Asked by tesla

Which piece of evidence best supports the theme that power can corrupt people?

"lowliness is young ambition's ladder, / Whereto the climber-upward turns his face"
"scorning the base degrees / By which he did ascend"
"I have not known when his affections swayed / More than his reason"
"the quarrel / Will bear no colour for the thing he is"

All Answers 1

Answered by GPT-5 mini AI
"scorning the base degrees / By which he did ascend"

This most directly shows how gaining power changes a person: once someone reaches the top they come to despise the humble steps and people that helped them — a clear sign of moral corruption caused by power.