Power Corrupts?

Protesters in Egypt and more recently Libya have expressed a desire for freedom - democracy - fairness - equality...whist their leaders express a desire to remain in control! This reminded me of a well known quote - and I began to think of it's truths..

Lord Acton, expressed this opinion in a letter to Bishop Mandell Creighton in 1887:

"Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely... Great men are almost always bad men."

Here's a similar quote from another English politician - William Pitt, aka the Elder, aka The Earl of Chatham and British Prime Minister from 1766 to 1778, in a speech given to the UK House of Lords in 1770:

"Unlimited power is apt to corrupt the minds of those who possess it"

What do you think?... true?

I think... "Power - like money - takes on the personality of he or she who possesses it. Both can be used to harm or heal...to build - promote - or suppress!...corruption(In the context of power).. in many ways is just another manifestation of fear

Maybe - the saying should be
"Fear - tends to corrupt... and absolute fear corrupts absolutely.. therefore
Fear.. is best avoided at all costs!"

So why do seemingly good leaders turn 'bad' 'rogue'.. and do they really change? I suspect they never really changed at all..we just get a glimpse into a previously unseen aspect of who they are...
Fear of losing control? control of what - whom exactly?
Fear of reprisals?.. why..who did you harm?
Who knows..human nature never ceases to amaze..

But a nations Army - should never be used against it's own people..