Conquistador Quote by Ernesto Guevara
““Valdivia's actions symbolize man's indefatigable thirst to take control of a place where he can exercise total authority. That phrase, attributed to Caesar, proclaiming he would rather be first-in-command in some humble Alpine village than second-in-command in Rome, is repeated less pompously, but no less effectively, in the epic campaign that is the conquest of Chile. If, in the moment the conquistador was facing death at the hands of tht invincible Araucanian Caupolican, he had not been overwhelmed with fury, like a hunted animal, I do not doubt that judging his life, Valdivia would have felt death was fully justified. He belonged to that special class of men the species produces every so often, in whom a craving for limitless power is so extreme that any suffering to achieve it seems natural, and he had become the omnipotent ruler of a warrior nation.””
About This Quote
The passage describes Valdivia’s relentless drive for absolute power, likening his ambition to a desire to dominate any place, even a modest village, over serving under a greater authority.
In simple terms: Valdivia craved total control, preferring authority over modest domains to subordinate roles in larger ones.
Key Takeaway
Recognize the danger of unchecked ambition.
Themes
power
ambition
authority
warfare
colonialism
Mood
reflective
critical
serious
Type
historical
philosophical
analytical
When to use this quote
- military leadership
- political strategy
- historical analysis
- ethical debates
Key Concepts
hubris
imperialism
psychology of conquest
Questions to Reflect On
- What limits should curb the pursuit of absolute power?
- How does ambition affect ethical decision‑making?
A Different Perspective
Such zeal can blind leaders to moral costs and human suffering.
