Quotes About Authority

Every time I bestow a vacant office I make a hundred discontented persons and one ingrate. Louis XIV, 1638-1715

Power rarely ends up in the hands of those who start a revolution, or even those who further it; power sticks to those who bring it to a conclusion

Authority: One who is good at combating the enemy fools it with inscrutable moves, confuses it with false intelligence, makes it relax by concealing one's strength, . . . deafens its ears by jumbling one's orders and signals, blinds its eyes by converting one's banners and insignias, . . . confounds its battle plan by providing distorted facts. —Tou Bi Fu Tan, A Scholar's Dilettante Remarks on War (16th century A.D.)

We feel, perhaps unconsciously, that learning from Masters and submitting to their authority is somehow an indictment of our own natural ability, Even if we have teachers in our lives, we tend not to pay full attention to their advice, often preferring to do things our own way. In fact, we come to believe that being critical of Masters or teachers is somehow a sign of our intelligence, and that being a submissive pupil is a sign of weakness.

The great questions of the time will be decided, not by speeches and resolutions of majorities, but by iron and blood.

Make your masters appear more brilliant than they are and you will attain the heights of power.

Do not be lured by the need to be liked: better to be respected, even feared. Victory over your enemies will bring you a more lasting popularity.

Always make those above you feel comfortably superior.

In the kingdom of God, barking orders at others is not an acceptable way to try to solve problems created by our inadequacies.

I think we'd had enough of this folly. Who ever heard of a door-mat TELLING anyone anything? They simply don't do it. They are not that sort at all. Door-mats know their place.

Who ever heard of a door-mat TELLING anyone anything? They simply don't do it. They are not that sort at all. Door-mats know their place.

Politics is the activity by which the framework of human life is sustained; it is not life itself.

Dynasties rise and fall according to what the Chinese used to call 'the mandate of heaven', but life for the peasant changes little.

I poo poo the chit.' The attendant looked stunned. 'You cannot poo-poo the chit!' I do.' Kate said solemnly. 'I do poo-poo.' We'll walk.

Nobody has any rights unless they've got a machine gun.

The liberty to do what one wants to the limits of one's strength—including the liberty to do as one wills with other people—is the liberty of the state of nature. No one has the right to demand obedience from anyone else, although some have the ability to compel it by force.

You have to let her know you're in charge!" "I thought I was!" Typical female. The mare had only let him THINK he was in charge.

There are four common ways of making decisions: command, consult, vote, and consensus.

He that complies against his will is of his own opinion still.

Then I'll tell you," Baba said, "but first understand this and understand it now, Amir: You'll never learn anything of value from those bearded idiots." "You mean Mullah Fatiullah Khan?

One last time, Mariam did as she was told.

Hit me again, and I'll report you to the authorities. Follow me to my bed one more time, and I swear to the gods, I'll search for the most painful way to murder you.

In all of my years doing this job, I have never given the drug to anyone over three months pregnant; not once, because everybody listens to me, except you.

The spirit of dialectical fearlessness is not so easily acquired; and the sense of isolation which remains despite the conviction of right, the sadness of the parting from admired and trustworthy [or trusted?] authorities, is the line of demarcation which marks the threshold of its acquirement.