in his case. However, I also do think that sometimes even those with the best of intentions before they get in power can be corrupted once they have it.
Somewhat similarly,
David Brin:
It’s said that “power corrupts,” but actually it’s more true that power attracts the corruptible. The sane are usually attracted by other things than power.
Abraham Lincoln:
Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.
As community organizer Saul Alinsky pointed out, the actual quote started out, “Power has a tendency to corrupt…” In his book Rules For Radicals (a book the Occupy Wall Street organizers surely didn’t read) Alinsky pointed out we are too corrupt to get the quote right. He was saying that liberals should not be afraid of power, and to not be afraid of clear short words that have power.
Interesting. If the original statement contains truth, this modified statement may imply that all power reveals that MOST humans are already corrupt.