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Full Idea
Prestige, which is an illusion, is the very essence of power.
Gist of Idea
The essence of power is illusory prestige
Source
Simone Weil (Gravity and Grace (9 extracts) [1943], p.255)
Book Ref
Weil,Simone: 'An Anthology' [Penguin 1986], p.255
A Reaction
It is hard to maintain illusory prestige if there is no actual power behind it.
Related Idea
Idea 23817 We need both equality (to attend to human needs) and hierarchy (as a scale of responsibilities) [Weil]