In the above quote, Abraham Lincoln was of the opinion that human beings, who mostly find themselves in adverse scenarios, but when given power, the true self of a person comes out. Power can be seen as the ability to control, manipulate, manage, and do according to one’s wishes. The source of power had once been God, i.e., kings derived their powers from divinity and ruled under His home according to the dictates and commandments of God.
Today, most countries depend on the constitution for their power and govern themselves according to it. The main reason for this power transfer from people to either God or constitution or any entity is to create an order in society and ensure that the power is used for the welfare of all people. Here power is not just political power but social, economic, technological, legal, etc. It is a general notion that one who has power can do whatever he likes, but it must be realized that the main purpose of possessing power is to utilize it for the benefit of others.
The responsibility of using that power productively and efficiently lies with the one holding the power and also with the people who transfer that power. Only the person who realizes that power begets responsibility will use it carefully and for the welfare of those that trusted him.
The person who uses his power for selfish interests does great moral harm and will eventually lose the position of responsibility. Maturity is understanding that holding power is not a privilege but it is a duty that needs to be fulfilled responsibly. We can understand this from several instances.
The great Indian epic Mahabharata tells us the story of two characters Yudhishthir and Duryodhana. The former used his kingship for the welfare of his people and only acted as the guardian of the people, while the latter used his power in order to satisfy his ego and used it to destroy his enemies neglecting the concerns of the public.
Yudhishthir was hence considered a better king as he understood his responsibility that his power gave him. Similarly, the world has witnessed the abuse of power by British and French rulers in America and France. They ruled their people only for the revenues that got generated but never took the responsibility of the welfare of the people.
The American and French revolutions of the 18th century show us that the rulers who shy away from responsibilities also have to lose their power. In India, however, we were fortunate to have a Prime Minister like Jawaharlal Nehru. As the Prime Minister of a newly born country and leader of the largest national party, he never abused his power and understood his responsibilities in developing a nascent nation and took all possible precautions and measures to make India a global power. He was elected thrice as Prime Minister showing that a leader who understands his responsibility will be bestowed upon power by the public.
Such examples must be taken as an inspiration by government officials as some officers resort to abusing their official position and indulge in corruption, which goes against public interest. Government officials must understand their purpose of duty and work responsibly for the betterment of the public. Hence, it is a moral obligation of those in power to use it responsibly for the benefit of the public. Not just officers, but every citizen of a democratic country must utilize his power to vote and make the government accountable in the best possible manner and contribute to a vibrant democracy.
Only when there is a demand for transparency and probity will services be delivered efficiently. Hence, every responsible citizen must use his power to check those in power. Drawing a parallel at an international level, the USA is considered to be a superpower. It was seen as an economic power that helped developing countries by giving loans, refuge to migrants, and supplying technology. But after the election of President Trump, it is shying away from its erstwhile responsibilities and is now losing its moral high ground.
Thus, only as long as there exists responsible behavior will power be retained; else it will be taken away. In conserving the environment too, human beings must realize that they wield disproportionate power in controlling the resources of Mother Earth, and hence we must act responsibly in managing them not just for our benefit but for the benefit of all other living beings; else we will damage the entire world. Thus, the first step in using power is to first recognize the responsibility. Power dynamics exist in families too.
The dominance of husband over wife and parents over children is a common sight. While husband and wife must have no power gap, the influence that parents hold over children must be used in a responsible manner as the future of children depends on the kind of parenting they receive. Hence, responsible sharing of power and appropriate usage of power are essential to have a cordial family. Similarly, celebrities must also realize the influence they wield in society and act responsibly. The recent controversial remarks made by cricketers Hardik Pandya and K.L. Rahul throw light on irresponsible behavior by those who have social responsibility towards youngsters. Thus, it can be seen that mere possession of power doesn’t make one great. Only when that power is used responsibly will the person be respected.
We must train our children from childhood in values such as compassion, leadership, emotional intelligence, honesty, servitude so that they grow up to become responsible citizens and future leaders of society. As a society, we must value honesty and not glorify power. True power is one that is inclusive and takes care of all.
Hence we must be cautious in holding our leaders responsible for their actions and demand transparency, accountability, and probity from them.
Media can help the public in this way. Thus, it is important to realize that power is not obtained but given by others to a person and such a person must use it for the welfare of the people and shouldn’t be inward-looking and self-centered.