Acquisition Quote by Joseph Campbell
““The inflated ego of the tyrant is a curse to himself and his world – no matter how his affairs may prosper. Self-terrorized, fear-haunted, alert at every hand to meet and battle back the anticipated aggressions of his environment, which are primarily the reflections of the uncontrollable impulses to acquisition within himself. The giant of self-achieved independence is the world’s messenger of disaster, even though, in his mind, he may entertain himself with humane intentions.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Hero with a Thousand Faces, Joseph Campbell, 1949
An overconfident ruler’s ego becomes a self‑inflicted curse, causing paranoia and conflict because his inner greed mirrors external threats.
In simple terms: Ego blinds leaders, creating fear and chaos.
Key Takeaway
Check humility before power.
Themes
ego
leadership
paranoia
power
greed
Mood
cautious
reflective
Type
philosophical
warning
When to use this quote
- political leadership
- corporate management
- personal ambition
- conflict resolution
Key Concepts
psychology
self‑awareness
hubris
Questions to Reflect On
- How does unchecked ego affect decision‑making?
- What safeguards can limit self‑destructive ambition?
A Different Perspective
Ego can be mitigated by external accountability, not just introspection.
![“The fall [of your soul] from perfection into duality...was naturally followed by the discovery of the duality of good and evil...This is the Biblical version of a myth known to many lands.” quote by Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/9ff/joseph-campbell-300_biblical_the-fall-of-your-soul-from-perfection-in_22526.jpg)
![“No one suffers so much as he [the genius] with the people, and, therefore, for the people, with whom he lives. For, in a certain sense, it is certainly only "by suffering" that a man knows. If compassion is not itself clear, abstractly conceivable or visibly symbolic knowledge, it is, at any rate…” quote by Otto Weininger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/bec/otto-weininger-11319_acquisition_no-one-suffers-so-much-as-he-the-genius_20597.jpg)
