Moses needed to display superiority more than he wanted power.

Evidence

For not only could Robert Moses not help showing his contempt for others, he seemed actually to take pleasure in showing this contempt—a deep, genuine pleasure, a pleasure whose intensity leads to the suspicion that, in a way, he needed to display his superiority, with a need so great that he simply could not dissemble it. How else to explain the fact that, even when he was appearing before the public to ask for its support, he could not help ostentatiously flaunting condescension and boredom—boredom even at its applause? — Robert A. Caro, The Power Broker, 1858

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: The acquisition of power transformed Moses’ character into overt arrogance — Robert A. Caro, The Power Broker: Robert Moses and the…, 1066; Even his patron believed control of Moses hinged on personal force — Robert A. Caro, The Power Broker: Robert Moses and the…, 2986; Moses would destroy a needed public work rather than let others build it — Robert A. Caro, The Power Broker: Robert Moses and the…, 2595 (+7 more)

Broader Connections

• Moses would destroy a needed public work rather than let others build it #corroborates (0.82) — Robert A. Caro, The Power Broker, 2595
• Moses’ motive shifted from building works to seizing power itself #contradicts (0.80) — Robert A. Caro, The Power Broker, 2594
• Even his patron believed control of Moses hinged on personal force #corroborates (0.75) — Robert A. Caro, The Power Broker, 2986