Art begins when a man, with a purpose of communicating to other people a feeling he once experienced, calls it up again within himself and expresses it by certain external signs.
Leo TolstoyRead
In order to get the power and retain it, it is necessary to love power; but love of power is not connected with goodness, but with qualities which are the opposite of goodness, such as pride, cunning, cruelty.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The pursuit and retention of power often require a love for it, which can lead to negative traits rather than moral goodness.
Leo Tolstoy's quote reflects on the nature of power and its relationship with morality. It suggests that to gain and maintain power, one must have a strong affinity for power itself. However, this love for power is fundamentally linked to negative human qualities, including pride, cunningness, and cruelty, indicating a moral conflict that exists in the quest for power. The quote warns about the ethical implications of power dynamics and the potential for corruption that comes with an obsession for power.
Themes
PowerMoralityGoodnessTraitsCorruption
In practice
Example use cases
During a discussion on political leadership, one could reference this quote to highlight the moral complexities of pursuing power.
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