The Temptation of Narcissism

From Narcissists in Positions of Authority:

Being in a position of authority secures the uninterrupted flow of Narcissistic Supply. Fed by the awe, fear, subordination, admiration, adoration and obedience of his underlings, parish, students, or patients -- the narcissist thrives in such circumstances. The narcissist aspires to acquire authority by any means available to him. He may achieve this by making use of some outstanding traits or skills such as his intelligence, or through an asymmetry built into a relationship.

One has to sympathisize with the call of narcissism. My personal perspective is certainly the most convenient and efficient one I own. It is forever tempting to reduce the world to the definitions I give to it, to the straightjackets I fit upon it, to the narratives I discern within its chaotic maw. We all aspire to narcissistic power, however subtle that call may be (yes, I say that narcisstically-- since I aspire to the call, then all people must), to have an entire social system revolve around the Sun Me, to have asteroids crashing into each other and comets migrating across vast distances and climax forests growing up to process and eat my rays -- such is the temptation of every sentient being, to find Ultimate Safety and Ultimate Security and Ultimate Satisfication in a realm with boundless love for me.

Or at least my blog.

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