Quotes About Authority

The chief evil is unlimited government, and nobody is qualified to wield unlimited power.

That, in its essence, is Fascism — ownership of Government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power.

The measure of a man is what he does with power.

If absolute power corrupts absolutely, does absolute powerlessness make you pure?

The dangers of a concentration of all power in the general government of a confederacy so vast as ours are too obvious to be disregarded.

But constant experience shows us that every man invested with power is apt to abuse it, and to carry his authority as far as it will go.

No beast is more savage than man when possessed with power answerable to his rage.

The public has no power. The government knows I'm not a criminal. The parole board knows I'm not a criminal. The judge knows I'm not a criminal.

All governments suffer a recurring problem: Power attracts pathological personalities.

Being a man is the continuing battle for one's life. One loses a bit of manhood with every stale compromise to the authority of any power in which one does not believe.

Power is everywhere...because it comes from everywhere.

Power doesn't corrupt. It's neutral. Someone always wants to corrupt power. It's the way a shotgun is not a deadly weapon until someone chooses to use it irrationally.

Bankers own the earth. Take it away from them, but leave them the power to create money and control credit, and with a flick of a pen they will create enough to buy it back.

Most teams aren't teams at all but merely collections of individual relationships with the boss. Each individual vying with the others for power, prestige and position.

Part of the task of the leader is to make others participate in his leadership. The best leader knows how to make his followers actually feel power themselves, not merely acknowledge his power.

No government fights fascism to destroy it. When the bourgeoisie sees that power is slipping out of its hands, it brings up fascism to hold onto their privileges.

People in power need to control others in order to maintain power. One of the ways to do that is to take that which is threatening and demonize it.

Power, however it has evolved, whatever its origins, will not be given up without a struggle.

Power is of two kinds: one is obtained by the fear of punishment and the other by acts of love.

With great power comes great responsibilty.

Grace is power, not just pardon.

I have always been fascinated by the corruption of power.

Power does not corrupt men; fools, however, if they get into a position of power, corrupt power.

A fondness for power is implanted in most men, and it is natural to abuse it when acquired.