Passion for power: before whose glance man creepeth and croucheth and drudgeth, and becometh lower than the serpent and the swine:⁠—until at last great contempt crieth out of him⁠—

Passion for power: the terrible teacher of great contempt, which preacheth to their face to cities and empires: “Away with thee!”⁠—until a voice crieth out of themselves: “Away with me !”

Passion for power: which, however, mounteth alluringly even to the pure and lonesome, and up to self-satisfied elevations, glowing like a love that painteth purple felicities alluringly on earthly heavens.

Passion for power: but who would call it passion , when the height longeth to stoop for power! Verily, nothing sick or diseased is there in such longing and descending!