Pretty close.
They love it when their pet tyrants create systems to eat those other guys.
They are always astonished when they themselves inevitably are one of those other guys.
Hmmm, still not quite right. *grumble* *grumble* *grumble* *grumble* *grumble* *grumble*
Bottom line is, they always think THEY will be one of the elite rulers. It is always a shock to them when they realize they aren’t viewed the the elites as being part of that crowd.
They are simply tools. Useful tools. The most useful kind of tools...those that don’t know they are being used.