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We're not debating the definition of "dominance" we're debating the definition of "effective", and in either case @Belisarius appears to disagree with you else it begs the question; "What's the point?"
For that, we have to go to one of your favorite writer's contemporaries, John Milton. "Better to reign in Hell than serve in Heaven". And to the obvious rejoinder, it is worse than either to serve in Hell.
Is it though?
Sounds a lot like hubris to me. All men must serve, even a King. There are no rights nor privileges without responsibilities.
That's the "obvious rejoinder". But I don't claim the statement is true, only that those who seek dominance despite their dominance producing not great works but misery believe it; I'm comparing them to Satan after all.
Except for the part where "To serve in Hell" is a choice one makes.
When the evil people who seek dominance achieve it in the place you must serve, your service is now a choice they made. You have other choices; you can rebel and die. You can attempt to withdraw from the society they control entirely and most likely die (even if they don't send anyone to kill you). But no good ones.
As @ControlsFreak observes down-thread
If you would prefer to "serve in Hell" rather than "rebel" or "withdraw" that is wholly on you. Once again, are you not the captain of your soul?
If I rebel I die. Perhaps slowly, perhaps quickly, depend on how I do it. If I withdraw -- that is, I refuse to participate in the society they control -- I die miserably, slowly, and alone. As you yourself pointed out, all men must serve. Few get a choice in who they serve.
If you don't rebel you die. Death is one of the few absolute certainties in life. You're also wrong about not having a choice, we all have a choice in who we serve.
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