Quotes About Authority

There is something rather sexy about men who knew exactly what they are talking about. Men who might not be conventionally attractive, but who are obviously highly competent at their jobs.

Write as the wind blows and command all words like an army! See them how they stand in rank ready for assault, the jolly, swaggering fellows!

Some Generations ago a man challenged to tell you why he forswore his manhood in any particular regard would have answered you that it was because he feared punishment at the hands of the law; to-day he will tell you that it is because he fears unemployment... In the Seventeenth Century a man feared to go to Mass lest the Judges should punish him. To-day a man fears to speak in favor of some social theory which he holds to be just and true lest his master should punish him.

When you are writing laws you are testing words to find their utmost power. Like spells, they have to make things happen in the real world, and like spells, they only work if people believe in them.

Those who are made can be unmade.

You can be merry with the king, you can share a joke with him. But as Thomas More used to say, it's like sporting with a tamed lion. You tousle its mane and pull its ears, but all the time you're thinking, those claws, those claws, those claws.

To be able to bring change into a fixed world, [she] thought. There is power in that.

los pactos que no descansan en la espada no son más que palabras [...]" (Hobbes, Leviatán. Cap XVII).

Too many kings can ruin an army

You, you insolent brazen bitch—you really dare to shake that monstrous spear in Father's face?

A multitude of rulers is not a good thing. Let there be one ruler, one king.

The gods are hard to handle — when they come blazing forth in their true power.

Whene'er, by Jove's decree, our conquering powers Shall humble to the dust her lofty towers.

Sit down and hold your tongue as I bid you for if I once begin to lay my hands about you, though all heaven were on your side it would profit you nothing.

What is this word that broke through the fence of your teeth, Atreides?

King who feed on your people, since you rule nonentities;

Command thy vassals, but command not me.

when you two goddesses command, a man must obey, however angry he may be. Better for him if he does. The man who listens to the gods is listened to by them

Sit still and wait for orders from your officers, who are better men than you, coward and weakling that you are, counting for nothing in battle or debate. We cannot all be kings here; and mob rule is a bad thing. Let there be one commander only, one king, set over us by Zeus the Son of Cronos of the Crooked Ways

I shall be among the riders, and command them with word and counsel; such is the privilege of the old men. The young spearmen shall do the spear-fighting, those who are born 325  of a generation later than mine, who trust in their own strength.

Sullen Telemachus said, "Mother, no, you must not criticize the loyal bard for singing as it pleases him to sing. Poets are not to blame for how things are; Zeus is;

no es un bien la soberanía de muchos; uno solo sea príncipe, uno solo rey: aquél a quien el hijo del artero Crono ha dado cetro y leyes para que reine sobre nosotros.

the will of Zeus

Bold is the task, when subjects, grown too wise,Instruct a monarch where his error lies;