Quotes About Authority

Power is an illusion of perception.

For now, I only wish to make a simple acknowledgement of the woman who held the power just before me. Of all of us who touched it, I feel she was the most worthy.

I like visiting people in prison. I can say whatever I want to them, and they can't do anything about it.

The world isn't fair? What a huge revelation! Some people in power abuse those they have power over? Amazing! When did this start happening?

One cannot seperate truth from actions...Physically inevitable or not, truth stands above all things. It is independant of who has the best army, who can deliver the longest sermons, or even who has the most priests. It can be pushed down, but it will always surface. Truth is the one thing you can never intimidate.

Power was an illusion of perception, as Jasnah had said. The first step to being in control was to see yourself as capable of being in control.

The law is not something holy, son. It's just a reflection of the ideals of those lucky enough to be in charge.

I froze, shocked. (And don't try to claim that you did anything different the first time a government bureaucrat pulled a gun on you.)

Control is the basis of all true power. Authority and strength are matters of perception

If you had to shoot a man, society had already failed.

It seems that the rebels found the chaos of transition more difficult to accept than the tyranny they had known before. They joyfully welcomed back authority-even oppressive authority-for it was less painful for them than uncertainty.

We never lack men and women who wish to lead." "True," Dalinar said, "but we do lack ones who are good at it.

The only reason to be subservient to those with power is so that you can learn to someday take what they have. Reen's words.

They say they give their women more freedom, but there's still the impression that the freedom was theirs to 'give' in the first place.

I guess it all comes down to one fact: In the end, I'm the one with the armies.

Welcome , Ruin said, to godhood .

A leader did not slump. A leader was in control. Even when he least felt like he controlled anything. Especially then.

Manipulation works so well on a personal level, I don't see why it wouldn't be an equally viable national policy." "That's actually how most rulership works," Ham mused. "What is a governement but an institutionalized method of making sure somebody else does all the work?

What is a government but an institutionalized method of making sure somebody else does all the work?

When good men disobeyed, it was time to look at your orders.

A leader is often judged by how well he bears responsibility. As king, everything that happens in your kingdom - regardless of who commits the act -is your fault.

Act like you were important, act like you were angry, and people just wanted to get out of your way.

May you rule in wisdom.

We really have to do something about you ambivalence toward civic duty, kid." "I already overthrew one government," Vin said. "I figure that takes care of my 'civic duty' for a while.