Magic is a state of mind. It is often portrayed as very black and gothic, and that is because certain practitioners played that up for a sense of power and prestige. That is a disservice. Magic is very colorful. Of this, I am sure.
Alan MooreRead
The possession of arbitrary power has always, the world over, tended irresistibly to destroy humane sensibility, magnanimity, and truth.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Arbitrary power tends to corrupt human values and virtues.
This quote by Frederick Law Olmsted emphasizes the corrupting influence of unchecked power on human dignity, compassion, and honesty. It suggests that when individuals possess power without accountability, they can become desensitized to the needs and values of others, leading to a deterioration of moral and ethical standards across societies.
Themes
PowerCorruptionHumanityTruthEthics
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about political power, this quote can illustrate the potential dangers of absolute authority.
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Qu'ils mangent de la brioche. Let them eat cake. On being told that her people had no bread. Attributed to Marie-Antoinette, but remark is much older. Rousseau refers in his Confessions, 1740, to a similar remark, as a well-known saying. Others attribute the remark to the wife of Louis XIV.
Marie AntoinetteRead