Quotes about Authority

As Hamlet says, Hercules may lay about him with his club in every possible direction, but he can't prevent the cats from making a most intolerable row on the roofs of the houses, or the dogs from being shot in the hot weather if they run about the streets unmuzzled

Dear me, dear me,' replied a testy voice, 'I am very sorry for it, but what am I to do? I can't build it up again. The chief magistrate of the city can't go and be a rebuilding of people's houses, my good sir. Stuff and nonsense!' 'But the chief magistrate of the city can prevent people's houses from having any need to be rebuilt, if the chief magistrate's a man, and not a dummy—can't he, my lord?' cried the old gentleman in a choleric manner.

the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only. There were a king with a large jaw and a queen with a plain face, on the

great men are urged on to the abuse of power (when they need urging, which is not often), by their flatterers and dependents,

in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted

plain face, on the throne of England; there were a king with a large jaw and a queen with a fair face, on the throne of France. In both countries it was clearer than crystal to the lords

throne of England; there were a king with a large jaw and a queen with a fair face, on the throne of France. In both countries it was

The several duties of instruction in this establishment were thus discharged. English grammar, composition, geography, and the use of the dumb-bells, by Miss Melissa Wackles; writing, arithmetic, dancing, music, and general fascination, by Miss Sophia Wackles; the art of needle-work, marking, and samplery, by Miss Jane Wackles; corporal punishment, fasting, and other tortures and terrors, by Mrs Wackles.

No man is above the law and no man is below it; nor do we ask any man's permission when we require him to obey it... Obedience to the law is demanded as a right, not asked as a favor.

A leader who doesn't hesitate before he sends his nation into battle is not fit to be a leader.

The devil's aversion to holy water is a light matter compared with a despot's dread of a newspaper that laughs.

In a word, as a man is said to have a right to his property, he may be equally said to have a property in his rights.