 Bertrand Russell Quotes 366 |
Almost everybody who is not exceptionally lazy desires more than his due share of power, if not in the world at large, at least in his immediate environment. Wars and revolutions, throughout history, have been caused mainly by love of power. In States where tyrants are usually assassinated, there is, nevertheless, bloody competition for the post of tyrant. There has been, in the Western world, during the past few centuries, a very rapid decline in arbitrary power. Kings, slave-owners, husbands and fathers have been successively deposed, and there has been a serious attempt to equalize the distribution of ultimate power as far as possible. In this respect the claims of what may be called justice are very strong. Those who have power almost always abuse it.
Source: Bertrand Russell: Human Society in Ethics and Politics, (1954), chapter 11：
More info.: https://russell-j.com/cool/47T-1106.htm
* a brief comment (Translated with DeepL.com)
The phenomenon of power (seeking and pursuing) is not only related to a few powerful people. It can range in scale from the highest power to power relations that only give a little preferential treatment (on some occasions).
Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike, who was elected three times, is also a powerful figure. Neither NHK nor the commercial broadcasters have the courage to point out the wasteful spending.