Most people can bear adversity; but if you wish to know what a
Most people can bear adversity; but if you wish to know what a man really is give him power.
"Most people can bear adversity; but if you wish to know what a man really is, give him power." Thus spoke Robert Green Ingersoll, a voice of reason and fire in the age of oratory. These words uncover a truth as old as kings: hardship may humble a man, but power reveals the naked soul. For in adversity, even the cruel must bow before necessity; but in power, restraint vanishes, and the true nature of the heart is unveiled.
The ancients knew this well. Many could endure hunger, poverty, and exile with dignity, for such trials press upon all men alike. But when a man is given power—the ability to command, to reward, to punish—then the veil falls away. The kind grow kinder, the just grow more steadfast, but the greedy and the vain are consumed by their own corruption. Thus, to test the measure of a man, do not watch him in suffering, but in command.
History bears witness in the tale of Julius Caesar. In adversity, when hunted and exiled, he was cunning, patient, and resolute. But when power fell into his hands, he crossed the Rubicon, seized Rome, and crowned himself above the republic. In his triumph, his true self was revealed—not the servant of liberty, but the master of empire. His fate, slain by his own senate, reminds us of the peril when ambition masks itself until power unmasks it.
Yet there are also those who, given power, rise in virtue. Consider Nelson Mandela. In adversity, he endured long years in prison with unbroken spirit. But when power was placed in his hands, when vengeance would have been easy and bitterness justified, he chose instead forgiveness and reconciliation. Thus the world saw his true essence: not a man of revenge, but a father of peace.
So let these words be a lamp for generations: adversity tests the strength of endurance, but power tests the strength of the soul. If you wish to know the heart of a man, look not to his suffering, for even the weak endure. Look instead to his dominion—what he does when no chain binds him and no fear restrains him. There, in the light of freedom, his true self stands revealed.
CTAp dung cong thuc
This quote makes me reflect on the idea of true leadership. It’s easy to say you're a good person when you're facing hardship or struggling, but what happens when you have the ability to command or control others? Is power a test of character? Or does it make us more susceptible to our weaknesses? I’ve seen people who are great in times of adversity, but when given power, they change. How much does power shape our identity, for better or worse?
NDTran Ngoc Dien
I find it unsettling how accurate this quote feels in today’s world. We often see how people behave under pressure or when their back is against the wall, but when power enters the equation, it seems to amplify every trait. Do you think it’s possible for someone to be a truly good leader without being corrupted by power? Or is Ingersoll suggesting that power inevitably brings out darker aspects of human nature? It’s a tough question.
TTTRINH THI THU THUY
What strikes me about Ingersoll’s perspective is the idea that power changes people. It makes me think of famous figures who started off humble, only to become tyrants once in a position of power. Do we all have a dark side that emerges with the right circumstances? Is this a cautionary tale for those seeking power? Or perhaps it’s just a natural result of the influence and control power provides—how much of this is avoidable?
TNPham Thanh Ngoc
This quote really makes me question how people handle responsibility. When faced with adversity, we often struggle, but when granted power, we’re tested in a different way. Does the way we handle power truly show who we are? Could it be that power acts as a magnifier of character traits, both good and bad? How do you feel about leaders who are kind in adversity but ruthless when given control? Can they ever be trusted?
TKTuyen Kim
I find this quote thought-provoking because it seems to imply that adversity is easier to handle than power. Is that true, though? What if power allows someone to rise above adversity in a way that adversity itself couldn’t? Does power simply expose who we already are, or does it change us? I’ve seen people behave in surprisingly positive or negative ways once they have influence. How do you think power impacts someone’s inner values?