Quotes About Authority

Only a lunatic would want to be president. These lunatics are created deliberately by those who wish to be presided over.

People who command respect are never as widely known as people who command attention

Among the many unsurprising facts of life that, when taken in aggregate, ultimately spell out the doom of our species is this: People who command respect are never as widely known as people who command attention.

Because school has always been a matter of getting it right, of scoping out what "rightness" means to the teacher and then providing this.

Are you scared of going in to see the raghnaid [the council]?" asked a gray female pup. "Are you cag mag [crazy]? If a bear was his Milk Giver, you think he's scared of the raghnaid?

gardians rule

Young'uns!" Mrs. P. interrupted. "No bad language, not at the table, please. And need I remind you, I am the table!

You know dear, assured one woman, men have to be trained, just like any household pet. It's up to the woman to lay down the rules from the beginning.

Bureaucrats do not, as a whole, like to make decisions. Decisions require a degree of courage and responsibility, qualities in short supply among public servants on both sides of the Great Divide.

A woman in power has more urgent business to attend to than her ego.

Every man wishes to be king. Her hair snapped about her, buzzing.

The worst kind of poison for despots: truth.

Navy Cotillion was where officers' children were supposed to learn the fine points of manners, dancing, white gloves, and other unrealities of life. It also was where children were supposed to learn, as if the preceding fourteen or fifteen years hadn't already made it painfully clear, that generals outrank colonels who, in turn, outrank majors and captains and lieutenants, and everyone, but everyone, outranks children. Within the ranks of children, boys always outrank girls.

generals outrank colonels who, in turn, outrank majors and captains and lieutenants, and everyone, but everyone, outranks children. Within the ranks of children, boys always outrank girls. One way of grinding this particularly irritating pecking order into the young girls was to teach them the old and ridiculous art of curtsying.

Democracy is a fine thing. But that doesn't mean citizens have a right to run riot whenever they disagree with something. #Page: 120

I'm sure, sir, there are all kinds of ethical issues. But in the end, it's for legislators to decide how these things get regulated, not people like me. For now, I just want to learn as much as I can, so I can take my understanding to the next level.

The hard reality is, surely, that for the likes of you and I, there is little choice other than to leave our fate, ultimately, in the hands of those great gentlemen at the hub of this world who employ our services.

The Memory Police by Yoko Ogawa

I have come here to relate something to you, Father.' 'Then relate it briefly and concisely. I haven't all morning to listen to you chatter.

That while it was right to look up to teachers, it was always important to question their authority.

That's what we all want, isn't it? Power without price.

Next Clay gave the house rules for living with theSorrentinos , which sounded a lot like the Ten Commandments. Thou shall not lie, steal anything, kill anyone, disrespect your hosts or covet any of Nick's girlfriends. And if you break the rules, you'll get your ass kicked and handed to you in pieces—a part I suspect God left out.

I had to take responsibility, even if it meant saying no to an authority figure, because I was the authority on me.

I need to get ready. Ash? Touch the food and I won't take you for a driving lesson tomorrow. Dad? Touch it and I'll make you take him for a driving lesson tomorrow. Dad backed away from the counter. Ash scowled. I laughed and continued upstairs.