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prestige

is the illusion of power (or imposed order) being allocated in a non-arbitrary way, so that it will be recognized as power.

The necessity for power is obvious, because life cannot be lived without order... but the allocation of power is arbitrary because all men are alike, or very nearly. Yet power must not seem to be arbitrarily allocated, because it will not then be recognized as power. Therefore prestige, which is illusion, is of the very essence of power.

is a bubble that bursts right away when you blow it yourself.

prestige, n.All

prestige