It is the magician's bargain: give up our soul, get power…
“It is the magician's bargain: give up our soul, get power in return. But once our souls, that is, ourselves, have been given up, the power thus conferred will not belong to us. We shall in fact be the slaves and puppets of that to which we have given our souls.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Trading one's soul for power leads to becoming a slave to that power.
In simple terms: Giving up self for power creates bondage.
Key Takeaway
Guard your integrity over power.
Themes
integrity
power
slavery
Mood
cautionary
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
warning
When to use this quote
- political ambition
- corporate leadership
- personal ambition
- spiritual practice
Key Concepts
Ethics
philosophy
Questions to Reflect On
- What would you sacrifice for power?
- How can you retain autonomy?
A Different Perspective
Power can be alluring and hard to relinquish.