A small tarnished crown-shaped metal ring rests on a dark marbled slab against a burgundy background.

Original artwork, not a still

Edmund Burke

The greater the power, the more dangerous the abuse.

Behind the line

What it means

Our interpretation.

The comparison concerns the damage that misuse of power can cause. Increasing power raises the danger if abuse occurs; it does not by itself say abuse becomes more frequent. The warning is about the scale of the consequences attached to authority used badly.

Context reviewed

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