Those who know the least obey the best.
—George Farquhar (1677–1707) Irish Dramatist
It is foolish to strive with what we cannot avoid; we are born subjects, and to obey God is perfect liberty; he that does this, shall be free, safe, and quiet; all his actions shall succeed to his wishes.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
I am told so many ill things of a man, and I see so few in him, that I began to suspect he has a real but troublesome merit, as being likely too eclipse that of others.
—Jean de La Bruyere (1645–96) French Satiric Moralist, Author
Wicked men obey from fear; good men, from love.
—Aristotle (384BCE–322BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher, Scholar
Obedience is better than sacrifice.
—The Holy Bible Scripture in the Christian Faith
Obedience alone gives the right to command.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
Every great person has first learned how to obey, whom to obey, and when to obey.
—William Arthur Ward (1921–94) American Author
Nonviolence is a flop. The only bigger flop is violence.
—Joan Baez (b.1941) American Singer, Songwriter, Musician
Only he who believes is obedient and only he who is obedient believes.
—Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906–45) German Lutheran Pastor, Theologian
Obedience sums up our entire duty.
—Hosea Ballou (1771–1852) American Theologian
When any one State in the American Union refuses obedience to the Confederation by which they have bound themselves, the rest have a natural right to compel them to obedience
—Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826) American Head of State, Lawyer
Obedience without faith is possible, but not faith without obedience.
—Unknown
The reason why men do not obey us is because they see the mud at the bottom of our eye.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
There can be a true grandeur in any degree of submissiveness, because it springs from loyalty to the laws and to an oath, and not from baseness of soul.
—Simone Weil (1909–1943) French Philosopher, Political Activist
Only a philosophy of eternity, in the world today, could justify non-violence.
—Albert Camus (1913–60) Algerian-born French Philosopher, Dramatist, Essayist, Novelist, Author
Obey something, and you will have a chance to learn what is best to obey. But if you begin by obeying nothing, you will end by obeying the devil and all his invited friends.
—John Ruskin (1819–1900) English Writer, Art Critic
The strongest is never strong enough to be always the master, unless he transforms strength into right, and obedience into duty.
—Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712–78) Swiss-born French Philosopher
Again and again we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force.
—Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929–68) American Civil Rights Leader, Clergyman
It is right that what is just should be obeyed. It is necessary that what is strongest should be obeyed.
—Blaise Pascal (1623–62) French Mathematician, Physicist, Theologian
The first law that ever God gave to man, was a law of obedience; it was a commandment pure and simple, wherein man had nothing to inquire after or to dispute, for as much as to obey is the proper office of a rational soul acknowledging a heavenly superior and benefactor.—From obedience and submission spring all other virtues, as all sin does from self-opinion and self-will.
—Michel de Montaigne (1533–92) French Essayist
Obedience indeed is only the pitiful and cowardly egotism of him who thinks that he can do something better than reason.
—Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792–1822) English Poet, Dramatist, Essayist, Novelist
Non-violence is not a garment to be put on and off at will. Its seat is in the heart, and it must be inseparable part of our very being.
—Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869–1948) Indian Hindu Political leader
Obedience is a word and concept from which the valiant look for their deliverance.
—Unknown
The ship that will not obey the helm will have to obey the rocks.
—English Proverb
Obedience, as it regards the social relations, the rules of society, and the laws of nature and nature’s God, should commence at the cradle and end only at the tomb.
—Hosea Ballou (1771–1852) American Theologian
The only thing that’s been a worse flop than the organization of non-violence has been the organization of violence.
—Joan Baez (b.1941) American Singer, Songwriter, Musician
Obedience is our universal duty and destiny; wherein whoso will not bend must break; too early and too thoroughly we cannot be trained to know that “would,” in this world of ours, is a mere zero to “should,” and for most part as the smallest of fractions even to “shall.”
—Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881) Scottish Historian, Essayist
I have thought about it a great deal, and the more I think, the more certain I am that obedience is the gateway through which knowledge, yes, and love, too, enter the mind of the child.
—Anne Sullivan Macy (1866–1936) American Educator
Justice is the insurance we have on our lives and property, and obedience is the premium we pay for it.
—William Penn (1644–1718) American Entrepreneur, Political leader, Philosopher
No one doth safely rule but he that hath learned gladly to obey.
—Thomas a Kempis (1379–1471) German Religious Priest, Writer