Augustus had a clear vision of what he wanted to do and molded the entire government around his personality which was characterized by subtlety and long term thinking (ex letting Lepidus live out his days as Pontifex Max/ slow amassment of power)

Later emperors inherited a job specifically designed around these traits and could not emulate Augustus due to personality differences (Tiberius)
or despotic, overt perceptions of power (Domitian,Nero)
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Successful emperors were able to work for the Principate and emulate Augustus (Vespasian and Titus were known for being easygoing and jovial) Or they had to make the office work for them (Hadrian had a specific idea for the empire and leaned into despotism to achieve them)(Diocletian and Constantine used their power to transform what it meant to be Augustus once the Princeps model no longer worked)