Use power to help people. For we are given power not to advance

Hearken, O children of courage and conscience, and attend to the words of George W. Bush: “Use power to help people. For we are given power not to advance our own purposes nor to make a great show in the world, nor a name. There is but one just use of power and it is to serve people.” In these words lies a meditation upon authority, responsibility, and the moral purpose of leadership. From the dawn of human civilization, the wise have known that power, though coveted and dangerous, attains its noblest expression only when wielded for the good of others rather than the glorification of self.

Consider the nature of power. It is a force that can build or destroy, elevate or oppress. To wield it for selfish ends is to distort its purpose and to sow seeds of injustice. Bush reminds us that power is entrusted, not earned solely for personal aggrandizement, but granted to create conditions in which the welfare of the many is elevated. The just leader understands that influence is a tool of service, not a spectacle of ego, and that the measure of greatness lies in the impact upon those served.

History offers luminous examples. Consider Marcus Aurelius, Emperor and philosopher, who wielded immense authority over the Roman Empire. Though capable of unchecked power, he dedicated his rule to the welfare of citizens, the stability of the state, and the cultivation of justice. His meditations reflect a soul aware that power is a sacred trust, a responsibility to guide with wisdom, temperance, and service rather than self-interest. Bush’s words echo this ancient principle: leadership finds its highest meaning in the upliftment of others.

The reflection further illuminates the ethics of leadership and service. To exercise authority rightly is to observe the needs of the people, to act with empathy and courage, and to prioritize justice over prestige. Power divorced from purpose becomes vanity; influence without conscience becomes tyranny. The just use of power, as Bush declares, is in the service of people, recognizing that true honor emerges not from titles or acclaim, but from tangible improvement in the lives of those governed.

Consider, also, the practical lessons drawn from the lives of reformers such as Abraham Lincoln. Though the President possessed extraordinary power, he continually placed the welfare of the nation and the liberation of the oppressed above personal ambition. His leadership was marked not by grandeur or self-glorification but by service to the moral imperative of equality and unity. The echo of Bush’s counsel resounds here: to serve people is the singularly just use of authority.

From this teaching flows practical wisdom. In every station of influence, whether great or modest, consider first the needs of others. Use your voice, your skills, and your resources to uplift, protect, and empower. Let every decision be measured not by its personal reward, but by the benefit it brings to those whose lives you touch. Service is the mark of a soul aligned with justice, and the path to enduring respect and fulfillment.

Let the generations remember this eternal truth: power is a sacred trust, not a personal prize. George W. Bush’s words remind us that the exercise of authority attains moral and spiritual legitimacy only when directed toward service. To act with humility, foresight, and empathy transforms power into a blessing, ensuring that leadership benefits the many rather than glorifying the few.

Therefore, O seeker of wisdom, wield whatever influence you possess with conscience, courage, and care. Let the desire to serve guide your actions, temper your ambition, and shape your vision. In this way, authority becomes a force for justice, compassion, and collective flourishing, leaving a legacy of service that endures far beyond the fleeting acclaim of self-interest.