If you demand my authorities for this and that, I must…
“If you demand my authorities for this and that, I must reply that only those who have never hunted up the authorities as I have believe that there is any authority who is not contradicted flatly by some other authority.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Authority is always contested; no single authority is absolute because each is contradicted by another.
In simple terms: All authority is challenged by other authority.
Key Takeaway
Question and test authority.
Themes
authority
philosophy
skepticism
power
truth
Mood
critical
inquisitive
Type
philosophical
dialogue
When to use this quote
- debates
- academic research
- policy analysis
Key Concepts
relativism
critical thinking
political theory
Questions to Reflect On
- When is it appropriate to accept authority?
- How do we navigate conflicting authorities?
A Different Perspective
Authority can be useful despite contradictions.