Thoughts on Power

I was thinking about power this morning ... and the quote
"power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely"

I am often trying to figure out the draw of power.... both to have it and be near it - to be in the inner circle so to speak.

Unfortunately it is one of those things that I don't understand (and probably never will) 

It might come from my upbringing.... living with a father who had his fair amount of power ... who never believed in flaunting the power - and who was fond of saying (of people with power) "They all put their pants on one leg at a time".  And his attitude towards power was probably what earned him the respect of so many people.

And there it is............ 

Power is nothing without respect.

Oh you can fight to gain power .... you can steal to get power.. you can lie to get power.. but if you don't have the respect of people who surround you .. you honestly have nothing (except maybe a little dictatorship)

I sit and watch the people who have power or think they have power... I measure them not by this power .... but by the way they handle it........... by the respect they earn from those around them.... 

Because if we aren't careful
"power will corrupt and absolute power will corrupt absolutely"

And then the world will be in a right mess.