Just want to discuss the phrase: "with great power, comes great responsibility"

[Esper]

As it says, just want to talk about it, what it really means, and how people see it now in the modern day.
Of course I shall start with my idea of it and how it affects my life daily.

It, to me, is truly what it means to 'grow up' to be the adult and be the person I'm not now. It is also what I should strive to obtain as a person, I, as a person, should want to obtain power and responsibility, to use myself to better others and myself, to grow as a person, and to take the role others don't want too. It is a ideal you should strive for, to be the person who understands what it means, what it stands for, and to hold yourself to that phrase, to be someone held accountable for yourself and others because you work hard to be that person, to be the one who is looked at to take responsibility.

What do you think? do you have the same idea of what this phrase means? Do you have a interpretation or story related to this idea? Please share it and maybe we can learn a bit about ourselves as we go.

 

[AnonUnlimited]

I believe it’s crap the way it’s applied in Spider-Man.

I don’t believe simply because someone is powerful they must have the responsibility to take care of others.

Parker is always down in the dumps because that “responsibility” is getting in the way of his happiness. It’s really unfair to pin responsibility on someone just because they have a certain power.

However I do agree with it in a practical application.

if one does have great power, they are responsible for controlling it and making sure they don’t harm others unintentionally.

 

[Cipiteca396]

This phrase has caused some serious problems for me.

For a long time I felt the same way you do about it. But at some point I realized that it's got a bit of a dark side.

You have no obligation to do anything for anyone.

You have no obligation to use a power just because you have it.

With great power, comes great responsibility- Perhaps. But it does not come with any obligations. You are required only to use it wisely, not to use it.

Otherwise, if you were born with an evil, corruptive power, you would have that same obligation to use it. You would be required to be the villain. Just as another person would be required to stop you.

Asking one person to use their power and another to repress it is hypocritical. Asking both of them to do as they wish without hurting people is 'acceptable'. Still a little odd, but some basic rules make sense.

On the other side, if you have no power, you have no responsibility to help or hurt others? Isn't that strange?

 

[Esper]

Asking one person to use their power and another to repress it is hypocritical. Asking both of them to do as they wish without hurting people is 'acceptable'. Still a little odd, but some basic rules make sense.

On the other side, if you have no power, you have no responsibility to help or hurt others? Isn't that strange?

Interesting take, I believe you don't fully understand what my thought on it are, but I do agree in some parts with your assessment.

The ideal that I was speaking of isn't "I have X and must use it in Y manner" it is more, "I have the ability to be a better person, and to help the world be better" it isn't about the power itself, but how you use it, as I think you are saying. If you have a corrupting power, as you stated, it would be your responsibility to not use it if it doesn't make you a better person, in the moral sense, if you can use it to help the people and you can learn to control it, then do so, as you can become better for it.

The idea that I have ascribed my current statement to is something akin to running towards a ideal, you may never reach it, but your goal is to simple be better as a person, even if you fall short by the end. If you did well enough many people will think of you beyond just your image, but your character as a person.


I hope that explains my stance, and that it can continue the discussion in a respectable manner.

 

[Ilikewaterkusa]

As it says, just want to talk about it, what it really means, and how people see it now in the modern day.

Of course I shall start with my idea of it and how it affects my life daily.

It, to me, is truly what it means to 'grow up' to be the adult and be the person I'm not now. It is also what I should strive to obtain as a person, I, as a person, should want to obtain power and responsibility, to use myself to better others and myself, to grow as a person, and to take the role others don't want too. It is a ideal you should strive for, to be the person who understands what it means, what it stands for, and to hold yourself to that phrase, to be someone held accountable for yourself and others because you work hard to be that person, to be the one who is looked at to take responsibility.

What do you think? do you have the same idea of what this phrase means? Do you have a interpretation or story related to this idea? Please share it and maybe we can learn a bit about ourselves as we go.

The quote is an attempted rekindling at the flames of hierarchical being and of the disposition of power but does not hold up to what it attempts to rekindle. Those who have power in our era do not have as much responsibilities as those of the past eras yet exercise more power than kings and queens could ever dream of. A better quote for this would be “The greater the power, the more it must be controlled.” Or something along those lines.

 

[HappyVainGlory]

As it says, just want to talk about it, what it really means, and how people see it now in the modern day.
Of course I shall start with my idea of it and how it affects my life daily.

It, to me, is truly what it means to 'grow up' to be the adult and be the person I'm not now. It is also what I should strive to obtain as a person, I, as a person, should want to obtain power and responsibility, to use myself to better others and myself, to grow as a person, and to take the role others don't want too. It is a ideal you should strive for, to be the person who understands what it means, what it stands for, and to hold yourself to that phrase, to be someone held accountable for yourself and others because you work hard to be that person, to be the one who is looked at to take responsibility.

What do you think? do you have the same idea of what this phrase means? Do you have a interpretation or story related to this idea? Please share it and maybe we can learn a bit about ourselves as we go.

I think that the quote is interesting because it can be interpreted a lot of different ways.

The obvious interpretation, and the one implied by Spiderman, is a sort of noblesse oblige. Because one has power, one should use it to protect and better those without.

However, that's reading it as if-then. If you have great power, then you must exercise great responsibility.

You can also read it as 'and.' In this interpretation, the two are one whole. Great power cannot be had without great responsibility. Even if you came across it by happenstance, without responsibility, you would lose that great power. Here it's not an obligation or an imperative, but a natural course of events.

There's a bit more nuance left though. Responsibility can obviously be read as being responsible for things, like taking the blame. But it can also mean being the cause. In that context, the quote changes to mean almost the opposite. Great power comes only because you made it happen. And it will only remain if you continue to do so.

I like the storybook heroic interpretation of the quote in Spiderman, but I personally interpret it more as 'you must take charge of your own destiny to achieve great things.'

It's a fascinating quote though because both power and responsibility can be interpreted so broadly.

Note: the original quote is more explicit on the noblesse oblige though. Not too fond of that one.

 

[ArcadiaBlade]

Sorry. But I had to post this meme.

 

[Esper]

I think that the quote is interesting because it can be interpreted a lot of different ways.

Hm... I agree very much with this, I read through your set of observations, and enjoy your interpretations of the phrase. If you have a certain aspect you wish to discuss I would love to go deeper into the conversation.

---

Sorry. But I had to post this meme.

Well... your not wrong.

Spoiler: It's fine

I enjoy a good meme no matter if I'm trying to discus, though I would enjoy if you hadn't I A. can't stop you B. don't mind it

 

[TheEldritchGod]

So if you have no power, you have no obligations.
Don't try.
Give up.
Allow someone else to do the heavy lifting.
Just consume product and get excited waiting for more product.

 

[Ferinibyn]

I was also thought a lot about this phrase.
Responsibility means you are have duty to someone. What is source of duty can be? Basic one is unpaid deal. For this phrase specially deal means "who gave you power and what reason?". For example: political power given by citizens so you have responsibility to fulfill their requests (like good country management).
What deal superheroes make? Mostly it's some lucky. Where duty coming from? Mostly none.
You also can say that they are citizen of country and country give them many so they should pay back but not. As part of society i'm already pay society just by my existence. I'm work, pay taxes and so. Even consuming resources can be called "payback" to society because unused recourses will become useless with time.

What you write about responsibility collide with reality. Power means only you have influence on world bigger than other. Nothing more, nothing less. What you write is basic needs humans have according to Maslow pyramid: needs of love, social belonging, esteem. When your live become good and you don't think about survival you start to think what your existence means and what you will leave after.
You make duty from nothing to make your life meaningful. You need life goal if your think you should do smth with power you have.
With my personality i'd say that power should be used to fullfil desires. Even becoming villain ok if your heart peaceful.

UPD: I didn't read all properly before start typing so i have small addition. Be better as person mans become person that loved by everyone. More you become better as person more your individuality lost because good person work only to society goodness. Your individuality comes from pride and ego, from your wishes and all that can collide with other favor and that collision make person worse in others eye.
Don't become good person, be yourself.

 

[Amok]

with great power, comes great irresponsibility​

 

[AnonUnlimited]

With great Pizza, comes great pepperoni!

 

[Cipiteca396]

With great Pizza, comes great pepperoni!

Fuck, now I'm hungry...

 

[Irl_Rat]

It can be summed up as "please try contribute to society." Most people leave a positive impact, if not noticeable individually. But it does build up. And those with more power leave more of an impact.

 

[Esper]

So if you have no power, you have no obligations.
Don't try.
Give up.
Allow someone else to do the heavy lifting.
Just consume product and get excited waiting for more product.

this is an interesting take, I personally believe it isn't just saying once you gain power you now have a obligation and now you have responsibility, it is also the power in yourself, your power to choose.

Such as, you have the power to choose not to work, but you have a responsibility to work. I hope this can be a interesting discussion. I don't think people know how powerful choice is, but for me I believe it is the greatest power of all, and should be used very wisely.

 

[TheEldritchGod]

this is an interesting take, I personally believe it isn't just saying once you gain power you now have a obligation and now you have responsibility, it is also the power in yourself, your power to choose.

Such as, you have the power to choose not to work, but you have a responsibility to work. I hope this can be a interesting discussion. I don't think people know how powerful choice is, but for me I believe it is the greatest power of all, and should be used very wisely.

It's more of a comment on how trite slogans usually have dark meanings.

"Star Wars Is For Everyone" Until you read the twitter account, then they mean, "Star Wars is for everyone who thinks like me"
Telling people they are victims and that if you claim not to be while being a member of group X means you are too stupid to know your situation. The bigotry of low expectation. It isn't just what a slogan says, but what it doesn't say.

I prefer "Responsibility Is Great".

Power only matters if you have the power to fulfill your responsibility. You should take pride in what responsibility you can earn. We shame responsible people. We discourage people for claiming it. Give up. Give in. Do what feels good.

If you have great power, you have great responsibility implies if you have none, or you feel like you have no power, JUST GIVE UP. Let the powers that be handle the responsibility. Why would you want that work? That HASSLE? It's just a drag.

Don't be a human being. Be a human DOING.

 

[Esper]

Don't be a human being. Be a human DOING.

I love this as a quote, thank you for your logical opinion. Truly it is sad the state some people think in, but I'm glad there are people such as yourself who still believe in responsibilities. Even though we have a little bit of a different way of expressing our thoughts on it.

 

[Ninini]

It’s from Spider-Man. Meaning with power you can’t dick around or someone might get hurt, or even die like peters uncle

 

[SakeVision]

No, that means that if you shoot a nuke it's gonna do more damage then when you shoot a gun.