Motto of Shooting an Elephant

When I finished reading it, it did not meet my expectations. It did not enlightened me or make me go "awww". In fact, it was just a really simple story, unworthy of the amount of glory it was basked in by the literature world.

Just a few minutes ago, I finally realized the true meaning behind "Shooting an Elephant." The power does not always lie in whom that seems to be in power. George Orwell may be the policeman in charge of the Burma city, but it was the crowd that led him to shoot the elephant. The power did not lie in his hands, the seemingly powerful white policeman, but in the crowd of miserable yellow faces in captive.

I realized this when I was reading a list of the top X people. I wondered if it was worth it to be in the top 10 X, given the amount of sacrifice they have to make for those positions. Isn't it better to be in the lower ranks, but lived more of life, be less in the spotlight and perhaps hold more power? When people are hidden behind the scenes and have less expectations from the public, they have more flexibility and power (even if the power does not match the sheer power of top X people.)