Authority Quote by Isaac Watts
“Ten thousand things there are which we believe merely upon the authority or credit of those who have spoken or written them.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Psalms of David, 1734
We often accept ideas because trusted figures said them, not because we examined them ourselves.
In simple terms: We trust authority over personal verification.
Key Takeaway
Question assumptions, seek evidence.
Themes
critical thinking
trust
authority
Mood
skeptical
reflective
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- education
- media consumption
- scientific research
- personal decision making
Key Concepts
epistemology
cognitive bias
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you verify claims you hear?
- When have you challenged an authority?
A Different Perspective
Authority can be misleading if not scrutinized.
![“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)