Authority Quote by Anthony de Mello
“If you make me your authority, you harm yourself because you will not see things for yourself, and you harm me too because you refuse to see me as I am.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Awareness, 1990
Relying on another for authority limits personal insight and harms both parties.
In simple terms: Dependence on authority blocks self‑knowledge and harms relationships.
Key Takeaway
Cultivate personal discernment.
Themes
authority
self‑knowledge
relationships
Mood
reflective
inspirational
Type
philosophical
self‑help
When to use this quote
- personal growth
- leadership coaching
- conflict resolution
Key Concepts
psychology
spiritual autonomy
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you respect guidance while maintaining self‑awareness?
- When does reliance become detrimental?
A Different Perspective
Total autonomy can be isolating; balance is needed.
![“The rationale which accompanies that imposition of male authority euphemistically referred to as 'the battle of the sexes' bears a certain resemblance to the formulas of nations at war, where any heinousness is justified on the grounds that the enemy is either an inferior [part of the] species or…” quote by Kate Millett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/895/kate-millett-7301_accompany_the-rationale-which-accompanies-that-imp_8896.jpg)