Authority Quote by Charles Caleb Colton
“Power, like the diamond, dazzles the beholder, and also the wearer; it dignifies meanness; it magnifies littleness; to what is contemptible, it gives authority; to what is low, exaltation.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: Essays on the Seven Wise Men, 1820
Power can magnify both noble and base qualities, granting authority to the contemptible and elevating the low.
In simple terms: Power amplifies traits, making the bad seem important.
Key Takeaway
Beware how power changes perception of character.
Themes
power
morality
authority
Mood
cautious
critical
Type
philosophical
warning
When to use this quote
- political leadership
- corporate management
- social movements
- personal relationships
Key Concepts
psychology of influence
ethical paradox
social hierarchy
Questions to Reflect On
- What responsibilities come with power?
- How can societies check power's excesses?
A Different Perspective
Power can be abused, leading to corruption.
![“The rationale which accompanies that imposition of male authority euphemistically referred to as 'the battle of the sexes' bears a certain resemblance to the formulas of nations at war, where any heinousness is justified on the grounds that the enemy is either an inferior [part of the] species or…” quote by Kate Millett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/895/kate-millett-7301_accompany_the-rationale-which-accompanies-that-imp_8896.jpg)
