He's struggled with ideas of power and authority, of what makes
greatness, all his life. For all he understands that He is all-powerful
and uses that complete power to better the lives of His creation, in
practice, he's only ever seen those with power use it selfishly and
cruelly. He doesn't have anyone to model this kind of greatness on.
"...does being powerful make people...less good?" he ventures, cautiously.
Maybe there's a rule here he hasn't noticed.
"The truth is it's probably to do with opportunity and temperament. Some people are evil and given even a little power and they'll use it cruelly. Some people are good, but too long with too much power and they lose perspective and do evil things. Rarest of all, the people who attain great power and remember to always do good with it."
"...no, I don't. But I know another, more common type- less talked about but more real. All the good kings and queens I knew tried their best. They remembered this ideal, and they aspired to it. Sometimes they still stumbled, but I think they were good. I would trust them with my lives."
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2017-11-28 01:52 pm (UTC)"Oh."
He's struggled with ideas of power and authority, of what makes greatness, all his life. For all he understands that He is all-powerful and uses that complete power to better the lives of His creation, in practice, he's only ever seen those with power use it selfishly and cruelly. He doesn't have anyone to model this kind of greatness on.
"...does being powerful make people...less good?" he ventures, cautiously. Maybe there's a rule here he hasn't noticed.
no subject
Date: 2017-11-29 04:09 am (UTC)Says Quentin, with a light shrug.
"The truth is it's probably to do with opportunity and temperament. Some people are evil and given even a little power and they'll use it cruelly. Some people are good, but too long with too much power and they lose perspective and do evil things. Rarest of all, the people who attain great power and remember to always do good with it."
no subject
Date: 2017-11-29 10:07 am (UTC)"Do you know anybody like that?"
It sounds like a rarity, and by his own admission, Quentin isn't such a person himself.
no subject
Date: 2017-11-29 02:33 pm (UTC)