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Absolute power does not corrupt absolutely, absolute power attracts the corruptible.
Frank Herbert
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Interpretation

What this quote means

This quote suggests that power itself does not corrupt people; rather, it tends to draw in those who are already corruptible.

Frank Herbert's quote illustrates the idea that the presence of absolute power does not inherently lead to corruption among individuals. Instead, it proposes that it is the nature of certain individuals, who may already possess corrupt tendencies, that makes them drawn to power. Thus, rather than power corrupting everyone who wields it, it seems to attract those who are already inclined towards unethical behavior, indicating a deeper commentary on human nature and morality.

Themes

PowerCorruptionHuman NatureEthicsLeadership

In practice

Example use cases

This quote can be used in a discussion on political leadership and ethics.

More from Frank Herbert

My father once told me that respect for truth comes close to being the basis for all morality. 'Something cannot emerge from nothing,' he said. This is profound thinking if you understand how unstable 'the truth' can be.
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Religion must remain an outlet for people who say to themselves, "I am not the kind of person I want to be." It must never sink into an assemblage of the self-satisfied.
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It is impossible to live in the past, difficult to live in the present and a waste to live in the future.
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