I find the doing of the will of God leaves me no time for disputing about His plans.
—George MacDonald (1824–1905) Scottish Novelist, Lecturer, Poet
How will you find good? It is not a thing of choice; it is a river that flows from the foot of the invisible throne, and flows by the path of obedience.
—George Eliot (Mary Anne Evans) (1819–80) English Novelist
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
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
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
The ship that will not obey the helm will have to obey the rocks.
—English Proverb
Let thy child’s first lesson be obedience, and the second will be what thou wilt.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
Obedience to truth known, is the king’s highway to that which is still beyond us.
—Aeschylus (525–456 BCE) Greek Playwright
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
Whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also.
—The Holy Bible Scripture in the Christian Faith
The people in power will not disappear voluntarily, giving flowers to the cops just isn’t going to work. This thinking is fostered by the establishment; they like nothing better than love and nonviolence. The only way I like to see cops given flowers is in a flower pot from a high window.
—William S. Burroughs (1914–97) American Novelist, Poet, Short Story Writer, Painter
Let them obey that know not how to rule.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
Rebellion to tyrants is obedience to God.
—Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826) American Head of State, Lawyer
No one doth safely rule but he that hath learned gladly to obey.
—Thomas a Kempis (1379–1471) German Religious Priest, Writer
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
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
One act of obedience is better than one hundred sermons.
—Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906–45) German Lutheran Pastor, Theologian
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
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
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
Only he who believes is obedient and only he who is obedient believes.
—Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906–45) German Lutheran Pastor, Theologian
It is much safer to obey, than to govern.
—Thomas a Kempis (1379–1471) German Religious Priest, Writer
Unwavering obedience to the true principals we learn will assure us spiritual survival.
—Unknown
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
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, indeed, founded on a kind of freedom, else it would become mere subjugation, but that freedom is only granted that obedience may be more perfect; and thus while a measure of license is necessary to exhibit the individual energies of things, the fairness and pleasantness and perfection of them all consist in their restraint.
—John Ruskin (1819–1900) English Writer, Art Critic
Wicked men obey from fear; good men, from love.
—Aristotle (384BCE–322BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher, Scholar
Obedience is the mother of success and is wedded to safety.
—Aeschylus (525–456 BCE) Greek Playwright
Nonviolence is a flop. The only bigger flop is violence.
—Joan Baez (b.1941) American Singer, Songwriter, Musician
To obey God in some things, and not in others, shows an unsound heart.—Childlike obedience moves toward even command of God, as the needle points where the loadstone draws.
—Thomas J. Watson, Sr. (1874–1956) American Business Executive
Every great person has first learned how to obey, whom to obey, and when to obey.
—William Arthur Ward (1921–94) American Author
Obedience of the law is demanded; not asked as a favor.
—Theodore Roosevelt (1858–1919) American Head of State, Political leader, Historian, Explorer
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
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
Thirty years of our Lord’s life are hidden in these words of the gospel: “He was subject unto them.”
—Jacques-Benigne Bossuet xxx
It is my contention that civil disobediences are nothing but the latest form of voluntary association, and that they are thus quite in tune with the oldest traditions of the country.
—Hannah Arendt (1906–75) German-American Philosopher, Political Theorist
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
Obedience is better than sacrifice.
—The Holy Bible Scripture in the Christian Faith
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
Obedience is a word and concept from which the valiant look for their deliverance.
—Unknown
Obedience without faith is possible, but not faith without obedience.
—Unknown
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
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
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
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
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
Those who know the least obey the best.
—George Farquhar (1677–1707) Irish Dramatist
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
Every good servant does not all commands.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
Filial obedience is the first and greatest requisite of a state; by this we become good subjects to our rulers, capable of behaving with just subordination to our superiors, and grateful dependants on heaven. By this we become good magistrates; for early submission is the truest lesson to those who would learn to rule. By this the whole state may be said to resemble one family, of which the monarch is the protector, father, and friend.
—Oliver Goldsmith (1730–74) Irish Novelist, Playwright, Poet