Full Idea
People who aim at political honour tend to defeat themselves by making themselves dependent on those to whom they aim to be superior (what might be called the 'Coriolanus Paradox').
Gist of Idea
If you aim at honour, you make yourself dependent on the people to whom you wish to be superior
Source
report of Aristotle (Nicomachean Ethics [c.334 BCE], 1095b25) by Bernard Williams - Ethics and the Limits of Philosophy Ch.3
Book Reference
Williams,Bernard: 'Ethics and the Limits of Philosophy' [Fontana 1985], p.39
A Reaction
This brings out Aristotle's point nicely. This is why aristocrats withdraw behind their fences, among small coteries of accolytes.