Merciful heaven,
Thou rather with thy sharp and sulphurous bolt
Splits the unwedgeable and gnarled oak
read more

Merciful heaven,
Thou rather with thy sharp and sulphurous bolt
Splits the unwedgeable and gnarled oak
Than the soft myrtle; but man, proud man,
Dressed in a little brief authority,
Most ignorant of what he's most assured
His glassy essence--like an angry ape
Plays such fantastic tricks before high heaven
As makes the angels weep; who, with our spleens,
would all themselves laugh mortal.

He seems to be of great authority. Close with him, give him
gold; and though authority be a stubborn read more

He seems to be of great authority. Close with him, give him
gold; and though authority be a stubborn bear, yet he is oft led
by the nose with gold.

Every great advance in natural knowledge has involved the absolute rejection of authority.

Every great advance in natural knowledge has involved the absolute rejection of authority.

A position of authority is neither necessary nor sufficient for the exercise of leadership.

A position of authority is neither necessary nor sufficient for the exercise of leadership.

He who rules by moral force is like the pole star, which remains
in place while all the lesser read more

He who rules by moral force is like the pole star, which remains
in place while all the lesser stars do homage to it.

I am certainly not an authority on love because there are no authorities on love, just those who've had luck read more

I am certainly not an authority on love because there are no authorities on love, just those who've had luck with it and those who haven't.

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,

To punish me for my contempt for authority, fate made me an authority myself.

To punish me for my contempt for authority, fate made me an authority myself.

Always acknowledge a fault. This will throw those in authority off their guard and give you an opportunity to commit read more

Always acknowledge a fault. This will throw those in authority off their guard and give you an opportunity to commit more.