Obedience sums up our entire duty.
—Hosea Ballou (1771–1852) American Theologian
Obedience of the law is demanded; not asked as a favor.
—Theodore Roosevelt (1858–1919) American Head of State, Political leader, Historian, Explorer
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
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
It is vain thought to flee from the work that God appoints us, for the sake of finding a greater blessing, instead of seeking it where alone it is to be found—in loving obedience.
—George Eliot (Mary Anne Evans) (1819–80) English Novelist
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
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
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
Unwavering obedience to the true principals we learn will assure us spiritual survival.
—Unknown
Let them obey that know not how to rule.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
God seeks comrades and claims love, the Devil seeks slaves and claims obedience.
—Rabindranath Tagore (1861–1941) Bengali Poet, Polymath
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
Nonviolence is a flop. The only bigger flop is violence.
—Joan Baez (b.1941) American Singer, Songwriter, Musician
The joy of youth is to disobey; but the trouble is that there are no longer any orders.
—Jean Cocteau (1889–1963) French Poet, Playwright, Film Director
Obedience is the mother of success and is wedded to safety.
—Aeschylus (525–456 BCE) Greek Playwright
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
A true military officer is in one particular like a true monk. Not with more self-abnegation will the latter keep his vows of monastic obedience than the former his vows of allegiance to martial duty.
—Herman Melville (1819–91) American Novelist, Short Story Writer, Essayist, Poet
Disobedience, in the eyes of any one who has read history, is man’s original virtue. It is through disobedience that progress has been made, through disobedience and through rebellion.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
The ship that will not obey the helm will have to obey the rocks.
—English Proverb
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 is a word and concept from which the valiant look for their deliverance.
—Unknown
Obedience to truth known, is the king’s highway to that which is still beyond us.
—Aeschylus (525–456 BCE) Greek Playwright
It is much safer to obey, than to govern.
—Thomas a Kempis (1379–1471) German Religious Priest, Writer
Obedience is not truly performed by the body, if the heart is dissatisfied.
—Sa’Di (Musharrif Od-Din Muslih Od-Din) (c.1213–91) Persian Poet
No one doth safely rule but he that hath learned gladly to obey.
—Thomas a Kempis (1379–1471) German Religious Priest, Writer
Every great person has first learned how to obey, whom to obey, and when to obey.
—William Arthur Ward (1921–94) American Author
There was a time when we expected nothing of our children but obedience, as opposed to the present, when we expect everything of them but obedience.
—Anatole Broyard (1920–90) American Literary Critic
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
Rebellion to tyrants is obedience to God.
—Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826) American Head of State, Lawyer
Obedience alone gives the right to command.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher