Quotes About Authority

What a terrible era in which idiots govern the blind.

Thou shalt be free As mountain winds: but then exactly do All points of my command.

Not all the water in the rough rude sea Can wash the balm from an anointed King;

Those he commands move only in command, Nothing in love: now does he feel his title Hang loose about him, like a giant's robe Upon a dwarfish thief

These growing feathers pluck'd from Caesar's wing Will make him fly an ordinary pitch, Who else would soar above the view of men And keep us all in servile fearfulness.

Fit to govern? No, not fit to live.

William Shakespeare

Northumberland, thou ladder wherewithal the mounting Bolingbroke ascends my throne.

Tis time to fear when tyrants seem to kiss.

Woe to that land that's govern'd by a child!

What means this shouting? I do fear, the people Choose Caesar for their king.

And Caesar shall go forth.

Tell him from me that he hath done me wrong, And therefore I'll uncrown him ere't be long.

Think'st thou that duty shall have dread to speak when power to flattery bows?

Ay, sir, that soaks up the king's countenance, his rewards, his authorities. But such officers do the king best service in the end: he keeps them, like an ape, in the corner of his jaw; first mouthed, to be last swallowed: when he needs what you have gleaned, it is but squeezing you, and, sponge, you shall be dry again.

Many a man's tongue shakes out his master's undoing.

We cannot all be masters, nor all masters Cannot be truly follow'd.

Rumble thy bellyful! Spit, fire! spout, rain! Nor rain, wind, thunder, fire, are my daughters: I tax not you, you elements, with unkindness; I never gave you kingdom, call'd you children, You owe me no subscription: then let fall Your horrible pleasure: here I stand, your slave, A poor, infirm, weak, and despised old man: But yet I call you servile ministers, That have with two pernicious daughters join'd Your high engender'd battles 'gainst a head So old and white as this. O! O! 'tis foul!

the pleached bower, Where honeysuckles ripened by the sun Forbid the sun to enter, like favorites Made proud by princes, that advance their pride Against that power that bred it.

Throw physic to the dogs; I'll none of it.

That in the captain's but a choleric word, Which in the soldier is flat blasphemy.

There thou mightst behold the great image of authority: a dog's obey'd in office. - Thou rascal beadle, hold thy bloody hand! Why dost though lash that whore? Strip thine own back; Thou hotly lusts to use her in that kind For which thou whipst her. The usurer hangs the cozener.

Which shall to all our nights and days to come Give solely sovereign sway and masterdom.

Bear hence this body and attend our will. Mercy but murders, pardoning those that kill.