With great power comes great responsibility.
VerifiedSpider-Man, 2002, spoken by Uncle Ben (Cliff Robertson)
Why This Matters
Read full quote →The real weight of this formula lies not in condemning the powerful, but in suggesting that *capability itself* is a moral fact—that what you *can* do creates an obligation, whether you sought it or not. A surgeon's steady hands don't give her permission to rest easy; they demand she stay sharp. Most people read this as a warning about ambition, but it's actually more unsettling: it means responsibility finds us whether we volunteer for it or not, the moment we gain any advantage at all. That's why a parent with resources, or a person with an attentive ear among friends, or someone born into fortunate circumstances, can't simply enjoy their good luck in peace.