Power is a subject to which philosophers and thinkers have devoted a great deal of thought – in defining it, in discussing who wields it, what ought to be done with it, and whether power is inherently a good or bad thing.
In popular culture too, quotes such as “With great power comes great responsibility”, and “Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely” give great weight to it. Another popular quote says: “If you want to test a man’s character, give him power”.
Popularly attributed to US President Abraham Lincoln, it likely has another source but is nevertheless a testament to power being linked to larger ethics and morality. What exactly does it say about the nature of power, and how does it differ from other views on the matter? We explain. Further, topics related to ethics and morality also form a part of the UPSC CSE syllabus.
What does this quote mean?
According to a Reuters fact-check from 2021, the quote comes from an American politician named Robert G Ingersoll, who said it about Lincoln.
In an 1883 speech, he reportedly said: “If you want to find out what a man is to the bottom, give him power. Any man can stand adversity — only a great man can stand prosperity. It is the glory of Abraham Lincoln that he never abused power only on the side of mercy.”
It argues that in times of trouble, every person gets down to their survival instincts. However, it is when a person is given power, which may be understood as the capacity to affect or change things meaningfully, that we get a sense of what their true character is like.
Power can also mean control over resources. A poor person may not be able to accomplish what she wants, or transform her intentions (good or bad) into reality. But when someone has power, they can make a difference, and it is then that we can understand a person’s true character.
Even at an individual or micro level, this can be witnessed to a degree, say when someone becomes the head of a local neighbourhood association or becomes in charge of organising an event. As part of the responsibilities they are given, do they become a team player or simply give instructions to others? Are they more interested in letting their vision prevail or are they open to criticism? Are they using that power for their benefit, say by asking others to do their work for them? In this way, power allows us to understand a person’s worldview.
On a larger level, when politicians get elected to powerful posts, or when bureaucrats or judges or media persons have to handle big issues related to their jobs that can affect thousands of people, one can witness their values and ethics through their work.
Different views of power
Nivedita Menon, a professor of political thought at Jawaharlal Nehru University, wrote that in political and social theory, “power refers to the ability to do things and the capacity to produce effects within social interaction.” Therefore, it is deeply connected to not individuals but them in relation to others.
Political scientist Hannah Arendt viewed power not just as coercion but as a tool of communication between people. No one can suddenly emerge and exercise power – it is something that gets its legitimacy from a group of people who agree to be part of a system.
She wrote, “power needs no justification, being inherent in the very existence of political communities; what it does need is legitimacy… Power springs up whenever people get together and act in concert, but it derives its legitimacy from the initial getting together rather than from any action that then may follow.”
In that sense, power can be energising. A democratically elected leader may choose to fix a broken system since he derives his authority from the community he is from. He could be aware that his power comes from deliberations, discussions, and a history of larger forces keeping people working together. He would then want to use it to better the lives of people in that community.
On the other hand, several Marxist scholars view power as the ability of dominant groups or economic classes in society to exercise control over others. For others, it is simply a tool to make someone do what they want.
Further, obtaining power is one thing, but maintaining it might compel a person to make decisions that are often amoral. As a result, the intention of doing something when one gets power can be noble, but the practical realities in society may make it difficult to be ethical in its exercise.
Although it is not a justification for all unethical actions, it is a criticism against the idea that all actions of a person in power directly reflect their character. They can also reflect the time they are in or the systems they are a part of, and could be linked to larger externalities.
Lastly, the quote also makes another assertion – that “any man can stand adversity”. Tough times – losing a loved one, money, or other intangible things of value – can force a man to fend for himself. But in that situation, if they are kind and choose to do good for others, is that also not a show of their character? It thus raises the question, is power the right judge of a person’s character?