Wherever there is authority, there is a natural inclination to disobedience.
—Thomas Chandler Haliburton (1796–1865) Canadian Author, Humorist, Jurist
No man has any natural authority over his fellow men.
—Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712–78) Swiss-born French Philosopher
The key to successful leadership today is influence, not authority.
—Ken Blanchard (b.1939) American Author, Management Expert
The attractive idea that we can now have a parliament of man with authority to control the conduct of nations by legislation or an international police force with power to enforce national conformity to rules of right conduct is a counsel of perfection.
—Elihu Root (1845–1937) American Jurist, Statesman
The country and the Congress were misled into war. I regret that we were not given the truth; as I said more than a year ago, knowing what we know now, I would not have gone to war in Iraq. And knowing now the full measure of the Bush Administration’s duplicity and incompetence, I doubt there are many members of Congress who would give them the authority they abused so badly. I know I would not.
—John Kerry (b.1943) American Attorney, Politician, Diplomat
Anyone who conducts an argument by appealing to authority is not using his intelligence; he is just using his memory.
—Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1519) Italian Polymath, Painter, Sculptor, Architect
I believe in a lively disrespect for most forms of authority.
—Rita Mae Brown (b.1944) American Writer, Feminist
Authority founded on injustice is never of long duration.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
I shall be an autocrat; that’s my trade. And the good Lord will forgive me; that’s his.
—Catherine II of Russia (1729–96) Russian Empress
The man whose authority is recent is always stern.
—Aeschylus (525–456 BCE) Greek Playwright
Without the intervention of the civil authority what would our percepts become?- Platonic laws
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
For a war to be just three conditions are necessary – public authority, just cause, right motive.
—Ernest Hemingway (1899–1961) American Author, Journalist, Short Story Writer
In order for a war to be just, three things are necessary. First, the authority of the sovereign. Secondly, a just cause. Thirdly, a rightful intention.
—Thomas Aquinas (1225–74) Italian Catholic Priest, Philosopher, Theologian
No oppression is so heavy or lasting as that which is inflicted by the perversion and exorbitance of legal authority.
—Joseph Addison (1672–1719) English Essayist, Poet, Playwright, Politician
I hold it a blasphemy to say that a man ought not to fight against authority: there is no great religion and no great freedom that has not done it, in the beginning.
—George Eliot (Mary Anne Evans) (1819–80) English Novelist
But constant experience shows us that every man invested with power is apt to abuse it, and to carry his authority as far as it will go.
—Montesquieu (1689–1755) French Political Philosopher, Jurist
The best government rests on the people, and not on the few, on persons and not on property, on the free development of public opinion and not on authority.
—George Bancroft (1800–91) American Historian, Politician
Move decisions out to the Cabinet and agencies. Strengthen them by moving responsibility, authority, and accountability their direction.
—Donald Rumsfeld (1932–2021) U.S. Secretary of Defense
You can delegate authority, but you cannot delegate responsibility.
—Byron Dorgan (b.1942) American Politician, Banker
Authority poisons everybody who takes authority on himself.
—Golda Meir (1898–1978) Israeli Head of State
Leave no authority existing not responsible to the people.
—Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826) American Head of State, Lawyer
If you’re going to kick authority in the teeth, you might as well use two feet.
—Keith Richards (b.1943) English Singer, Songwriter, Musician, Actor
The man who submits to violence is debased by his compliance; but when he submits to that right of authority which he acknowledges in a fellow creature, he rises in some measure above the person who give the command.
—Alexis de Tocqueville (1805–59) French Historian, Political Scientist
He makes a great mistake… who supposes that authority is firmer or better established when it is founded by force than that which is welded by affection.
—Terence (c.195–159 BCE) Roman Comic Dramatist
Nothing is more gratifying to the mind of man than power or dominion.
—Joseph Addison (1672–1719) English Essayist, Poet, Playwright, Politician
The faith that stands on authority is not faith.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
Great men in judicial places will never want authority.
—Common Proverb
Everything is theoretically impossible, until it is done. One could write a history of science in reverse by assembling the solemn pronouncements of highest authority about what could not be done and could never happen.
—Robert A. Heinlein (1907–88) American Science Fiction Writer
Every great advance in natural knowledge has involved the absolute rejection of authority.
—Thomas Henry Huxley (1825–95) English Biologist
I am a liberated woman. And I do believe if a woman does equal work she should be paid equal money. But personally I am feminine and I do like male authority to lean on.
—Julie Andrews (b.1935) British Actress, Singer
Leave a Reply