| | |

Obedience quotes

edits filters

“White Fang knew the law well: to oppress the weak and obey the strong.” Jack London, “White Fang” - 1906

“But we must remember that good laws, if they are not obeyed, do not constitute good government.” Aristotle, “Politics”

“The strongest is never strong enough to be always the master, unless he transforms strength into right, and obedience into duty.” Jean-Jacques Rousseau, “The Social Contract” - 1762

“Obedience is not enough. Unless he is suffering, how can you be sure that he is obeying your will and not his own? Power is in inflicting pain and humiliation. Power is in tearing human minds to pieces and putting them together again in new...” George Orwell, “1984” - 1949

“Unjust laws exist: shall we be content to obey them, or shall we endeavor to amend them, and obey them until we have succeeded, or shall we transgress them at once?” Henry David Thoreau, “Civil Disobedience” - 1849

“But there were other forces at work in the cub, the greatest of which was growth. Instinct and law demanded of him obedience. But growth demanded disobedience.” Jack London, “White Fang” - 1906

“Thus it was that in obedience to the law laid down by his mother, and in obedience to the law of that unknown and nameless thing, fear, he kept away from the mouth of the cave.” Jack London, “White Fang” - 1906

“Food and fire, protection and companionship, were some of the things he received from the god. In return, he guarded the god's property, defended his body, worked for him, and obeyed him.” Jack London, “White Fang” - 1906

“Yet command and obedience are but unfortunate necessities of human life: society in equality is its normal state.” John Stuart Mill, “The Subjection of Women” - 1869

“Men are not corrupted by the exercise of power or debased by the habit of obedience, but by the exercise of a power which they believe to be illegal and by obedience to a rule which they consider to be usurped and oppressive.” Alexis de Tocqueville, “Democracy in America” - 1835

“There are roads which must not be followed, armies which must be not attacked, towns which must not be besieged, positions which must not be contested, commands of the sovereign which must not be obeyed.” Sun Tzu, “The Art of War” - 5th century BC

“The public weal requires that men should betray, and lie, and massacre; let us leave this commission to men who are more obedient and more supple.” Michel de Montaigne, “The Essays of Michel de Montaigne” - 1580

“Thou art my father, thou my author, thou my being gav'st me; whom should I obey but thee? whom follow?” John Milton, “Paradise Lost” - 1667

“When a mystery is too overpowering, one dare not disobey.” Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, “The Little Prince” - 1943

Related topics

power law strength government fear justice lie betrayal weakness equality pain corruption father growth society work duty army protection right

Related authors

Jack London (4)
George Orwell (1)
Henry David Thoreau (1)
Aristotle (1)
John Stuart Mill (1)
Alexis de Tocqueville (1)
Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1)
Sun Tzu (1)
Michel de Montaigne (1)
John Milton (1)
Antoine de Saint-Exupéry (1)

Related sources

White Fang (4)
1984 (1)
Civil Disobedience (1)
Politics (1)
The Subjection of Women (1)
Democracy in America (1)
The Social Contract (1)
The Art of War (1)
The Essays of Michel de Montaigne (1)
Paradise Lost (1)
The Little Prince (1)