Home / Topics / Authority Quotes

Authority Quotes

Browse 3390 quotes about Authority.

Authority Quotes

“I developed a resistance to authority. Not to discipline - I learned that. But to authority. I like to think for myself. And I like to cause trouble.”

Thinking Causes Trouble Discipline Authority Management Resistance

Author:Hal Holbrook

“Think about that: at a time when it was inconceivable to have a woman rabbi or a woman scholar of Christian theology or canon law, the Islamic civilization boasted hundreds of women who were authorities in Islamic law and Islamic theology and that taught some of the most famous male jurists and left behind a remarkable corpus of writings.”

“The Stonehenge proposal got a lot of interesting criticism. One of the best - or worst - said something like, "Go home to Las Vegas." I think this project could possibly be realized at a very late part of my career. Right now, I don't have the authority, the budget, the credibility.”

Thinking Said Home Interesting Careers Worst Right Now Authority Projects Late Criticism Budgets Credibility Proposal Vegas Las Vegas Stonehenge

Author:Aleksandra Mir

“The experience of past ages may inform us, that when the circumstances of a people render them distressed, their rulers generally recur to severe, cruel, and oppressive measures. Instead of endeavoring to establish their authority in the affection of their subjects, they think they have no security but in their fear.”

People Thinking May Age Past Subjects Security Circumstances Authority Affection Rulers Severe

Book:The Works of Alexander Hamilton: Miscellanies, 1774-1789: A full vindication; The farmer refuted; Quebec bill; Resolutions in Congress; Letters from Phocion; New-York Legislature, etc

Source: The Works of Alexander Hamilton: Miscellanies, 1774-1789: A full vindication; The farmer refuted; Quebec bill; Resolutions in Congress; Letters from Phocion; New-York Legislature, etc

“Many will think they may reasonably blame me by alleging that my proofs are opposed to the authority of certain men held in the highest reverence by their inexperienced judgments; not considering that my works are the issue of pure and simple experience.”

Thinking Men May Certain Simple Issues Pure Authority Judgment Highest Blame Proof Reverence Considering Blame Me

Book:Delphi Complete Works of Leonardo da Vinci (Illustrated)

Source: Delphi Complete Works of Leonardo da Vinci (Illustrated)

“I think people have got to understand when a murder is committed on British soil, when innocent people have been put at risk by the method that murder is committed then we expect authorities in other parts of the world to co-operate.”

People Thinking World Has Beens Risk Authority Murder Method Committed British Innocent Soil

Author:Gordon Brown

“The first thing that has to be broken down is your relationship to authority. Your insecurity could possibly be the wedge that opens up your perspective on what you think is possible for you to do.”

Thinking Firsts Broken Perspective Authority Insecurity Our Relationship Broken Down Wedges

Author:Ross Bleckner

“The automatic reaction of practically any young person is, at once, against authority. That, I think, began in the First World War because of the trenches, and the incompetence of the people on all fronts.”

People Thinking World Firsts Persons War Young Fronts Authority Reactions War Of The Worlds Incompetence Trenches First World War

Author:Doris Lessing

“I think people have always liked in me the combination of being the underdog because I'm a tiny woman but I have enormous authority in myself.”

People Thinking Authority Tiny Enormous Combination Underdog

Author:Linda Hunt

“Believing things on authority only means believing them because you have been told them by someone you think trustworthy. Ninety-nine per cent of the things you believe are believed on authority... Every historical event in the world is believed on authority. None of us has seen the Norman Conquest or the defeat of the Armada.”

Thinking World Believe Mean Has Beens Events Authority Historical Defeat Nine Cents Conquest Ninety Trustworthy Ninety Nine Historical Events Norman Conquest

Author:C. S. Lewis

“The ultimate court of appeal is observation and experiment... not authority.”

Thinking Authority Ultimate Court Experiments Observation Appeals Rationality

Author:Thomas Huxley

“That kind of skeptical, questioning, "don't accept what authority tells you" attitude of science - is also nearly identical to the attitude of mind necessary for a functioning democracy. Science and democracy have very consonant values and approaches, and I don't think you can have one without the other.”

Thinking Mind Kind Values Attitude Accepting Democracy Authority Approach Questioning Skeptical Identical Democracies Have Consonants

Book:Conversations with Carl Sagan

Source: Conversations with Carl Sagan

“I am inclined to think that the authority of Holy Scripture is intended to convince men of those truths which are necessary for their salvation, which, being far above man's understanding, can not be made credible by any learning, or any other means than revelation by the Holy Spirit.”

Thinking Men Mean Made Spirit Understanding Holy Authority Salvation Scripture Holy Spirit Revelations Convince Can Not Credible Holy Scriptures

Author:Galileo Galilei

“I think we [Americans] are going to look back and realize that the civil liberties that we've given up in the name of security, the authority that we've given Democratic and Republican presidents, all have contributed to a fraying of the fabric of our democratic republic.”

Thinking Looks Names Given President Realizing Liberty Security Republican Authority Democratic Republic Fabric Given Up Civil Liberties Democratic Republic

Author:Jeremy Scahill

“I don't walk into a room with an authoritative stance. I tend to be a little more submissive, even though I think I have a certain amount of strength. So, it's tough for me to play authority without feeling uncomfortable.”

Thinking Littles Play Feelings Certain Walks Rooms Amount Authority Tough Uncomfortable Stance Submissive

Author:Kristin Kreuk

“I think it's very important, and I think that what young people will learn from my experience is that even presidents have to do that and there are consequences when you don't. But I also think that there will be a box score, and there will be that one negative, and then there will be the hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of times when the record will show that I did not abuse my authority as president, that I was truthful with the American people.”

People Thinking Important Shows Young President Records Authority Consequence Negative Abuse Boxes Score Truthful

Author:William J. Clinton

“Don't pay attention to "authorities," think for yourself.”

Thinking Pay Attention Authority Pay Attention Think For Yourself

Book:The Quotable Feynman

Source: The Quotable Feynman

“Question authority; think for yourself. Talk to people, do things unrelated to school - to come up with your own framework for living. The world is too complex and people are too different to be overly prescriptive about the details.”

People Thinking World Different School Authority Complexes Come Up Details Framework Think For Yourself

Author:Joichi Ito

“I was petrified because all my friends would be going to Washington, DC, to protest. I was sixteen, and I was like, "I don't think I'll be going with you guys," just because I was scared. Then you saw the news, and cops - not students in schools with guns - cops are killing sixteen year old protesters on the news. To me that was more horrifying, to have the authority figures actually killing people on the evening news, than to have another student firing a gun.”

“The thing I respond to the most is just great writing, interesting characters. I like to think that there is something fun about playing a character that has a lot of authority in her own life.”

Thinking Writing Character Fun Interesting Authority Great Writing Interesting Characters

Author:Marin Ireland

“It's basically a home-rule issue. I think the governing authority that appoints people as assessors certainly has reasons for doing it. ... And it certainly ought to be the board of assessors' right to say who is best qualified to serve as an appraiser.”

People Thinking Reason Home Issues Ought Authority Boards Qualified Governing Home Rule

Author:John Scott

“I think that fear of the mob, the expectation that people, particularly poor and nonwhite people become mobs almost automatically in the absence of coercive authority, is inculcated by the media, the movies, and politicians.”

People Thinking Poor Media Politician Authority Expectations Absence

Author:Rebecca Solnit

“As I've gotten older, I've felt I have more authority on that subject. I think the conversation needs to be reframed. What I hate - a lot of conversations about choosing not to have children tend to be couched in these superficial terms, or kind of glib, "I'd rather have a Porsche" or "I forgot to have kids." No you didn't.”

Thinking Needs Kind Children Kids Hate Felt Term Subjects Conversation Authority I Hate Superficial Porsche

Author:Meghan Daum

“So, I think that for the authorities to say now that calling for sanctions will prevent dialogue is a ploy to stop us from supporting sanctions. It has to be the other way around: dialogue first, then we stop our call for sanctions, because sanctions make people understand that you cannot exercise repression and at the same time expect international support.”

People Thinking Way Firsts Support Exercise Calling Authority International Dialogue Repression Sanctions Ploy

Author:Aung San Suu Kyi

“I think today's young women are an especially powerful breed. They will be taking on even greater challenges, which is why achieving personal empowerment is so important for them. These women are going to be holding positions of significant authority, owning more businesses, and shaping public policy.”

Thinking Important Today Young Challenges Powerful Greater Achieve Policy Position Authority Empowerment Significant Young Women Public Policy Personal Empowerment

Author:Mary Pope Osborne

“My mom was my English teacher in high school. So to be able to bend the rules and be the class clown and get to take on my religion, my mom, and my town all at the same time was glorious. I think the desire to be funny was a mixture of wanting to be liked but also wanting to throw your elbows a bit. If you're cracking a joke in school, it's sort of anti-authority, but it's in the nicest, "Please like me!" way.”

Ifs Thinking Way Able School Desire Bits Class Teacher Mom Please Authority Jokes High School Towns My Mom Like Me Glorious Clown Mixtures Elbows English Teacher

Author:Paul Rust

“I think certain people would be moved to be nostalgic about America's glory days, when the music set the tone for the cultural conversation and popular musicians had this absurd level of authority.”

People Thinking Would Be America Certain Levels Conversation Authority Musician Glory Moved Absurd Tone Nostalgic Popular Music Glory Days

Author:David Longstreth

“I think that for example as a prisoner of course I was pressured to become very submissive and in a way the syndrome of Stockholm is when you shift position and then you become like you're supposed to act, which is accepting the authority of those who have abducted you.”

Thinking Way Courses Accepting Example Position Like You Authority Prisoner Syndromes Submissive Pressured Stockholm

Author:Ingrid Betancourt

“I think generally speaking, both people are trying to be free from the abuses of the white racist North American authorities. I think that's the one common denominator. The Cubans found a way to liberate themselves and we haven't found the way yet. So that's the difference.”

People Thinking Way Trying Found Differences White Common Havens Authority Abuse Racist Cuban Common Denominator

Author:Huey Newton

“I think that the essence of a free and civilized society is that everything in it should be subject to criticism, that all forms of authority, should be treated with a certain reservation.”

Thinking Should Form Certain Subjects Authority Criticism Essence Treated Civilized Reservations Civilized Society

Author:Malcolm Muggeridge

“Now everybody's bloggin'. I heard somebody say, "Blogging is just graffiti with punctuation." Everyone's an authority so there's nobody in power, 'cause everyone thinks they're in power.”

Thinking Causes Heard Authority Blogging Graffiti Punctuation

Author:Ice T

“The notion of the enduring authority focuses on the fact that some people think that notions like authority of Scripture's is passé, while others say that the present configuration of the doctrine of inerrancy is a late addition. And to both we want to say, No we're talking about the enduring authority of Scripture, grounded first and foremost in its relevatory status, something given by God and utterly reliable.”

People Thinking Want Firsts Facts Given Talking Authority Late Endure Notion Scripture Doctrine Grounded Configuration

Author:D. A. Carson

“Teaching and writing, really, they support and nourish each other, and they foster good thinking. Because when you show up in the classroom, you may have on the mantle of authority, but in fact, you're just a writer helping other writers think through their problems. Your experience with the problems you've tried to solve comes into play in how you try to teach them to solve their problems.”

Thinking Writing Trying May Play Facts Helping Shows Problem Teach Support Teaching Authority Solve Helping Others Classroom Good Thinking

Author:Emily Barton

“I think that's a major reason. Instead of turning in their own lives to philosophy, religion, love, family life, or nature, they think of psychiatry; and today that means the "pill" as an ultimate answer. Also, if you have a desire for social control, "benevolent" control and "benevolent" authority, then again biological psychiatry offers a tremendous opportunity.”

Ifs Thinking Mean Reason Philosophy Today Desire Opportunity Social Answers Offers Authority Majors Ultimate Pills Family Life Psychiatry Family Love Benevolent Social Control

Author:Peter Breggin

“In other words, when you have someone [like Ridley Scott] with that authority, then you tend to be left alone. But they were good and they're really good people, and I'm a big champion of the BBC and I think that like minds find each other and I think that FX and BBC is a perfect match.”

People Thinking Mind Bigs Left Perfect Authority Champion Good People Left Alone Perfect Match

Author:Steven Knight

“I`ve said this when I pass the trade promotion authority law, which allows us to get trade agreements. If we write the rules of the global economy, we will succeed in the 21st century. But we have to write those rules, we have to engage, and I think the president [Donald Trump] said Trans-Pacific Partnership is not the way to do it.”

Ifs Thinking Way Writing Said Law President Economy Century Trump Succeed Authority Trade Agreement Partnership 21st Century Promotion Trans Pacific Global Economy Trade Agreements

Author:Paul Ryan

“The globalists, the establishment, they think America isn't particularly exceptional and should be no different than any other state in the world, subject to whatever a global authority might say, the United Nations, for example. Donald Trump doesn't think that, nor do I.”

Thinking World Should Different States Might America Nations United Subjects Example Trump Authority Establishment United Nations Exceptional

Author:Rush Limbaugh

“The Iranian government is the government that supplied the arms on the Karin-A to the Palestinian Authority several years ago, they are the world's largest central banker for terrorism, if they thought it was in their interest to give a terrorist group a nuclear weapon to use against America or against Israel, I don't think they'd hesitate.”

“It was right to overthrow Saddam Hussein. It was the regime itself that was a threat. I think in hindsight, what I would have done is turn authority back over to Iraqis much more quickly and say: "Your country, you figure out how to run it."”

Thinking Country Done Running Turns Figures Authority Threat Regimes Saddam Hussein Hindsight

Author:John Bolton

“There are systemic, painful problems of globalization and de-industrialization that cannot be solved with a phone call or a tweet or an angry speech or trying to isolate the press and the first amendment. Sooner or later, the Donald Trump show, which is a projection of strength and authority, will have to deliver to his voters. And if he doesn't, in very real terms, if he can't supersede a situation where a president cut the unemployment rate in half, if he can't do better, if he can't open factories and all the rest that he's promised, then I think he's in trouble.”

“Congress could always stop the President if Congress thinks that what the President has done exceeds the President's authority or is just wrong for the United States.”

Ifs Thinking States Done President United United States Authority Congress Exceed

Author:Ruth Bader Ginsburg

“I think the Supreme Court does have the authority, which is not used, to declare a blanket right for all people, all adults.”

People Thinking Doe Used Authority Adults Court Supreme Supreme Court Blanket

Author:Jack Kevorkian

“The American experiment, the United States in the past eight years [2008-2016] was not considered worthy of leading, because we had committed too many transgressions. We didn't have the moral authority to lead anybody because we had too many injustices in our past and too many discriminations and too many thises and thats and so forth. We were not worthy of leading, and we had been leading for too long in all the wrong directions. It was really, I think, despicable.”

“The terms of the 2008 constitution [which ensures the military will continue to be the ultimate authority] could not benefit Burma in the long run. I think this constitution should be revised.”

Thinking Should Long Running Term Military Authority Benefits Ultimate Constitution Long Runs Burma

Author:Aung San Suu Kyi

“Engage with the Bible. Meditate on it day and night. Think and rethink about God's Word. Let it be your guide. Make it your go-to book for questions. Let it be the ultimate authority in your life.”

Thinking Book Night Authority Ultimate Guides Day And Night

Author:Max Lucado

“One of the great things about the Bible, one of the things I think keeps people coming back to it, is that it's nothing if not perpetually topical. You don't have to dig too deeply into today's paper to find slaves and masters, evil authorities.”

People Ifs Thinking Today Evil Masters Authority Paper Slave Great Things Coming Back

Author:Ron Currie Jr.

“I do think it's a very good way to describe what a great actor does. You're both acknowledging the authority of the director and the necessity of the actor to push back and find their own voice.”

Thinking Way Doe Actors Voice Directors Authority Very Good Good Way Great Actors

Author:Noah Baumbach

“I think there has been an unfortunate tendency for a lot of different groups to forget that distinction between natural law and revealed truth and to say: Our complete agenda is to be enacted into laws governing the entire society. Many different religious groups claim that authority, not only Catholics. A lot of different Protestant groups as well are stepping forward to say: Here is our agenda, it is a moral agenda, ergo it must be enacted into law. I think that the distinction between natural law and more ultimate kinds of doctrine is being lost.”

Thinking Kind Different Natural Religious Forget Moral Authority Ultimate Catholic Unfortunate Natural Law

Author:Bruce Babbitt

“I think there is a modern temper. The authority figures we revered in the past are all up for grabs - they're gone. We are groping for meaning in a world where some of our gods have died. We're asking ourselves, 'Who is our true brother and sister, where is our true home?' The modern tempter is our struggle to lead meaningful lives, and even if we don't believe in religion, we can reach down and hold on to our core values for guidance.”

Thinking World Believe Home Past Values Struggle Modern Brother Authority Meaningful Guidance Temper Brothers And Sisters Meaningful Life Core Values

Author:Anne Rice

“You know, you'd hide behind a Public Enemy or Ice Cube, or Bruce Springsteen, or U2, because they spoke for you. But now everybody's bloggin'. I heard somebody say, "Blogging is just graffiti with punctuation." Everyone's an authority so there's nobody in power, 'cause everyone thinks they're in power.”

Thinking Enemy Authority Graffiti Punctuation Springsteen

Author:Ice T