---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: One must require from each one the duty…"
description: "\"“One must require from each one the duty with each one can perform,\" said the king. \"Accepted authority rests first of all on reason. If you ordered yo..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/709/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry-174_obedience_one-must-require-from-each-one-the-duty_852660.png"
---

#  One must require from each one the duty with each one can…

![“One must require from each one the duty with each one can perform," said the king. "Accepted authority rests first of all on reason. If you ordered your people to go and throw themselves into the sea, they would rise up in revolution. I have the right to require obedience because my orders are…” quote by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/709/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry-174_obedience_one-must-require-from-each-one-the-duty_852660.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/709/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry-174_obedience_one-must-require-from-each-one-the-duty_852660.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/709/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry-174_obedience_one-must-require-from-each-one-the-duty_852660.png)

> ““One must require from each one the duty with each one can perform," said the king. "Accepted authority rests first of all on reason. If you ordered your people to go and throw themselves into the sea, they would rise up in revolution. I have the right to require obedience because my orders are reasonable.””

[Antoine de Saint-Exupéry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Authority must be justified by reason; unreasonable orders provoke rebellion, so leaders should demand obedience only when directives are rational.

**In simple terms:** Authority needs reason; unreasonable orders cause revolt.

Key Takeaway

Lead with rational, fair policies.

Themes

leadership authority reason rebellion

Mood

thoughtful critical

Type

philosophical political

When to use this quote

- workplace management
- government policy
- team projects
- education

Key Concepts

political philosophy ethics

Questions to Reflect On

- What makes an order reasonable?
- How do you respond to unreasonable directives?

A Different Perspective

Rational authority can be misused.

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[Accepted Authority](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accepted-authority-765794/) [Obedience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obedience/) [Obedience Orders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obedience-orders-433510/) [Require Duty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/require-duty-765793/) [Require Obedience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/require-obedience-765792/) [Responsibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responsibility/)

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> [The whole duty of man is summed up in obedience to God's will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/the-whole-duty-of-man-is-summed-up-in-obedience-to-god-s-will/)

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> [“There is indeed something delightful about being able to combine obedience and disobedience in the same act.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/there-is-indeed-something-delightful-about-being-able-to-combine/)

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## More by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

> [“If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up the men to gather wood, divide the work, and give orders. Instead, teach them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/if-you-want-to-build-a-ship-don-t-drum-up-the-men-to-gather-wood/)

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