Think for yourself and question authority.
—Timothy Leary (1920–96) American Psychologist, Author
I am conservative by temperament. I disapprove of criminal activity. I am very solidly and markedly on the side of authority. The truth is I would rather err on the side of too much authority than too little.
—James Ellroy (b.1948) American Crime Fiction Writer, Essayist
A leading authority is anyone who has guessed right more than once.
—Frank A. Clark
If you think your teacher is tough, wait until you get a boss. He doesn’t have tenure.
—Bill Gates (b.1955) American Businessperson, Entrepreneur, Philanthropist, Author
Authority without wisdom is like a heavy axe without an edge, fitter to bruise than polish.
—Anne Bradstreet (1612–72) American Poet
Authority is not a quality one person “has,” in the sense that he has property or physical qualities. Authority refers to an interpersonal relation in which one person looks upon another as somebody superior to him.
—Erich Fromm (1900–80) German-American Psychoanalyst, Social Philosopher
A lightweight, by definition, is a man who cannot assert his authority over the national press, cannot manipulate reporters, cannot finesse questions, prevent leaks or command a professional public relations operation.
—Walter Scott (1771–1832) Scottish Novelist, Poet, Playwright, Lawyer
If you look to lead, invest at least 40% of your time managing yourself – your ethics, character, principles, purpose, motivation, and conduct. Invest at least 30% managing those with authority over you, and 15% managing your peers.
—Dee Hock (b.1929) American Businessman
Man, proud man, dressed in a little brief authority, ignorant of what thou art most assured, play such fantastic tricks before high heaven, as make the angels weep.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
Every great advance in natural knowledge has involved the absolute rejection of authority.
—Thomas Henry Huxley (1825–95) English Biologist
However sugarcoated and ambiguous, every form of authoritarianism must start with a belief in some group’s greater right to power, whether that right is justified by sex, race, class, religion or all four. However far it may expand, the progression inevitably rests on unequal power and airtight roles within the family.
—Gloria Steinem (b.1934) American Feminist, Journalist, Social Activist, Political Activist
The people are hungry: It is because those in authority eat up too much in taxes.
—Laozi (fl.6th Century BCE) Chinese Philosopher, Sage
Between a man and his wife nothing ought to rule but love. Authority is for children and servants, yet not without sweetness.
—William Penn (1644–1718) American Entrepreneur, Political leader, Philosopher
The decisions of law courts should never be printed: in the long run, they form a counter authority to the law.
—Denis Diderot (1713–84) French Philosopher, Writer
Universal suffrage should rest upon universal education. To this end, liberal and permanent provision should be made for the support of free schools by the State governments, and, if need be, supplemented by legitimate aid from national authority.
—Rutherford B. Hayes (1822–93) President of the United States
I do not believe in the immortality of the individual, and I consider ethics to be an exclusively human concern without any superhuman authority behind it.
—Albert Einstein (1879–1955) German-born Physicist
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
To say that authority, whether secular or religious, supplies no ground for morality is not to deny the obvious fact that it supplies a sanction.
—A. J. Ayer (1910–89) English Philosopher
The foundation of morality should not be made dependent on myth nor tied to any authority lest doubt about the myth or about the legitimacy of the authority imperil the foundation of sound judgment and action.
—Albert Einstein (1879–1955) German-born Physicist
A friend in power is a friend lost.
—Henry Adams (1838–1918) American Historian, Man of Letters
I believe in a lively disrespect for most forms of authority.
—Rita Mae Brown (b.1944) American Writer, Feminist
In questions of science, the authority of a thousand is not worth the humble reasoning of a single individual.
—Galileo Galilei (1564–1642) Italian Astronomer, Physicist, Mathematician
The defiance of established authority, religious and secular, social and political, as a world-wide phenomenon may well one day be accounted the outstanding event of the last decade.
—Hannah Arendt (1906–75) German-American Philosopher, Political Theorist
The key to the behavior of subjects lies not in pent-up anger or aggression, but in the nature of their relationship to authority. They have given themselves to the authority; they see themselves as instruments for the execution of his wishes; once so defined, they are unable to break free.
—Stanley Milgram (1933–84) American Social Psychologist
Our moral authority is as important, if not more important, than our troop strength or our high-tech weapons. We are rapidly losing that moral authority, not only in the Arab world but all over the world.
—Robert Reich (b.1946) American Economist, Political Commentator
Self-respect is the fruit of discipline, the sense of dignity grows with the ability to say no to oneself.
—Abraham Joshua Heschel (1907–72) American Jewish Rabbi
I have taken this step because I want the discipline, the fire and the authority of the Church. I am hopelessly unworthy of it, but I hope to become worthy.
—Edith Sitwell (1887–1964) British Poet, Literary Critic
Authority poisons everybody who takes authority on himself.
—Golda Meir (1898–1978) Israeli Head of State
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
There is no necessity to separate the monarch from the mob; all authority is equally bad.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
Surround yourself with the best people you can find, delegate authority, and don’t interfere.
—Ronald Reagan (1911–2004) American Head of State
Anyone who in discussion relies upon authority uses, not his understanding, but rather his memory.
—Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1519) Italian Polymath, Painter, Sculptor, Inventor, Architect
The faith that stands on authority is not faith.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
Put two or three men in positions of conflicting authority. This will force them to work at loggerheads, allowing you to be the ultimate arbiter.
—Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882–1945) American Head of State, Lawyer
Those fields which most depend upon authoritative opinion for their data least contain known natural law
—L. Ron Hubbard (1911–86) American Scientologist Religious Leader, Novelist, Author
He who is firmly seated in authority soon learns to think security, not progress, the highest lesson of statecraft.
—James Russell Lowell (1819–91) American Poet, Critic
Once you have mastered time, you will understand how true it is that most people overestimate what they can accomplish in a year—and underestimate what they can achieve in a decade.
—Tony Robbins (b.1960) American Self-Help Author, Entrepreneur
All authority belongs to the people
—Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826) American Head of State, Lawyer
He who has no bread has no authority
—Turkish Proverb
I bow before the authority of special men because it is imposed upon me by my own reason.
—Mikhail Bakunin (1814–76) Russian Anarchist Philosopher
Truth is the secret of eloquence and of virtue, the basis of moral authority; it is the highest summit of art and of life.
—Henri Frederic Amiel (1821–81) Swiss Moral Philosopher, Poet, Critic
No statement should be believed because it is made by an authority.
—Robert A. Heinlein (1907–88) American Science Fiction Writer
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
If we and our posterity reject religious instruction and authority, violate the rules of eternal justice, trifle with the injunctions of morality, and recklessly destroy the political constitution which holds us together, no man can tell how sudden a catastrophe may overwhelm us, that shall bury all our glory in profound obscurity.
—Daniel Webster (1782–1852) American Statesman, Lawyer
Most men, after a little freedom, have preferred authority with the consoling assurances and the economy of effort which it brings.
—Walter Lippmann (1889–1974) American Journalist, Political Commentator, Writer
Leave no authority existing not responsible to the people.
—Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826) American Head of State, Lawyer
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
In truth, there never was any remarkable lawgiver amongst any people who did not resort to divine authority, as otherwise his laws would not have been accepted by the people; for there are many good laws, the importance of which is known to be..
—Niccolo Machiavelli (1469–1527) Florentine Political Philosopher
Moral authority is never retained by any attempt to hold on to it. It comes without seeking and is retained without effort.
—Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869–1948) Indian Hindu Political leader
Does it follow that I reject all authority? Perish the thought. In the matter of boots, I defer to the authority of the boot-maker.
—Mikhail Bakunin (1814–76) Russian Anarchist Philosopher