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.
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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.
When clouds are seen wise men put on their cloaks;
When great leaves fall then winter is at hand.
When clouds are seen wise men put on their cloaks;
When great leaves fall then winter is at hand.
It is a tempest in a tumbler of water.
[Fr., C'est une tempete dans un verre d'eau.]
It is a tempest in a tumbler of water.
[Fr., C'est une tempete dans un verre d'eau.]
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.
For many years I was self-appointed inspector of snow-storms and
rain-storms and did my duty faithfully.
For many years I was self-appointed inspector of snow-storms and
rain-storms and did my duty faithfully.
Loud o'er my head though awful thunders roll,
And vivid lightnings flash from pole to pole,
Yet read more
Loud o'er my head though awful thunders roll,
And vivid lightnings flash from pole to pole,
Yet 'tis Thy voice, my God, that bids them fly,
Thy arm directs those lightnings through the sky.
Then let the good Thy mighty name revere,
And hardened sinners Thy just vengeance fear.
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.
Or, if there were a sympathy in choice,
War, death, or sickness did lay siege to it,
read more
Or, if there were a sympathy in choice,
War, death, or sickness did lay siege to it,
Making it momentany as a sound,
Swift as a shadow, short as any dream,
Brief as the lightning in the collied night,
That, in a spleen, unfolds both heaven and earth,
And ere a man hath power to say 'Behold!'
The jaws of darkness do devour it up:
So quick bright things come to confusion.
Unthinking respect for authority is the greatest enemy of truth.
Unthinking respect for authority is the greatest enemy of truth.
