Huainanzi - Entry 69

Trey Smith

Those who use their skills to struggle for power start out in the sun and end up in the shade. Those who use their wits to govern countries start out with order and end up with chaos.
~ a passage from The Book of Leadership and Strategy by Thomas Cleary ~

I have stated before that I have trouble with authority figures. Almost every time I have worked under a hierarchy, it has ended badly.

In many ways, my opinion of authoritarian systems mirrors the passage above. What often starts out as laudable and just, soon devolves into exercising power for power's sake alone. And let's be candid here. Power is intoxicating. When an individual or organization's words and decisions represent the final say in a given matter, it engenders the feeling of invincibility. You become both the law AND above the law.

This is why I'm often suspicious of anyone who runs for public office -- at least those who believe they have a viable chance of winning. Yes, they talk about wanting to "serve the public," but what most of them really want is power and people who desire power over others may not be the best individuals to entrust with it.

To read the introduction to this ongoing series, go here.