please I need your help translating this proverb!

[Okey]

hello..

I need your help translating this saying .. I want to translate it but I don't know the deep meaning of it, thus, I wish you could explain what's meant by it


the saying is:

"Power does corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely"



thanks

[Tdol]

http://www.usingenglish.com/forum/as...g-proverb.html

[dreampaputka]

....yes....provers always speak the truth!...of course power is currupt...and curruption grows together with the growth of the power...the more power one gets...the more currupt he/she might become...;)...this is my way of understanding the saying under discussion..;)

[Okey]

Thank you tdol

[Okey]

thx dreampaputka, too

[Howard]

Originally Posted by Okey

hello..
I need your help translating this saying .. I want to translate it but I don't know the deep meaning of it, thus, I wish you could explain what's meant by it
the saying is:
"Power does corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely"
thanks

The actual quotation by Lord Acton, English historian, 1834-1902 is:
"Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.
Great men are almost always bad men."

My interpretation is that, without checks and balances in the political system, politicians could easily be tempted to misuse their power; and a leader with absolute power, where democratic rights are nonexistent, could totally misuse his powers for his own personal benefit, and thus become totally corrupt.

[bubblankatt]

I think the correct quote is

'Power corrupts. Absolute power corrupts absolutely.'

It's meaning is that those who have power are seduced into believing that they are all powerful. The more power they have (absolute power) the more they believe that they are god-like. Most dictators suffer from this condition in that they see themselves as the law, rather than as a person in a position to preserve and protect the law. Often throughout history, they have ruled more by personal whim, then in response to the population.

I hope this helps.

[Not Good]

Well, so many people have spoken that quote that it has been reformed over the years. I think that the kid two posts above me had the original quote reference though. At least I can't dispute it.

my translation: The more power you have, the more likely you are to abuse it.

[Howard]

Dear Not Good,

Please see my reply, above, on 23rd April, 2006 for the answer, as I can't really add to it. The quote in that reply is the exact quote from a book of proverbs, and is therefore, accurate.

Cheers, Howard