Why were emperors like Napoleon, Stalin, and Hitler so power hungry?
Emperors like Napoleon, Stalin, and Hitler became power hungry because pride drives people to control others. When someone can command massive numbers of people, power itself seizes them. The context calls this true pride: the desire to get control over other people.
Les explains that politicians or military commanders may understand this temptation because they can reach a place of controlling massive numbers of people, and power literally grabs them. He defines true pride as getting control over other people. That is why notorious emperors like Napoleon, Stalin, and Hitler become so power hungry—they can control masses of people. Les connects this to Satan’s temptation of Jesus: Satan takes Him to an exceeding high mountain, shows Him all the kingdoms of the world, and offers control over all these nations if Jesus will fall down and worship him. Yet Satan apparently did not know that these same nations will one day be under Christ’s rulership when He rules and reigns, as a result of His sovereignty.