If a thing is in the power of another

If a thing is in the power of another, whom dost thou blame?...Thou must blame nobody. For if thou canst, correct that which is the cause. But if thou canst not do this, correct at least the thing itself. But if thou canst not do even this, of what use is it to thee to find fault? Marcus Aurelius.  Meditations.  Book 8.

Image: Emperor Hadrian in armor, wearing the gorgoneion. Marble, Roman artwork, ca. 127–128 CE. From Heraklion, Crete, courtesy of Wikimedia Commons contributor Marie-Lan Nguyen.

Note:  Late in Trajan's reign, Hadrian failed to achieve a senior consulship, being only suffect consul for 108 CE. This gave him parity of status with other members of the senatorial nobility, but no particular distinction befitting an heir designate. Had Trajan wished it, he could have promoted his protege to patrician rank and its privileges, which included opportunities for a fast track to consulship without prior experience as tribune but Trajan chose not to.