Exposing power risks replacing it with worse men, yet concealment is worse

Evidence

To expect all power to be exercised all the time would not only overstrain the power-holder – according to the prescriptions of the power-code it would also prevent the accumulation of worthwhile power. The power-holder must behave selectively in regard to his own power; he must consider whether he wants to bring it into play; he must be able to discipline himself. — Niklas Luhmann, Trust and Power, 625 (#corroborates, via linked claim)

Conscious risks increase with increasing consciousness of selection. In the first place they are conceived in general terms, at the level of the processes of selection and transmission, as risks of making mistakes. In this conception of the problem, the solution lies in imposing standards of correct selection. This applies equally to all media – with vast differences in the type of rules about prudence, morals, dogmatisms and organizational and institutional provisions which are thought out and recommended in order to counteract the danger. In the particular case of power, one fears misuse by its holder. As soon as centralized power becomes visible and operational, the problem of tyrants, who use power despotically and arbitrarily, arises. Political theory counters this with an institutionally bound ethic. — Niklas Luhmann, Trust and Power, 747 (#qualifies, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Visible centralized power creates the risk of tyrannical misuse. — Niklas Luhmann, Trust and Power, 747; Power-holders must restrain themselves or power’s potential is squandered — Niklas Luhmann, Trust and Power, 625

Broader Connections

• Power-holders must restrain themselves or power’s potential is squandered #corroborates (0.80) — Niklas Luhmann, Trust and Power, 625
• Visible centralized power creates the risk of tyrannical misuse. #qualifies (0.75) — Niklas Luhmann, Trust and Power, 747