"There are armchairs in which it is not good to sit for too long. ... 'There are armchairs in which it is not good to sit for too long. ... 'We new men from the provinces are no better than those who
came before us,' confessed Emperor Hadrian [ruled 117-138]. 'Power only serves
to soil us.' ... Because power corrupts all who use it and induces them to turn
it to abuse. The secret is to stop just a moment before. America has many
flaws, but at least it has understood this lifesaving rule for the protection of
democracy."
Roman Emperor Hadrian, who ruled from 117-138 AD: A 'new man', which means he was not one of Rome's ancient patrician ruling families, Hadrian was born in Spain. He observed the corrupting influence of power - regardless of who wielded it.
Whatever happened that night (in this case, the reader has
more information than the writer), Monday was the last campaign
rally for Barack Obama. It was the last time the most powerful man on the planet had
to stand before other human beings to win them over to his side and get their
votes. It is not by chance that he even shed some tears. From today on, he won’t
run for anything and won’t have to convince anyone. He can still speak in public,
and in four years or even from now on, like Clinton did, he can use his
eloquence to support his wife’s political career. But his career, from an
electoral point of view, is inexorably over. And at just 51 years of age.
Posted
by Worldmeets.US
Among the various limits imposed on power in America,
there is a subordination to fixed and unalterable deadlines. A politician, if he
is one, remains such throughout his life. But he cannot act as one throughout his life, at least not at the forefront. It
is a difficult practice, in some cases even unjust. But it serves to protect
society from the poisons that accumulate whenever power is allied with time.
There are armchairs in which it is not good to sit for too long.
"We new men from the
provinces are no better than those who came before us," confessed Emperor Hadrian [ruled 117-138].
"Power only serves to soil us."
Because power corrupts all who use it and induces them to
turn it to abuse. The secret is to stop just a moment before. America has many
flaws, but at least it has understood this lifesaving rule for the protection of
democracy. Unfortunately, only one Italian discovered America. And it was not [President
of Lombardy] Roberto Formigoni.
[Editor's Note: Mr. Formigoni was recently forced to resign and is being investigated for illegal financial dealings.]
