22.01.2025
Why elegance over power?
A reader challenges GC on why men should pursue elegance over power. Is power the ultimate prize, or does elegance hold a deeper legacy?

The reimagined colossal statue of Roman Emperor Constantine The Great comes from the Basilica Nova in Rome, year 312. This unique portrait of Constantine is one of the most important statues of Late Antiquity.
Photo credit: The Byzantine Legacy
Letter from Mr. C.
I came across your article, "Why Most Men Pursue Power, but Phenomenal Men Pursue Elegance," and it got me thinking. I wanted to reach out and ask your thoughts on something that’s been on my mind.
Men have always chased power—it’s in our nature. It’s what built empires, won wars, and made history. Power brings status, influence, and let’s be honest, the admiration of women. It’s wired into us, driven by testosterone and the desire to be at the top.
But your article suggests that elegance is what truly sets phenomenal men apart. So here’s my question: Why? What does elegance give a man that power doesn’t? In a world where strength and dominance seem to win, does being elegant not put a man at a disadvantage? Or is there something deeper to it—something power alone can’t achieve?
I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Appreciate the work you do at GC.