The Delusion of Power
- Adil Malia
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
Experience with power, compounded by the mindless abeyance of the weak, can inflate a dangerously false sense of self.
The holder of power begins to genuinely believe:
... that he is the ultimate embodiment of the role.
....that no one before him ever performed the role better.
....that no one after him could possibly perform it better.
....that his ways, his style and his commitment are universally admired.
....that people genuinely love him and will remember him forever. Eventually, he begins to behave as though his judgment is infallible—as though he alone knows what is right, what is necessary, and what must be done
And, eventually, he starts believing
....that he is God Himself — the creator of the universe, its controller and its ruler.
The irony is that this delusion is not unique to any one leader. Predecessors and successors are equally susceptible to it. Power merely changes the occupant of the throne; the intoxication remains the same.
The world may obey the narcissist while he wields power. It may even applaud him while he sits on the throne.But obedience is not admiration. Silence is not consent. And compliance is certainly not belief. People may bow to the powerful. They rarely believe their shenanigans.
The most dangerous consequence of power is not arrogance. It is becoming blind and deaf to the feedback that could correct it.
He unfortunately, prefers to eliminate the negative feedback giver rather than give credence tonhis desire to convey to him that what is right. But that is the fate.
And then, inevitably, the throne is vacated.
The applause fades, the courtiers disperse, the obedient return to their lives, and another occupant takes his place. History has little patience for those who mistake temporary authority for permanent greatness. In the end, power does not make a man God; it merely gives him a longer opportunity to forget that he is human. The greatest antidote to the delusion of power is therefore the humility to remember that every throne is borrowed, every role is temporary, and every ruler is ultimately replaceable.
Power doesn't necessarily corrupt judgment. It can be more dangerous than that: it can remove the people who would correct it.
Very well articulated, Adil Saab! Your perspective on the delusion of power and the importance of staying grounded really resonated with me. I have always believed that one need not change the world, however have the clarity and courage NOT TO become part of the crowd, even when that comes at a personal cost.