A thirst for wealth and power acts as a driving force contributing to the formation of a rigidly structured society, where concentrated resources and authority create a clear division between those who govern and those who are subordinate.

Wealth, Power, and the Unyielding Social Divide

A thirst for wealth and power acts as a driving force contributing to the formation of a rigidly structured society, where concentrated resources and authority create a clear division between those who govern and those who are subordinate. This aspiration leads to the consolidation and even intensification of existing hierarchies, as the accumulation of wealth in the hands of a few becomes a means to preserve power and influence, thereby deepening social inequality.

One source emphasizes that regardless of the social order “there is an inevitable inequality between the ruling and the subordinate” — a principle that shows inequality is not accidental but a predetermined element of the social structure ( link txt). Another source develops this idea by indicating that “institutions are based on the fact that the ruling class... must concentrate wealth and privileges within a narrow circle of the governed.” This implies that the concentration of wealth becomes an instrument for maintaining power, with attempts at redistribution often merely replacing the faces within that narrow circle, without eliminating the phenomenon of social stratification ( link txt).

Furthermore, an important aspect is the mode of wealth distribution. As noted in one source, “an essential component of every social order is not only the prevention of excessive wealth accumulation but also the maintenance of a fair mechanism of distribution.” When this mechanism is compromised in favor of the elite, it increases social tension and promotes further destabilization of society ( link txt).

Thus, the thirst for wealth and power shapes the social structure by reinforcing a rigid hierarchy, where the concentration of resources and privileges in the hands of a few deepens social inequality, making the achievement of genuine equality among all members of society practically impossible.

Supporting citation(s):
“Just as people are always unequal in their physical and mental attributes, so they are unequal in their social standing, in their rights and responsibilities. Everywhere and always, in every social order... there is an inevitable inequality between the rulers and the ruled...” (source: link txt)
“Strangely enough, it is said that institutions rely on the notion that the ruling class, amid widespread suffering and hunger, must concentrate wealth and privileges within a narrow circle of the governed.” (source: link txt)
“An essential element in every social order is not only preventing excessive wealth accumulation but also maintaining a fair mechanism of distribution. The system must prevent excessive property disparities...” (source: link txt)