Quotes on Authority And Power

You don't lead by hitting people over the head - that's assault, not leadership.

The essence of Government is power; and power, lodged as it must be in human hands, will ever be liable to abuse.

Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men, even when they exercise influence and not authority: still more when you superadd the tendency or the certainty of corruption by authority.

Authority without wisdom is like a heavy ax without an edge -- fitter to bruise than polish.

Christ is the source of all true priesthood authority and power on earth. It is His work, in which we are privileged to assist.

Authority and power are two different things: power is the force by means of which you can oblige others to obey you. Authority is the right to direct and command, to be listened to or obeyed by others. Authority requests power. Power without authority is tyranny.

Power never takes a back step only in the face of more power.

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

I put for the general inclination of all mankind, a perpetual and restless desire of power after power, that ceaseth only in death.