SOME THOUGHTS ON POWER

 

SOME THOUGHTS ON POWER

‘Power’ has many meanings like ability, capability, competence, force, strength, mastery, right, prerogative, etc. In this short note, this word has been used in the sense of authority.

            The central idea in this note is that power should not make its holder proud, arrogant, autocratic, dictatorial or revengeful. Power should be used to help not to harm anybody. English writer Francis Bacon (1561-1626) says “Nothing destroys authority so much as the unequal and untimely interchange of power, pressed too far and relaxed too much.“ 

According to French philosopher Blaise Pascal (1623-1662 } “Justice without power is inefficient; power without justice is tyranny. Justice without power is opposed, because there are always wicked men. Power without justice is soon questioned. Justice and power must therefore be brought together, so that whatever is just may be powerful, and whatever is powerful  may be just.”

Power should not be misused. It should not make its holder cruel or merciless. It should rather make him humble and kind-hearted. God is omnipotent, yet very merciful. The appropriate use of power is to strengthen the weak and uplift them.

To conclude let you power become moral power and be used spiritually rather than physically.     

There is the most famous quote

“ Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely”

                                                            ********

G.R.Kanwal

11^th April ----------- 2024