Kings and Pawns

There is an Italian proverb I love that says, “Once the game is over the King and the pawn go back into the same box.”  It speaks to me of the equality of mankind.
I will always respect the position.  If someone is king, I will give the honour that is due.  That does not mean I automatically respect the person occupying the position, but the position of king is in my opinion to be honoured.
As far as I am concerned the man makes the position not the position the man.  History is full of wise and not so wise rulers.  It seems to me though both have something in common.
Practice.  A good ruler does not become one because they are exalted into a ruling position.  In the same way a bad ruler does not suddenly undergo a character change and become that way.  The biggest difference to me for someone exalted into a ruling position is opportunity.
History shows us the influence of good and bad rulers.  For rulers, decisions impact millions rather than an immediate circle of friends.  But again the common denominator is practice.  People become what they practice.  A ruler concerned mostly for themselves and not others has practiced being that way.  At first it may impact conscience, but the more conscience is overruled the easier it is to ignore.  Rulers both good and bad gather to their side those of like mind.
Yet as the proverb says kings and pawns go back into the same box when the game is over.  I want rulers to be people of integrity but I want all to be that.  From the street sweeper to the king, practiced character impacts all it touches.   For sure a king influences more but all influence.   And it may be the pawn that wins the game.  By the same token it can be the pawn that loses the game.
The point is, what I am is what I will be.  It is like say a bottle of lemonade.  Lemonade comes out of such a bottle.  Not ginger ale. What I am will come out.  The more I practice integrity and justice the more it flows out of me.  Be I street sweeper or king I will never be but who I am.