Not in the individual. When you say 'office holder' it means their powers IN THAT office - it's the ROLE - not the INDIVIDUAL they wanted to restrain.
The evil is not the power, it's the incorrect use of it, and since man almost always abuses his power in Government, Government was to be limited from granting power.
Your premise is virtually socialist.
It's a great saying by a man who not only didn't understand it but was actually a hyena. C.S. Lewis might also disagree with you.
They were saying it in the context of fighting off the oppression of a monarchy. I think you are twisting it. The threat of abuse of power was in the individuals holding office. They restrained the office in order to restrain the officeholders. That was the whole point. They did not want super powerful elites. They wanted a constitutional republic that belonged to the people, not the officeholder.
The choice for us should not be between powerful and weak. It should be between wise and unwise, constitutional and unconstitutional. There are attributes to consider, but being a devouring lion is not one we should admire or seek.
“In selecting men for office, let principle be your guide. Regard not the particular sect or denomination of the candidate, look to his character. The scriptures teach that rulers should be men who rule in the fear of God, able men, men of truth, hating covetousness. It is to the neglect of this rule that we must ascribe the multified frauds, breaches of trust, and embezzlement of public property which tarnish the character of our country and disgrace government. When a citizen gives his vote to a man of known immorality, he abuses his civic responsibility, he sacrifices not only his interest, but that of his neighbor; he betrays the interest of his country.” Noah Webster, 1823