--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The weaker the man in authority... the…" description: "\"The weaker the man in authority... the stronger his insistence that all his privileges be acknowledged.\" — Austin O'Malley" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ed/austin-o-malley-1805_authority_the-weaker-the-man-in-authority-the-stro_3048893.jpg" --- # The weaker the man in authority... the stronger his… ![“The weaker the man in authority... the stronger his insistence that all his privileges be acknowledged.” quote by Austin O'Malley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ed/austin-o-malley-1805_authority_the-weaker-the-man-in-authority-the-stro_3048893.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ed/austin-o-malley-1805_authority_the-weaker-the-man-in-authority-the-stro_3048893.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ed/austin-o-malley-1805_authority_the-weaker-the-man-in-authority-the-stro_3048893.jpg) > “The weaker the man in authority... the stronger his insistence that all his privileges be acknowledged.” [Austin O'Malley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-o-malley/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Authority often leads to entitlement, causing those in power to demand recognition of their privileges. **In simple terms:** Power can create entitlement. Key Takeaway Recognize and challenge entitlement. Themes authority privilege entitlement social dynamics Mood critical reflective Type analytical philosophical When to use this quote - political leadership - corporate management - community organizing Key Concepts Power dynamics social hierarchy psychology Questions to Reflect On - How does authority shape self‑perception? - What checks can limit entitlement? A Different Perspective Privilege can be invisible to those who hold it. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Authority](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/authority/) [Insistence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/insistence/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) [Privilege](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/privilege/) ## Related quotes > [Any group is weaker than a man alone unless they are perfectly trained to work together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/any-group-is-weaker-than-a-man-alone-unless-they-are-perfectly/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [“Because a king maker would always choose the weaker man. The weaker the man, the easier he is to control.’ Damen”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-pacat/because-a-king-maker-would-always-choose-the-weaker-man-the-weaker/) [C.S. Pacat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-pacat/) > [If I were a weaker man, I would have quit. Something is testing me, I'm not a religious man, so I'm not going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grieves/if-i-were-a-weaker-man-i-would-have-quit-something-is-testing-me-i-m/) [Grieves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grieves/) > [“What makes you think Kastor is the weaker man? You don't know him.' 'But I'm coming to know you,' said Laurent.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-pacat/what-makes-you-think-kastor-is-the-weaker-man-you-don-t-know-him-but/) [C.S. Pacat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-pacat/) > [“Hindley, with apparently the stronger head, has shown himself sadly the worse and weaker man ... One hoped, the other despaired: they chose their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-bronte/hindley-with-apparently-the-stronger-head-has-shown-himself-sadly-the/) [Emily Brontë](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-bronte/) > [“He was in the frame of mind when a weaker man would have started writing poetry.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-g-wodehouse/he-was-in-the-frame-of-mind-when-a-weaker-man-would-have-started/) [P.G. Wodehouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-g-wodehouse/) > [“What?” He wasn’t giving up? “Your temper might scare off a weaker man, but not me. Because deep down, I know you want me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsay-cross/what-he-wasn-t-giving-up-your-temper-might-scare-off-a-weaker-man-but/) [Lindsay Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsay-cross/) > [“He said: ‘What makes you think Kastor is the weaker man? You don’t know him.’ ‘But I’m coming to know you,’ said Laurent.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-pacat/he-said-what-makes-you-think-kastor-is-the-weaker-man-you-don-t-know/) [C.S. 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Get up and walk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-moore/the-son-of-man-has-authority-over-whatever-has-you-paralyzed-get-up/) [Beth Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-moore/) > [A white man of authority don't ever want to admit to someone of colour they was wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-ray-hinton/a-white-man-of-authority-don-t-ever-want-to-admit-to-someone-of/) [Anthony Ray Hinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-ray-hinton/) ## More by Austin O'Malley > [Sermons are like pie-crust, the shorter the better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-o-malley/sermons-are-like-pie-crust-the-shorter-the-better/) [Austin O'Malley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-o-malley/) > [You can swim in life and seawater, but both are hard to swallow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-o-malley/you-can-swim-in-life-and-seawater-but-both-are-hard-to-swallow/) [Austin O'Malley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-o-malley/) > [Law is the rudder of the ship of state.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-o-malley/law-is-the-rudder-of-the-ship-of-state/) [Austin O'Malley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-o-malley/) > [A woman, like a cross-eyed man, looks one way, but goes another--hence her mysteriousness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-o-malley/a-woman-like-a-cross-eyed-man-looks-one-way-but-goes-another-hence/) [Austin O'Malley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-o-malley/) > [Religion often gets credit for curing rascals when old age is the real medicine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-o-malley/religion-often-gets-credit-for-curing-rascals-when-old-age-is-the/) [Austin O'Malley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-o-malley/) > [Charity is the note that resolves the discord.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-o-malley/charity-is-the-note-that-resolves-the-discord/) [Austin O'Malley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-o-malley/) > [We must be laid like a brand in the fire ... if we would gain immortal youth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-o-malley/we-must-be-laid-like-a-brand-in-the-fire-if-we-would-gain-immortal/) [Austin O'Malley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-o-malley/) > [If you snub Conscience a few times she will cut your acquaintance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-o-malley/if-you-snub-conscience-a-few-times-she-will-cut-your-acquaintance/) [Austin O'Malley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-o-malley/) > [A hole is nothing at all, but you can break your neck in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-o-malley/a-hole-is-nothing-at-all-but-you-can-break-your-neck-in-it/) [Austin O'Malley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-o-malley/) > [A drunkard is like a whiskey-bottle, all neck and belly and no head.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-o-malley/a-drunkard-is-like-a-whiskey-bottle-all-neck-and-belly-and-no-head/) [Austin O'Malley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-o-malley/) > [Power should answer by action, not by speech.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-o-malley/power-should-answer-by-action-not-by-speech/) [Austin O'Malley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-o-malley/) > [Charity is the only lubricant that keeps the axle of the world creaking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-o-malley/charity-is-the-only-lubricant-that-keeps-the-axle-of-the-world/) [Austin O'Malley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-o-malley/) > [Reason clears and plants the wilderness of the imagination to harvest the wheat of art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-o-malley/reason-clears-and-plants-the-wilderness-of-the-imagination-to-harvest/) [Austin O'Malley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-o-malley/) > [Some men are like a church-organ -- you can play on them for a lifetime and always find new harmonies; others are like a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-o-malley/some-men-are-like-a-church-organ-you-can-play-on-them-for-a-lifetime/) [Austin O'Malley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-o-malley/) > [Laws are made by the old, exceptions by the young.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-o-malley/laws-are-made-by-the-old-exceptions-by-the-young/) [Austin O'Malley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-o-malley/) [Explore all 207 Austin O'Malley quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-o-malley/) ## More Authority quotes > [I don't believe in competitions between artists. 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This delay was due to a desire on the part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/the-execution-was-set-for-the-29th-of-march-at-nine-in-the-morning/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [I started with the belief that every person who came to the laboratory was free to accept or to reject the dictates of authority.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-milgram/i-started-with-the-belief-that-every-person-who-came-to-the/) [Stanley Milgram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-milgram/) > [The rationale which accompanies that imposition of male authority euphemistically referred to as 'the battle of the sexes' bears a certain resemblance to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-millett/the-rationale-which-accompanies-that-imposition-of-male-authority/) [Kate Millett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-millett/) > [“We are at the mercy of whoever wields authority over the things we either desire or detest. 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