Degrees of Unintended Narssicism

It is in the nature of every country
in the world to think it is the best,
better than any other nation state,
and better than every other empire.

Better to the point where the word
'empire' has become declasse,
devalued for how close to 'empire'
is to the old self justifying hierarchies
when slavery and trading in slaves,
were the foundation of the wealth of the few,
for whom everything was property, for sale, 
or for pompous displays to other nations. 

'Empire' has been replaced
by the phrase 'trading block',
where each signee portrays itself
as the leader in the agreement
and other countries come second,
third, fourth, or last, in value
of importance, due to their inferiority. 

The narcissism of the nation state
is something world leaders get elected for, 
to update their leadership status,
the more to prop up how each nation
sees itself  as the centre of the universe

The best ex-leaders learn humility
most by what they do when office deserts them.