What's Good for the Goose Is Good for the Gander

摘要

WE ALL GREW UP HEARING THIS CON-ceivably 500-year-old version of "What's sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander." The saying has to do with fairness, equal distribution of opportunity, and level playing fields. It also has to do with power and its use and misuse. There are all kinds of power-physical power, financial power, political power, spiritual power, personal power, organizational power (surely there are more, but you get the idea). The common thread in power is that the mere possession of it means someone else doesn't possess it. A very famous line from President Abraham Lincoln summed it up: "Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power." Having power can bring someone tremendous joy or sorrow, discredit or praise, lasting distinction or eternal shame. Names like Marcus Aurelius and his nephew, Nero, and George Washington and one of his favorite generals, Benedict Arnold, all show us the yin and yang of power. All the good people who had power always made sure its use was going to affect their lives as much if not more than those of others. In our world, we would call it leading from the front.