Authority Quote by Henry David Thoreau
“There will never be a really free and enlightened State until the State comes to recognize the individual as a higher and independent power, from which all its own power and authority are derived, and treats him accordingly.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: Civil Disobedience, 1849
A truly free state must recognize individuals as the source of its authority.
In simple terms: State power comes from individuals.
Key Takeaway
Respect individual autonomy.
Themes
politics
freedom
individual rights
Mood
reflective
serious
Type
philosophical
political
When to use this quote
- government policy
- civil rights movements
- education curricula
Key Concepts
social contract
human dignity
Questions to Reflect On
- How can societies balance collective needs with individual sovereignty?
- What limits should the state have over personal freedom?
A Different Perspective
Power structures resist ceding authority.
![“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)