Authority Quote by Herman Kahn
“Authority is not power; that's coercion. Authority is not knowledge; that's persuasion, or seduction. Authority is simply that the author has the right to make a statement and to be heard.”
About This Quote
Source Book: On Power and Authority, Herman Kahn, 1972
Authority differs from power, knowledge, or persuasion; it is simply the right to be heard and make statements.
In simple terms: Authority is the right to speak, not force or knowledge.
Key Takeaway
Respect the right to be heard.
Themes
authority
power
knowledge
persuasion
Mood
analytical
serious
Type
theoretical
advisory
When to use this quote
- leadership
- public speaking
- policy making
Key Concepts
legitimacy
communication
Questions to Reflect On
- When is authority justified?
- How do you earn genuine authority?
A Different Perspective
Authority without legitimacy can be abused.
![“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)