--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Everyone that gets an authority into his…" description: "\"Everyone that gets an authority into his hands tyrannizes over others; as many husbands, parents, masters, magistrates, that live after the flesh do ca..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4cd/gerrard-winstanley-52553_authority_everyone-that-gets-an-authority-into-his_1691380.png" --- # Everyone that gets an authority into his hands tyrannizes… ![“Everyone that gets an authority into his hands tyrannizes over others; as many husbands, parents, masters, magistrates, that live after the flesh do carry themselves like oppressing lords over such as are under them, not knowing that their wives, children, servants, subjects are their fellow…” quote by Gerrard Winstanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4cd/gerrard-winstanley-52553_authority_everyone-that-gets-an-authority-into-his_1691380.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4cd/gerrard-winstanley-52553_authority_everyone-that-gets-an-authority-into-his_1691380.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4cd/gerrard-winstanley-52553_authority_everyone-that-gets-an-authority-into-his_1691380.png) > “Everyone that gets an authority into his hands tyrannizes over others; as many husbands, parents, masters, magistrates, that live after the flesh do carry themselves like oppressing lords over such as are under them, not knowing that their wives, children, servants, subjects are their fellow creatures, and hath an equal privilege to share them in the blessing of liberty.” [Gerrard Winstanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerrard-winstanley/) ## 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 oppression, ignoring the shared humanity of those governed. **In simple terms:** Power can corrupt and oppress. Key Takeaway Treat power as a shared responsibility. Themes authority oppression equality Mood reflective inspirational Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - government - family dynamics - workplace - community leadership Key Concepts social hierarchy human rights Questions to Reflect On - What responsibilities do leaders have to all? - How can we ensure equal liberty? A Different Perspective It may idealize equality without addressing power structures. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Authority](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/authority/) [Blessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blessing/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Husband](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/husband/) [Liberty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberty/) [Lord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lord/) [Parent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parent/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) [Privilege](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/privilege/) [Servant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/servant/) [Wife](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wife/) ## Related quotes > [If the civil magistrate be a Christian, a disciple or follower of the meek Lamb of God, he is bound to be far from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-williams/if-the-civil-magistrate-be-a-christian-a-disciple-or-follower-of-the/) [Roger Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-williams/) > [Protection, therefore, against the tyranny of the magistrate is not enough; there needs protection against the tyranny of the prevailing opinion and feeling, against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stuart-mill/protection-therefore-against-the-tyranny-of-the-magistrate-is-not/) [John Stuart Mill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stuart-mill/) > [In cities men cannot be prevented from concerting together, and from awakening a mutual excitement which prompts sudden and passionate resolutions. Cities may be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-de-tocqueville/in-cities-men-cannot-be-prevented-from-concerting-together-and-from/) [Alexis de Tocqueville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-de-tocqueville/) > [A magistrate is not a father; he must be just and severe. Only tyrants are fathers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/a-magistrate-is-not-a-father-he-must-be-just-and-severe-only-tyrants/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [He who takes the oath today to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States only assumes the solemn obligation which every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grover-cleveland/he-who-takes-the-oath-today-to-preserve-protect-and-defend-the/) [Grover Cleveland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grover-cleveland/) > [The power of Kings and Magistrates is nothing else, but what is only derivative, transferrd and committed to them in trust from the People,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/the-power-of-kings-and-magistrates-is-nothing-else-but-what-is-only/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [ Every answer he \[President John Adams\] gives to his addressers unmasks more and more his principles and views. His language to the young men… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/every-answer-he-president-john-adams-gives-to-his-addressers-unmasks/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [To extraordinary powers of labor, both mental and physical, he unites that tact and judgement which are requisite to the successful direction of such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-jackson/to-extraordinary-powers-of-labor-both-mental-and-physical-he-unites/) [Andrew Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-jackson/) > [... we have gratefully to receive from the hand of God the institution of the state with its magistrates as a means of preservation……](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-kuyper/we-have-gratefully-to-receive-from-the-hand-of-god-the-institution-of/) [Abraham Kuyper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-kuyper/) > [To make an empire durable, the magistrates must obey the laws and the people the magistrates.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/solon/to-make-an-empire-durable-the-magistrates-must-obey-the-laws-and-the/) [Solon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/solon/) > [Fear God, and offend not the Prince nor his laws, and keep thyself out of the magistrate's claws.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-tusser/fear-god-and-offend-not-the-prince-nor-his-laws-and-keep-thyself-out/) [Thomas Tusser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-tusser/) > [None of the modes by which a magistrate is appointed, popular election, the accident of the lot, or the accident of birth, affords, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-b-macaulay/none-of-the-modes-by-which-a-magistrate-is-appointed-popular-election/) [Thomas B. Macaulay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-b-macaulay/) > [Religion in a magistrate strengthens his authority, because it procures veneration, and gains a reputation to it. In all the affairs of this world,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-tillotson/religion-in-a-magistrate-strengthens-his-authority-because-it/) [John Tillotson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-tillotson/) > [Since custom is the principal magistrate of man's life, let men by all means endeavor to obtain good customs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/since-custom-is-the-principal-magistrate-of-man-s-life-let-men-by-all/) [Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/) > [ This scripture \[Romans 13:1-6\] is wrested from the scope of God's Spirit, and the nature of the place, and cannot truly be interpreted to… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-williams/this-scripture-romans-13-1-6-is-wrested-from-the-scope-of-god-s/) [Roger Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-williams/) ## More by Gerrard Winstanley > [Propriety and single interest divides the people of a land and the whole world into parties and is the cause of all wars and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerrard-winstanley/propriety-and-single-interest-divides-the-people-of-a-land-and-the/) [Gerrard Winstanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerrard-winstanley/) > [For what you call the Law is but a club of the rich over the lowest of men, sanctifying the conquest of the earth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerrard-winstanley/for-what-you-call-the-law-is-but-a-club-of-the-rich-over-the-lowest/) [Gerrard Winstanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerrard-winstanley/) > [While men are gazing up to Heaven, imagining after a happiness, or fearing a Hell after they are dead, their eyes are put out,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerrard-winstanley/while-men-are-gazing-up-to-heaven-imagining-after-a-happiness-or/) [Gerrard Winstanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerrard-winstanley/) > [If many have their turns to rule, ... this will encourage all men to advance Righteousness and that the Commonwealth will hereby be furnished…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerrard-winstanley/if-many-have-their-turns-to-rule-this-will-encourage-all-men-to/) [Gerrard Winstanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerrard-winstanley/) > [Was the earth made to preserve a few covetous, proud men to live at ease, and for them to bag and barn up the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerrard-winstanley/was-the-earth-made-to-preserve-a-few-covetous-proud-men-to-live-at/) [Gerrard Winstanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerrard-winstanley/) > [When the people stare at the sky and dream of blessedness, or when they quiver with fear for hell after death, their eyes get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerrard-winstanley/when-the-people-stare-at-the-sky-and-dream-of-blessedness-or-when/) [Gerrard Winstanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerrard-winstanley/) [Explore all 7 Gerrard Winstanley quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerrard-winstanley/) ## More Authority quotes > [I don't believe in competitions between artists. This is insane. Who has the authority to say someone is better?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-arkin/i-don-t-believe-in-competitions-between-artists-this-is-insane-who/) [Alan Arkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-arkin/) > [Islam never differentiates between men and women as regards political rights and puts them on an equal footing. However, even if a woman is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yusuf-al-qaradawi/islam-never-differentiates-between-men-and-women-as-regards-political/) [Yusuf al-Qaradawi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yusuf-al-qaradawi/) > [I think people need to be comfortable questioning the authority of a doctor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susannah-cahalan/i-think-people-need-to-be-comfortable-questioning-the-authority-of-a/) [Susannah Cahalan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susannah-cahalan/) > [At a distance, we cannot conceive of the authority of a despot who knows all his subjects on sight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stendhal/at-a-distance-we-cannot-conceive-of-the-authority-of-a-despot-who/) [Stendhal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stendhal/) > [Throughout human history, as our species has faced the frightening, terrorizing fact that we do not know who we are, or where we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-leary/throughout-human-history-as-our-species-has-faced-the-frightening/) [Timothy Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-leary/) > [“I'm of the age and immaturity level that I cannot give you my respect solely because you are older or ranked higher on an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-goros/i-m-of-the-age-and-immaturity-level-that-i-cannot-give-you-my-respect/) [Erica Goros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-goros/) > [In the end theologians are jealous of science, for they are aware that it has greater authority than do their own ways of finding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-a-coyne/in-the-end-theologians-are-jealous-of-science-for-they-are-aware-that/) [Jerry A. Coyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-a-coyne/) > [Every wife ought to answer for her man. If the husband be engaged in a seditious club, or drinks mysterious healths, or be frugal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/every-wife-ought-to-answer-for-her-man-if-the-husband-be-engaged-in-a/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [Miracles are like candles lit up until the sun rises, and then blown out. Therefore, I am amused when I hear sects and churches…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/miracles-are-like-candles-lit-up-until-the-sun-rises-and-then-blown/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [The execution was set for the 29th of March, at nine in the morning. 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. If you would be free, then, do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/we-are-at-the-mercy-of-whoever-wields-authority-over-the-things-we/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [Sometimes it's easier for people who are in authority to be authoritarian, because people know where you stand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-streep/sometimes-it-s-easier-for-people-who-are-in-authority-to-be/) [Meryl Streep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meryl-streep/) > [The victory of Hamas is not only based on the corruption of the Palestinian Authority. Hamas has a vision and a program, and this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ismail-haniyeh/the-victory-of-hamas-is-not-only-based-on-the-corruption-of-the/) [Ismail Haniyeh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ismail-haniyeh/) [Browse all 4,003 Authority quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/authority/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Everyone that gets an authority into his hands tyrannizes over others; as many husbands, parents, masters, magistrates, that live after the flesh do carry themselves like oppressing lords over such as are under them, not knowing that their wives, children, servants, subjects are their fellow creatures, and hath an equal privilege to share them in the blessing of liberty.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Gerrard Winstanley" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerrard-winstanley/everyone-that-gets-an-authority-into-his-hands-tyrannizes-over-others/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Authority" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerrard-winstanley/everyone-that-gets-an-authority-into-his-hands-tyrannizes-over-others/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4cd/gerrard-winstanley-52553_authority_everyone-that-gets-an-authority-into-his_1691380.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4cd/gerrard-winstanley-52553_authority_everyone-that-gets-an-authority-into-his_1691380.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4cd/gerrard-winstanley-52553_authority_everyone-that-gets-an-authority-into-his_1691380.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Everyone that gets an authority into his hands tyrannizes over others; as many husbands, parents, masters…” — Gerrard Winstanley", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Gerrard Winstanley", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerrard-winstanley/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Everyone that gets an authority into...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerrard-winstanley/everyone-that-gets-an-authority-into-his-hands-tyrannizes-over-others/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerrard-winstanley/everyone-that-gets-an-authority-into-his-hands-tyrannizes-over-others/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```