A paradox of status and power
One can refuse to pay bills, bully employees, steal credit, work the refs and look for shortcuts…
or pay bills ahead of time, elevate employees, amplify the credit of others and take the long road.
While both are modern signifiers of a certain kind of success, only one is a resilient way forward.
Ancient emperors that aspired to power often had their enemies beheaded.
The ones with real power gave them clemency.