Power always corrupts the one who holds it [Revised]

 Harold Macmillan once said “Power? It’s like a Dead Sea fruit. When you achieve it, there is nothing there”. There are many stories, events, movies, games, and novels based on Power. It can be the greatest thing one can achieve but at the same time the most destructive. In order to gain power you need to struggle for it, to keep gaining power you need another’s help, and with power obtain there is a great responsibility.
         
          One doesn’t gain power out through the thin air; he or she first strives and struggles for it. Through all the efforts they make they slowly gain power to fulfill their goals. But with the power gained, there is always an opposing force. The opposing force is envious, jealous, and does not agree. The person will keep gaining power to suppress the force. So they could keep their goals in reach. Just like Julius Caesar, he started out as a soldier wanting to help his country. He trained hard to keep moving his rank up, and on the battlefield, aggressive to win.

          Although a person has gained power he or she cannot proceed to gain more without another’s help. Julius Caesar couldn’t have become King without the power of his comrades around him. Power is nothing if you don’t have people to support you or enemies that want to bring you down. Throughout history there was many Kings that ruled countries. The King’s influence was utterly powerful; it brought people together or their own downfall. For example Louis Riel once guillotined France’s king, Louis XVI and gained an enormous amount of power and influence through the lower and middle class. Riel was able to rule France for a period of time with his ongoing influence, but as the influence and power grew the fear inside of him grew also. He started to enforce the laws and anyone who looked suspicious, wanted to end the stop Louis Riel’s ambition they were captured, or sentenced to death. This period was the Reign of Terror, and where it got its name was the many deaths during the period of time. Riel’s influence was still strong but it caused fear into the crowds and himself too.

         
             The position of King or leader contains a massive amount of power, influence, and responsibility. Since there were many deaths during the reign of terror, Riel had to take responsibility. Due to the fact that he was the one who enforced the laws and had anybody suspicious dealt with. Even though Riel was once loved by the people, his power was corrupted by his fear. The consequences had outweighed his power and influence, and eventually leading him to his own death.

            As a result, power does not just appear through the thin air. It is sought by all people of all kind. Either it is for ruling or to prove one’s self; it is struggled and strived for. In order to obtain power, you first must struggle for it. In order to maintain your power, you must gain influence through another. Once you have fulfilled your desires and goals, there is no longer a dream you can run after for unless you keep looking ahead. There is only one thing you can have and it is the consequences one has neglected or avoided when striving for power. The consequences can be people being envious and jealous of your fulfilled dreams making one’s power corrupted and unwanted.