Adversity makes men; prosperity makes monsters.
[L’adversité fait l’homme, et le bonheur les monstres.]
Proverbs, Sayings, and Adages
French proverb
Variants:Often attributed to Victor Hugo, including from sources going back to the 19th Century (Ballou (1899)). I have not been able to find an actual citation or primary source.
- "Adversity makes men, but prosperity makes monsters."
- "Adversity makes men, and prosperity makes monsters."
- "Prosperity makes monsters, but adversity makes men."
It is also widely noted as an anonymous or proverbial saying (e.g., 1809, 1818).
It may well be a French proverb that was incorrectly attributed to Hugo (who wrote quite a bit on the subjects of adversity and prosperity) in order to have a name to hang off of it.
Quotations about:
power corrupts
Note not all quotations have been tagged, so Search may find additional quotes on this topic.
Take heed not to be transformed into a Caesar, not to be dipped in the purple dye; for it does happen.
[Ὅρα μὴ ἀποκαισαρωθῇς, μὴ βαφῇς: γίνεται γάρ.]
Marcus Aurelius (AD 121-180) Roman emperor (161-180), Stoic philosopher
Meditations [To Himself; Τὰ εἰς ἑαυτόν], Book 6, ch. 30 (6.30.1) (AD 161-180) [tr. Farquharson (1944)]
(Source)
Advising himself on the dangers of becoming emperor. Marcus coined a new Greek verb here (ἀποκαισαρόομαι), "to become like Caesar" (more broadly, "to assume the monarchy").
(Source (Greek)). Alternate translations:Take heed, lest of a philosopher thou become a mere Caesar in time, and receive a new tincture from the court. For it may happen if thou dost not take heed.
[tr. Casaubon (1634), 6.27]Have a care you han't too much of an Emperour in you, and that you don't fall into the liberties and Pride of your Predecessors. These Humours are easily learn'd, therefore guard against the Infection.
[tr. Collier (1701)]Take care you don’t degenerate into the manners of the Cesars, or be tinctured by them.
[tr. Hutcheson/Moor (1742)]Beware, when you take the title of Cæsar, that you do not insensibly assume too much of the Emperor; nor be infected with the haughty manners of some of your predecessors; for there is a possibility of such an event.
[tr. Graves (1792), 6.27]Take care that thou art not made into a Caesar, that thou art not dyed with this dye; for such things happen.
[tr. Long (1862)]Have care that you have not too much of a Cæsar in you, and that you are not dyed with that dye. This is easily learned, therefore guard against the infection.
[tr. Collier/Zimmern (1887)]See that you be not be-Cæsared, steeped in that dye, as too often happens.
[tr. Rendall (1898)]See to it that you fall not into Caesarism: avoid that stain, for it may come to you.
[tr. Hutcheson/Chrystal (1902)]See thou be not Caesarified, nor take that dye, for there is the possibility.
[tr. Haines (Loeb) (1916)]Be careful not to affect the monarch too much, or to be too deeply dyed with the purple; for this can well happen.
[tr. Staniforth (1964)]Take care that you are not turned into a Caesar, that you are not stained with the purple; for such things do come about.
[tr. Hard (1997 ed.; 2011 ed.)]To escape imperialization -- that indelible stain. It happens.
[tr. Hays (2003)]Take care not to be Caesarified, or dyed in purple: it happens.
[tr. Hammond (2006)]Take care you are not turned into a Caesar, or stained with the purple; these things do happen.
[tr. Gill (2013)]Beware of being Caesarified, be not stained by desire for power.
[ed. Taplin (2016)]
Power will intoxicate the best hearts, as wine the strongest heads. No man is wise enough, nor good enough, to be trusted with unlimited power; for, whatever qualifications he may have evinced to entitle him to the possession of so dangerous a privilege, yet when possessed, others can no longer answer for him, because he can no longer answer for himself.
Charles Caleb "C. C." Colton (1780-1832) English cleric, writer, aphorist
Lacon: Or, Many Things in Few Words, Vol. 1, § 522 (1820)
(Source)
I am more and more convinced that man is a dangerous creature; and that power, whether vested in many or a few, is ever grasping, and, like the grave, cries, “Give, give!” The great fish swallow up the small; and he who is most strenuous for the rights of the people, when vested with power, is as eager after the prerogatives of government. You tell me of degrees of perfection to which human nature is capable of arriving, and I believe it, but at the same time lament that our admiration should arise from the scarcity of the instances.
Abigail Adams (1744-1818) American correspondent, First Lady (1797-1801)
Letter to John Adams (27 Nov 1775)
It is important, likewise, that the habits of thinking in a free country should inspire caution in those intrusted with its administration to confine themselves within their respective constitutional spheres, avoiding in the exercise of the powers of one department to encroach upon another. The spirit of encroachment tends to consolidate the powers of all the departments in one, and thus to create, whatever the form of government, a real despotism. A just estimate of that love of power and proneness to abuse it which predominates in the human heart is sufficient to satisfy us of the truth of this position.
George Washington (1732–1799) American military leader, Founding Father, US President (1789–1797)
Essay (1796-09-18), “Farewell Address,” Claypoole’s American Daily Advertiser, Philadelphia
(Source)
The original draft of "The Address of Gen. Washington to the People of America on His Declining the Presidency of the United States" was by James Madison in June 1792. At the end of his second term, Washington, with the help of Alexander Hamilton, revised it for release and publication.
Adversity makes men; prosperity makes monsters.
[L’adversité fait l’homme, et le bonheur les monstres.]
Proverbs, Sayings, and Adages
French proverb
Variants:Often attributed to Victor Hugo, including from sources going back to the 19th Century (Ballou (1899)). I have not been able to find an actual citation or primary source.
- "Adversity makes men, but prosperity makes monsters."
- "Adversity makes men, and prosperity makes monsters."
- "Prosperity makes monsters, but adversity makes men."
It is also widely noted as an anonymous or proverbial saying (e.g., 1809, 1818).
It may well be a French proverb that was incorrectly attributed to Hugo (who wrote quite a bit on the subjects of adversity and prosperity) in order to have a name to hang off of it.