Oftentimes, it is not easy to achieve power. This signifies that those who have achieved power are typically the very same who have been focused on achieving it, above all, thereby indicating that many powerful people do not demonstrate humility, because they believe they cannot afford to possess it, which would thus diminish them. So too, those that are too prideful typically won’t countenance being humble in anything that they do and accomplish, because it is often their belief that they got to where they are by their own initiative, and therefore need not bow down to anyone or anything.
The problem with power and pride making a purposeful or ignorant decision to discount the value and virtue of humility, is that these people because of their position in society, are in the catbird seat to get done what they desire to get done, and when they believe that they need not listen to anyone, except those that echo their positions and opinions, then it becomes a scenario in which whatever that they want, they so get; and if they can’t get it right away, they will take steps to do what they have to do to get it, which may mean not just stepping over people, but actually stepping on them, as well.
In truth, those that are at the pinnacle of power, should desire to have informed and virtuous assistants that will help to keep them grounded, by telling them the types of things that they really do need to know, because without that balance, those in power, will simply believe that they are so gifted, that there really isn’t a thing that anyone else could tell them that would be of interest, because they know what they need to know, and need not know anything more.
For a certainty, there are those who are so prideful that they won’t deign to listen to others, because the person so expressing their viewpoint is considered to be beneath them, and thereby to listen to them would reflect having to have some humility, which those who are prideful believe would make them look weak or indecisive. Yet, powerful and prideful people need to be self-aware, because their power permits them to do and enact things that those not in a position of power aren’t capable of doing, and because of that, they should desire to receive honest feedback from those that they are affecting, so that they can be of service to others, as opposed to ignoring service, or believing that service is something unbecoming of their powerful and prideful position.
Indeed, power and pride have a way of corrupting the individual, of which, those that will not bother to self-reflect and take an honest account of who and what they are, along with an understanding of how their actions affect others, are putting themselves on a pathway that will not end well, which is why those that can temper their ambition with humility, are the same that will accomplish great things, because they are wise.