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.
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    Discussion

  • RE: Adversity or Power - What defines a person's character better? -Peter Katanisa (11/05/15)
  • Character is independent of power, money or adversity. If I have power, money and i have experienced great adversity yet i remain with myself intact untainted, does that mean that i have no character? To me character is far beyond realms of adversity, power or wealth. It is WHO IAM.....in the totality of my existence whether i have everything or completely nothing.
  • RE: Adversity or Power - What defines a person's character better? -Peter Katanisa (11/05/15)
  • Character is independent of power, money or adversity. If I have power, money and i have experienced great adversity yet i remain with myself intact untainted, does that mean that i have no character? To me character is far beyond realms of adversity, power or wealth. It is WHO IAM.....in the totality of my existence whether i have everything or completely nothing.
  • RE: Adversity or Power - What defines a person's character better? -Deepa Kaushik (09/23/15)
  • Adversity and Power are like adjectives. It depends on the individual perception to categorise adversity or power in what aspect. Adversity could be lack of money, lack of loved ones, lackof power and authoritry etc. Similarly, power could be defined in terms of wealth, authority, power of affection etc. Now, both adversity and power defines the character of the individual with their basic definition of these terms.

    Talking adversity on a common and widely used context that is lack of money; such adversity does explain the honesty of the person. The one who can maintain his moral and cope up with the worst situations can denote the strong will power and his truthfullness.

    On the othet hand, power is widely used in terms of authority. A person with immense power in hand needs to be extra-cautious. Excess of anything is destructive. It requires talent to handle power with charm and grace, yet keeping self and others secure from the heat wave of power.

    The term 'lack' or 'adversity' gives various notions and creates beautiful ideas and plans to be implemented when the life cycle takes the turn. But, the person with adversity might forget his past sufferings in lure of being sufficient and maze of fulfillness. But, when the person with power handles the situation aptly and yields good results for all sections of the society, he can be judged better in terms of his character.

    Though we can give a vague conclusion to this discussion with power having a upper hand over adversity in analysing a person's character; yet we should always remember that these equations do change with individual perception of life and their evaluation might have totally different parameters to analyse the various phases of a person's character.
  • RE: Adversity or Power - What defines a person's character better? -pintu sharma (09/22/15)
  • my opinion adversity would be become regularly in life and we are always learn new things and add own exprience. This is show in form of charater. Adversity is show power of person . Charaeter connot be develped without power
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  • RE: Adversity or Power - What defines a person's character better? -Riya (09/22/15)
  • We are greatly influenced under the Power of power that is indirectly Authority.One's Behaviour/character is known by how he treats the people inferior to him/her.This phase is gained due to some excellent work achieved by you,hence it is the period of exultation and likely forces you to act arrogantly/haughty.Whereas under the phase of adversity,You deal with circumstances impending you with obstacles which make you realise its importance.That is everyone is able to manage it somehow,whereas power controls you instead.Hence Power is More powerful than Adversity always!
  • RE: Adversity or Power - What defines a person's character better? -shubhi singhal (09/22/15)
  • every one suffers adversity sometime or other in his life. the intensity of the hardships may differ but one cannot deny that every hardship leaves you with a moral lesson which always makes you more mature than before and hence helps shape your character. also it is not only the adversities in life that shape a persons character. good times also teach a person and shape him. it only depends on the person whether he wants to change for the better or for worse. but yes, adversities do affect us all majorly and help mould us.