All authority must be out of a man's self, turned . . . either
upon an art, or upon read more

All authority must be out of a man's self, turned . . . either
upon an art, or upon a man.
- Francis Bacon,

I have as much authority as the Pope, I just don't have as many people who believe it.

I have as much authority as the Pope, I just don't have as many people who believe it.

Thou hast seen a farmer's dog bark at a beggar? . . . And the
creature run from the read more

Thou hast seen a farmer's dog bark at a beggar? . . . And the
creature run from the cur. There thou mightst behold the great
image of authority--a dog's obeyed in office.

The wisest have the most authority

The wisest have the most authority

Shall remain!
Hear you this Triton of the minnows? Mark you
His absolute 'shall'?

Shall remain!
Hear you this Triton of the minnows? Mark you
His absolute 'shall'?

Authority intoxicates,
And makes mere sots of magistrates;
The fumes of it invade the brain,
read more

Authority intoxicates,
And makes mere sots of magistrates;
The fumes of it invade the brain,
And make men giddy, proud, and vain.

Unthinking respect for authority is the greatest enemy of truth.

Unthinking respect for authority is the greatest enemy of truth.

Thus can the demigod Authority
Make us pay down for our offense by weight
The words of read more

Thus can the demigod Authority
Make us pay down for our offense by weight
The words of heaven; on whom it will, it will,
On whom it will not, so: yet still 'tis just.

Well, I must be patient; there is no fettering of authority.

Well, I must be patient; there is no fettering of authority.