People kill not with anger, but with smiles.
—Nietzsche, Thus Spoke Zarathustra
The Prince once said this: our first impression of a ruler's intelligence comes from the people around him. If those around him are capable and loyal, then the ruler is almost certainly wise. But if those around him are fickle, mediocre, and incompetent, then the ruler's first great mistake is choosing the wrong people.
The Order of the Phoenix and the Death Eaters represented two leaders and two different styles. Albus won everyone's favor, while Voldemort won everyone's fear. Many even resented and hated him, so Voldemort suspected every person and every matter.
Pomona had never thought of Albus Dumbledore as a "king." How could that white-bearded old man who loved sweets possibly be as frightening as a king? But an enemy's assessment was often the most objective. Albus Dumbledore was not merely a foolish old man; he was also an old lion as cunning as a fox.
A ruler should keep the pleasing tasks for himself and hand the unpopular ones to others. As long as he won the people's favor, a few schemes and tricks did not matter.
If the first level of Monogenes Caecilius Hagrid's maze truly was King's Star, then it was both the easiest answer to guess and the hardest.
What did a "king" think about? Fine wine, beautiful women, or having his own story turned into poetry and sung by later generations?
Albus chose the reputation he would leave behind. That was why he had lived so "ascetically," earning titles like "great" and "white wizard."
A dark wizard like Voldemort was nothing like him. They preferred to enjoy life while they could. The Gaunt family loved grandeur, and like a Gaunt, he liked things worthy of his status.
Bone china was expensive