--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A man in power, once becoming obnoxious…" description: "\"A man in power, once becoming obnoxious, his acts, good or bad, will work out his ruin.\" — Tacitus" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9e/tacitus-1552_becoming_a-man-in-power-once-becoming-obnoxious-h_1732175.jpg" --- # A man in power, once becoming obnoxious, his acts, good or… ![“A man in power, once becoming obnoxious, his acts, good or bad, will work out his ruin.” quote by Tacitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9e/tacitus-1552_becoming_a-man-in-power-once-becoming-obnoxious-h_1732175.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9e/tacitus-1552_becoming_a-man-in-power-once-becoming-obnoxious-h_1732175.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9e/tacitus-1552_becoming_a-man-in-power-once-becoming-obnoxious-h_1732175.jpg) > “A man in power, once becoming obnoxious, his acts, good or bad, will work out his ruin.” [Tacitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tacitus/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Powerful individuals become arrogant, and regardless of their deeds, their hubris ultimately leads to their downfall. **In simple terms:** Arrogance in power invites ruin Key Takeaway Beware of pride in positions of authority. Themes power hubris ruin leadership history Mood cautionary historical Type philosophical political When to use this quote - political leadership - corporate governance - public service Key Concepts political theory ethics historical cycles Questions to Reflect On - What checks can prevent a leader’s hubris? - How does humility protect against self‑destruction? A Different Perspective Even good deeds cannot offset the damage of excessive pride. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Man Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-power/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Obnoxious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obnoxious/) [Ruin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ruin/) [Ruins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ruins/) [Work out](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-out/) ## Related quotes > [Candor and generosity, unless tempered by due moderation, leads to ruin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tacitus/candor-and-generosity-unless-tempered-by-due-moderation-leads-to-ruin/) [Tacitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tacitus/) > [“Man is comprised of an organism, which is to say an organised form, and of vital forces, as well as a soul. The same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corneliu-zelea-codreanu/man-is-comprised-of-an-organism-which-is-to-say-an-organised-form-and/) [Corneliu Zelea Codreanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corneliu-zelea-codreanu/) > [No man, no power, can bind the action of wizardry or still the words of power. For they are the very words of Making,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-k-le-guin/no-man-no-power-can-bind-the-action-of-wizardry-or-still-the-words-of/) [Ursula K. Le Guin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-k-le-guin/) > [Scholarship, save by accident, is never the measure of a man's power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-g-holland/scholarship-save-by-accident-is-never-the-measure-of-a-man-s-power/) [J. G. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-g-holland/) > [Nothing is more gratifying to the mind of man than power or dominion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/nothing-is-more-gratifying-to-the-mind-of-man-than-power-or-dominion/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [Everything that enlarges the sphere of human powers, that shows man he can do what he thought he could not do, is valuable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/everything-that-enlarges-the-sphere-of-human-powers-that-shows-man-he/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [For power can guarantee the interests of some men but it can never foster the good of man. Power always protects the good of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/for-power-can-guarantee-the-interests-of-some-men-but-it-can-never/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [Weapons compound man's power to achieve; they amplify the capabilities of both the good man and the bad, and to exactly the same degree,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-cooper/weapons-compound-man-s-power-to-achieve-they-amplify-the-capabilities/) [Jeff Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-cooper/) > [Violence is a man so you have the power to lock him up for ever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-castro/violence-is-a-man-so-you-have-the-power-to-lock-him-up-for-ever/) Mike Castro > [I have never thought, for my part, that man's freedom consists in his being able to do whatever he wills, but that he should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-jacques-rousseau/i-have-never-thought-for-my-part-that-man-s-freedom-consists-in-his/) [Jean-Jacques Rousseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-jacques-rousseau/) > [You convey too great a compliment when you say that I have earned the right to the presidential nomination. 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The follower becomes a laughingstock, scorned and taken for a fool,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-metaxes/this-path-will-lead-right-down-into-the-deepest-situation-of-human/) Eric Metaxes ## More by Tacitus > [Benefits received are a delight to us as long as we think we can requite them; when that possibility is far exceeded, they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tacitus/benefits-received-are-a-delight-to-us-as-long-as-we-think-we-can/) [Tacitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tacitus/) > [Rumor does not always err; it sometimes even elects a man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tacitus/rumor-does-not-always-err-it-sometimes-even-elects-a-man/) [Tacitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tacitus/) > [ None mourn more ostentatiously than those who most rejoice at it \[a death\]. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tacitus/none-mourn-more-ostentatiously-than-those-who-most-rejoice-at-it-a/) [Tacitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tacitus/) > [So true is it that all transactions of preeminent importance are wrapt in doubt and obscurity; while some hold for certain facts the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tacitus/so-true-is-it-that-all-transactions-of-preeminent-importance-are/) [Tacitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tacitus/) > [Be assured those will be thy worst enemies, not to whom thou hast done evil, but who have done evil to thee. And those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tacitus/be-assured-those-will-be-thy-worst-enemies-not-to-whom-thou-hast-done/) [Tacitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tacitus/) > [Christianity is a pestilent superstition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tacitus/christianity-is-a-pestilent-superstition/) [Tacitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tacitus/) > [Indeed, the crowning proof of their valour and their strength is that they keep up their superiority without harm to others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tacitus/indeed-the-crowning-proof-of-their-valour-and-their-strength-is-that/) [Tacitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tacitus/) > [Formerly we suffered from crimes; now we suffer from laws.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tacitus/formerly-we-suffered-from-crimes-now-we-suffer-from-laws/) [Tacitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tacitus/) > [ None mourn more ostentatiously over the death of Germanicus than those who most rejoice at it \[a death\]. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tacitus/none-mourn-more-ostentatiously-over-the-death-of-germanicus-than/) [Tacitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tacitus/) > [Once killing starts, it is difficult to draw the line.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tacitus/once-killing-starts-it-is-difficult-to-draw-the-line/) [Tacitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tacitus/) > [The lust of dominion burns with a flame so fierce as to overpower all other affections of the human breast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tacitus/the-lust-of-dominion-burns-with-a-flame-so-fierce-as-to-overpower-all/) [Tacitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tacitus/) > [“It is a principle of nature to hate those whom you have injured.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tacitus/it-is-a-principle-of-nature-to-hate-those-whom-you-have-injured/) [Tacitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tacitus/) > [Kindness, so far as we can return it, is agreeable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tacitus/kindness-so-far-as-we-can-return-it-is-agreeable/) [Tacitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tacitus/) > [Posterity gives every man his true value.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tacitus/posterity-gives-every-man-his-true-value/) [Tacitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tacitus/) > [The most detestable race of enemies are flatterers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tacitus/the-most-detestable-race-of-enemies-are-flatterers/) [Tacitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tacitus/) [Explore all 227 Tacitus quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tacitus/) ## More Becoming quotes > [Focus on becoming more to achieve more while doing less](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-elrod/focus-on-becoming-more-to-achieve-more-while-doing-less/) [Hal Elrod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-elrod/) > [If the media is sending girls the message that their value lies in their bodies, this can only leave them feeling disempowered and distract…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-siebel-newsom/if-the-media-is-sending-girls-the-message-that-their-value-lies-in/) Jennifer Siebel Newsom > [But I already saw no great difference between the psyche and spirituality. 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