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Authority quotes

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“I am ashamed to think how easily we capitulate to badges and names, to large societies and dead institutions.” Ralph Waldo Emerson, “Self-Reliance” - 1841

“he who has never learned to obey cannot be a good commander.” Aristotle, “Politics”

“If there is disturbance in the camp, the general's authority is weak.” Sun Tzu, “The Art of War” - 5th century BC

“There thou mightst behold the great image of authority: a dog's obeyed in office.” William Shakespeare, “King Lear” - 1623

“There is no fettering of authority.” William Shakespeare, “All's Well That Ends Well” - 1623

“He seems to be of great authority. Close with him, give him gold; and though authority be a stubborn bear, yet he is oft led by the nose with gold.” William Shakespeare, “The Winter's Tale” - 1623

“Nice customs curtsy to great kings.” William Shakespeare, “Henry V” - 1600

“Every one has his superstitions. One of mine is that in positions of great responsibility every one should do his duty to the best of his ability where assigned by competent authority, without application or the use of influence to change his...” Ulysses S. Grant, “Personal Memoirs of Ulysses S. Grant” - 1885

“Nothing could be more gracefully majestic than his step and manner, had they not been marked by a predominant air of haughtiness, easily acquired by the exercise of unresisted authority.” Walter Scott, “Ivanhoe” - 1820

“In the United States each separate journal exercises but little authority, but the power of the periodical press is only second to that of the people.” Alexis de Tocqueville, “Democracy in America” - 1835

“And history teaches this iron law of revolutions: the more extensive the eradication of existing authority, the more its successors must rely on naked power to establish themselves. For, in the end, legitimacy involves an acceptance of authority...” Henry Kissinger, “Diplomacy” - 1994

“You can't stop a teacher when they want to do something. They just do it.” J. D. Salinger, “The Catcher in the Rye” - 1951

“Wherever there is a man who exercises authority, there is a man who resists authority.” Oscar Wilde, “The Soul of Man under Socialism” - 1891

Related topics

power responsibility strength leadership weakness obeying grace respect bribery people tradition duty education labels institutions resisting teachers haughtiness press disturbance

Related authors

William Shakespeare (4)
Oscar Wilde (1)
Ralph Waldo Emerson (1)
Aristotle (1)
Ulysses S. Grant (1)
Walter Scott (1)
Alexis de Tocqueville (1)
Sun Tzu (1)
J. D. Salinger (1)
Henry Kissinger (1)

Related sources

All's Well That Ends Well (1)
King Lear (1)
The Winter's Tale (1)
Henry V (1)
Self-Reliance (1)
Politics (1)
Personal Memoirs of Ulysses S. Grant (1)
Ivanhoe (1)
Democracy in America (1)
The Art of War (1)
The Catcher in the Rye (1)
Diplomacy (1)
The Soul of Man under Socialism (1)