“A man who is of little importance and means today can be a person of power tomorrow. We forget a lot in our lives, but we rarely forget an insult.”

The 48 Laws of Power, Law 19, Know Who You’re Dealing With—Do Not Offend the Wrong Person

When we find ourselves in positions of power, we often start to exert our supposed superiority over those weaker than us.

We might present our subordinates with impossible tasks, punishing them if they do not meet our unrealistic demands.

We might separate ourselves from those below us, feeling as though our new-found authority gives us the right to dismiss these lowly individuals.

Most dangerously, though, we might start to insult those with less power than us.