It is not power that corrupts but fear. Fear of losing power

“It is not power that corrupts but fear. Fear of losing power corrupts those who wield it and fear of the scourge of power corrupts those who are subject to it.” These profound words from Aung San Suu Kyi resonate with the wisdom of the ancients, for they recognize that fear, not power, is the true root of corruption. Power itself is neutral, a force that can be used for good or ill. But when fear enters the equation — fear of losing control, fear of being overthrown, fear of injustice — it transforms power into a tool of oppression and destruction. It is fear that poisons both the ruler and the ruled, bringing forth suffering and tyranny.

In the ancient world, great rulers like Alexander the Great and even the mighty emperors of Rome understood that the exercise of power could be both a blessing and a curse. But it was not their power that caused their downfall; it was their fear — fear of rebellion, fear of being unseated, fear of being forgotten in history. Fear drove them to acts of cruelty, to protect their thrones at any cost. For instance, Nero, the infamous Roman emperor, ruled not with wisdom but with fear — a deep-seated fear of losing the absolute control he had over the empire. This fear led him to commit atrocities, poisoning the very heart of Rome with violence and distrust.

Likewise, the fear of power can corrupt those who are subjected to it. The citizens under the rule of a tyrant, oppressed by the weight of absolute authority, live in constant fear — fear of speaking out, fear of punishment, fear of persecution. This fear creates a cycle of subjugation, where the people are not only silenced but also begin to internalize their oppression. In ancient Greece, the slaves under the brutal regimes often learned to fear their masters, while the masters, in turn, feared uprisings and the loss of their status. This fear became the chain that bound both the oppressed and the oppressor in a tragic dance of corruption.

Consider the story of Gandhi, a figure who embodied the power of nonviolent resistance in the face of imperial power. The British Empire, though mighty, was driven by fear — fear of losing control over India. This fear made them blind to the righteousness of Gandhi’s cause. Yet it was fear that ultimately led to their undoing, for the power of peace and truth was far stronger than the oppressive fear they sought to maintain. Gandhi showed that fear of losing power can corrupt those who wield it, but when the oppressed stand firm, even the greatest power crumbles under its own weight.

Aung San Suu Kyi, too, understood the nature of power and fear in her own struggle against the military regime in Myanmar. Her unwavering commitment to nonviolent resistance echoed the ancient wisdom that true strength lies not in the oppression of power, but in the courage to face fear with dignity. It is not the loss of power that corrupts, but the fear of losing it that leads leaders down the path of tyranny. In her fight for justice, Suu Kyi showed that fear must be overcome, whether it is the fear that controls the oppressor or the fear that keeps the oppressed from rising.

Thus, let us remember the wisdom of these words: fear is the true corrupter, not power itself. When we allow fear to govern our actions — whether as rulers or as subjects — we set the stage for corruption, suffering, and injustice. But when we embrace courage, compassion, and truth, we can break free from the chains of fear and rise above the corruption it breeds.