So much of the world, especially the world we see today around corporate leadership and national politics makes much more sense once you realize this fundamental law:

People who desire infinite power only want it because it gives them the power to avoid consequences, not because they want both the power and the consequences.

The people who believe that with great power comes great consequences are exactly the people who don't want great power because they don't want the weight of those consequences. The only people who see that bargain and think "sign me up!" are the ones who intend to drop the consequences on the floor.