The disappearance of a sense of responsibility is the most far-reaching consequence of submission to authority.
Stanley MilgramRead
The essence in obedience consists in the fact that a person comes to view himself as an instrument for carrying out another person's wishes and he therefore no longer regards himself as responsible for his actions.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote highlights how obedience can lead individuals to see themselves as tools for others' desires, diminishing personal responsibility.
Stanley Milgram's observation on obedience reveals a profound psychological truth: when individuals relinquish their autonomy to fulfill another person's commands, they may lose the sense of personal accountability for their actions. This can lead to ethical dilemmas and moral disengagement, as people may prioritize obedience over their own moral compass and values, effectively viewing themselves as instruments executing someone else's will rather than as independent agents making their own choices.
Themes
ObedienceResponsibilityPsychologyMoralityAutonomy
In practice
Example use cases
During a discussion on ethical leadership, one might use this quote to illustrate the potential pitfalls of blind obedience.
More from Stanley Milgram
All quotes →A substantial proportion of people do what they are told to do, irrespective of the content of the act, and without pangs of conscience, so long as they perceive that the command comes from a legitimate authority.
Stanley MilgramRead
The soldier does not wish to appear a coward, disloyal, or un-American. The situation has been so defined that he can see himself as patriotic, courageous, and manly only through compliance.
Stanley MilgramRead
Ordinary people, simply doing their jobs, and without any particular hostility on their part, can become agents in a terrible destructive process. Moreover, even when the destructive effects of their work become patently clear, and they are asked to carry out actions incompatible with fundamental standards of morality, relatively few people have the resources needed to resist authority.
Stanley MilgramRead
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