Adversity or Power - What defines a person's character better?

Adversity or Power - What defines a person's character better?

"Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power." - Abraham Lincoln.

It would really be an injustice if we did not start with the famous Lincoln quote on adversity and power. Character is the essence of who we are. It is internal to us and takes a long time to build. It is shaped by many parameters and experiences of our life. The Lincoln quote, though accepted by general public, there are many quarters of public where adversity is given prime importance in defining a person's character.

Adversity –

1. "Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, vision cleared, ambition inspired, and success achieved." - Helen Keller

2. It is well known that character builds from life experiences and what best way there would be to test a character, if not adversity.

3. You cannot develop genuine character by avoiding adversity and struggle. Thus one's character is shown when faced with adversity.

4. Adversity can help people develop a "psychological immune system" to help them cope with tough times in life, while those with no experience of adversity may have a hard time dealing with them.

5. “Power doesn't corrupt people, people corrupt power.” - William Gaddis. So power cannot be a test of one's character. A person with weak and immoral character will corrupt power.

6. Power is not universal. The only universal factor in life is adversity. Overcoming problems and difficulties thus develops one and the universality of adversity makes it a suitable defining characteristic to judge one’s character.

Power –

1. Man handles adversity much better than he does power. People sometimes welcome challenges or overcome them easily. However when it comes to power, many people abuse power. Because of man's prejudices, his desires, emotions, etc. it's often difficult for one to handle power well.

2. Power can create or destroy ability of oneself as well as others to face adversity. Thus use of power rightly judges one's character.

3. Character is who we really are and what better way to know it when one has authority over others.

4. Right from birth, some or the other person has a controlling role in your life. Thus the use of the power they have over you, helps you to judge their character.

5. Power brings out true colors of people. The autocratic states, dictators, exploitation of poor, etc. are some examples of how power dominates.

6. Power corrupts people. Corruption shows lack of integrity which is a character flaw. Integrity is an important part of one's character.

7. People who see authority as means to achieving personal goals are more likely to misuse power than people who are motivated by a purpose. This shows that character and power are very closely related and one can certainly define one's character by power.

Though life experiences build one's character, what exactly qualifies as a test for one's character? Assuming power or facing adversity? If power, then what of people who never get power in their lifetime? How to test their character? If adversity, then what about those who are in power and rarely face adversities? Or those who overcome adversities brilliantly but misuse power? How to judge their character? One cannot quantify the test of character. Both are equally important. However one cannot ignore that in recent scenarios it is power which is having a slightly upper hand owing to the fact that the moral fabric of the society is degrading leading to misuse of power more than affecting the capability to face adversity.