"Power tires only those who do not have it"
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Those who enjoy true authority or influence rarely grow weary from its demands; instead, the exhaustion is often felt by those constantly striving for what eludes them. When someone possesses power, it usually comes with resources, networks, and the ability to act rather than constantly react. There is a distinct satisfaction in having one’s voice heard, decisions respected, and ambitions realized, privileges that those outside power endlessly chase.
Aspiring for control or recognition can be far more draining than the responsibilities that come with leadership. The perpetually powerless, or those on the margins of influence, must navigate endless obstacles: persuading, convincing, waiting for a chance, playing by rules set by others. The labor is not just practical but psychological; it is exhausting to aspire without end, to crave an opportunity to shape events, to dream of self-determination while being forced to comply with decisions made elsewhere. The lack of agency produces a form of fatigue rooted in frustration and longing.
For the powerful, responsibility and workload may be immense, but these individuals or groups are often fortified by their sense of command and achievement. They set the agenda, direct resources, and their efforts directly translate into change. Their energy is renewed by results and the validation and security that authority confers. Meanwhile, those on the outside, watching, hoping, maneuvering, must expend emotional and mental energy seeking approval, awaiting acknowledgment, or conceiving elaborate strategies simply to be noticed.
This dynamic highlights a central paradox: power, while burdensome, is also invigorating to those who wield it, as it satisfies fundamental desires for security, impact, and recognition. The fatigue that so many associate with positions of authority is, in fact, far more acute among those perpetually striving for, but denied, ownership and influence over their own circumstances.
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