On Tyranny: The Passion for Power and the Sons of Brutus

La Licorne (the Unicorn) N° 28 by Ariane Bilheran, January 15, 2026.

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"Their content had long lain etched in the common people’s age-old longing for lost justice; and they were passed on from hand to hand, like rods in a wrathful relay race which began in primeval gloom, when the luxuriant god of agriculture and towns murdered the god of deserts and herdsmen…"

Koestler, A. The gladiators.

In light of the events (actions and statements) that have shaken the beginning of 2026, many questions remain unanswered regarding what I have termed "the thirst for power". I am frequently asked: how far can power-hungry individuals, who seem to disregard all limits, go? Well, the answer is simple: until they encounter limits. This seemingly obvious law of psychology has governed humanity since the dawn of time.

Known since Greco-Roman antiquity, and for the legacy it left us in the fight against tyranny, it seems today as misunderstood as it is forgotten, much to our misfortune. Therefore, for this Licorne (Unicorn) n°28, I offer you not a geopolitical analysis with predictions, but a profound reflection on humanity, its predatory instincts, and its relationship to power.

The Medici Lion - ©Ariane Bilheran

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