From a Drudge Report account of an interview with Dan Rather to be broadcast this Sunday night, June 20th, on 60 Minutes:

Why did Clinton commit adultery? He tells Rather there is no rational explanation. “I did something for the worst possible reason. Just because I could,” says Clinton. “I think that’s just about the most morally indefensible reason anybody could have for doing anything,” he says.

I think he’s right. Doing something just because you can, just because you’re in relative power over someone, is the most despicable reason you can have for doing anything. I think it’s that way because in that act (whether it’s sex or beating someone up or making fun of someone or going to war) you devalue the other person and only make them an object of your ego.

I have a faint memory of a short story Mark Twain wrote that is relevant to this topic. I think it was about Satan (or was it God? with Twain either could be the antagonist) in the form of a little boy who had a collection of little “people” (clay figures? I don’t remember) and he did awful things to them just because he could, just for his enjoyment. I forget how the story ends, though.

Does anyone remember this story? I’m pretty sure I’ve got it in one of my volumes of Twain’s short stories at home. I nobody jogs my memory before then I’ll look it up tonight.