Friday, 19 September 2025

MIGHT IS RIGHT

 

MIGHT IS RIGHT

            Might is right is a proverb. But it is not morally just and fair. As an aphorism it asserts that those who hold power enjoy the liberty to decide what is wrong and what is right. In such a situation, morality and truth become insignificant.  

            In olden days, not only rulers but also parents and teachers, friends and colleagues used this proverb in their favour even when they were not ethically entitled to do so.

            “Might” has a number of synonyms like: force, power, strength, vigour,                                                                                                                                                           potency, capability, capacity, authority and resourcefulness.

            The implications of the proverb might is right are: strength prevails, dominance rules,  power dictates, authority is just, and resourcefulness is more successful.   

            A society where might is right morality is easily subdued. There is no fear of God. Due punishment can be made impossible. Foul can be treated as fair, and fair can be treated as foul.

               Look at the phrase: Money makes the mare grow. Likewise, money power is stronger than any kind of moral power.

               In reality, all human beings are born equally mighty. It is other factors which make them weak or strong. A wealthy person is stronger than a poor person even when the latter is more righteous, more truthful, more just and fair.

               Some nations are  just stronger than others on the basis of having not only a larger number of weapons but also the more destructive ones.

               Look at this famous quote: Sagacious spirits doubt all things, and hold fast only to that which is demonstrably true. Human rights and wrongs are not determined by Justice, but by Might. Disguise it as you may, the naked sword is still king-maker and king-breaker, as of yore. All other theories are lies and lures.

             Finally, we often see that wrong majority defeats the right minority because the proverb might is right prevails.      

                                                            *******

G.R.Kanwal

19 September 2025

 

 

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