Power Always Corrupts the One Who Holds It

From the ancient caveman era to the modern world which we are living in today, power is always a major role in the establishment of society. There has been controversy over the issue of whether power always corrupts the one who holds it. Some people insist that power can change one’s mind. On the other hand, others disagree, claiming that a real emperor will never be lured in by their power. Before giving my opinion, it is important to look at this argument with their respective reasons and justifications from both sides.

It is undeniable that power is able to make one change their mind distinctively. First of all, authority has the power to turn an innocent human into a dictator instantly. This situation occurs mostly because of the influence of money and status. In addition, the king, the emperor, or any person who has power, will make enemy with others who have vary opinions. Those who have the mighty power will try to find all methods of forcing others to agree with them. Moreover, everyone starts without power, but having power can fulfill their desires. A common recognized phenomenon is the fact that almost every monarch and ruler abuses their power towards citizens, money, or land. Last but not least, the demand of more power has the ability to attract emperors towards corruption and decadence. A king will be scared of others who want to take over his authority and cause him to lose his or her absolute power. As a result, monarchs get corrupted shortly after receiving their position.

Skeptics, however, are quite unwilling to accept the opinion demonstrated above, insisting that corruption does not happen to a true emperor. It is commonly accepted that moral value plays a significant role when it comes to being a real monarch. Even more so, the government and country cannot function well without a leader. Power is not always a negative thing for humankind. People who have a warm heart can influence others with their decisions. Another point is that holding power can make one more self-confident and self-disciplined. Why do we always keep our eyes on the negative issues? Monarchs, emperors, they are the leaders of the nation, the country. Yes, they have the mighty power to make the decisions, whether those decisions are right or wrong in other people’s eyes. Nevertheless, before they became the king or the ruler, they were still human. In my opinion, I don’t believe any leaders hope others to regard him or her as corrupted. Consequently, power doesn't always corrupt the one who holds it, but it can be the cause of making a different decision.

In spite of the above reasons, I, personally, insist that influence and authority can corrupt the one who holds it. However, I am not on the side that believes power can change one’s mind. From my perspective, power is for the humans who act the same before and after they gain it. Power is not for humans who are only eager for selfish reasons.