--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Authority cannot be bought or sold, given…" description: "\"Authority cannot be bought or sold, given or taken away.\" — James Hunter" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c39/james-hunter-16269_authority_authority-cannot-be-bought-or-sold-given_1915853.jpg" --- # Authority cannot be bought or sold, given or taken away. ![“Authority cannot be bought or sold, given or taken away.” quote by James Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c39/james-hunter-16269_authority_authority-cannot-be-bought-or-sold-given_1915853.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c39/james-hunter-16269_authority_authority-cannot-be-bought-or-sold-given_1915853.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c39/james-hunter-16269_authority_authority-cannot-be-bought-or-sold-given_1915853.jpg) > “Authority cannot be bought or sold, given or taken away.” [James Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hunter/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Authority is inherent and cannot be transferred through purchase or force. **In simple terms:** Authority cannot be bought or sold. Key Takeaway Respect earned authority, not bought. Themes leadership integrity power Mood thoughtful serious Type philosophical advisory When to use this quote - political leadership - corporate management - community organizing Key Concepts social contract legitimacy ethical governance Questions to Reflect On - How do you demonstrate legitimate authority? - What safeguards protect against abuse of authority? A Different Perspective Authority may be challenged if perceived as illegitimate. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Authority](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/authority/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) ## Related quotes > [We can't just let business as usual go on, and that means something has to be taken away from some people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/we-can-t-just-let-business-as-usual-go-on-and-that-means-something/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [I'm a feminist, but I think that romance has been taken away a bit for my generation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-watson/i-m-a-feminist-but-i-think-that-romance-has-been-taken-away-a-bit-for/) [Emma Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-watson/) > [Nothing that had happened in the past could be taken away. This was an amazing gift. The past was done and over and settled;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-werlin/nothing-that-had-happened-in-the-past-could-be-taken-away-this-was-an/) [Nancy Werlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-werlin/) > [I was hit by a car. I almost died. My show was taken away from me. I was frightened.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eileen-brennan/i-was-hit-by-a-car-i-almost-died-my-show-was-taken-away-from-me-i-was/) [Eileen Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eileen-brennan/) > [Your mind outwears all sorts of things you may set your heart upon; you can enjoy it when all other things are taken away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-anne-porter/your-mind-outwears-all-sorts-of-things-you-may-set-your-heart-upon/) [Katherine Anne Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-anne-porter/) > [“Too often we don’t realize how great we have it until something is taken away.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/too-often-we-don-t-realize-how-great-we-have-it-until-something-is/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [The world for which you have been so carefully prepared is being taken away from you, by the grace of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-brueggemann/the-world-for-which-you-have-been-so-carefully-prepared-is-being/) [Walter Brueggemann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-brueggemann/) > [In 'Fable III' we have taken away the experience system.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-molyneux/in-fable-iii-we-have-taken-away-the-experience-system/) [Peter Molyneux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-molyneux/) > [Authority is always built on service and sacrifice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hunter/authority-is-always-built-on-service-and-sacrifice/) [James Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hunter/) > [We have been deceived into believing prayer is all about persuading God to release His power. We no longer need to beg or plead;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-wommack/we-have-been-deceived-into-believing-prayer-is-all-about-persuading/) [Andrew Wommack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-wommack/) > [In any given society the authority of man over man runs in inverse proportion to the intellectual development of that society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-joseph-proudhon/in-any-given-society-the-authority-of-man-over-man-runs-in-inverse/) [Pierre-Joseph Proudhon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-joseph-proudhon/) > [“He knew that those things we most desire to hold in our hearts are often taken from us while that which we would put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/he-knew-that-those-things-we-most-desire-to-hold-in-our-hearts-are/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [ ... some of my people could have been left \[in Africa\] and are living there. And I can't understand them and they don't know… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fannie-lou-hamer/some-of-my-people-could-have-been-left-in-africa-and-are-living-there/) [Fannie Lou Hamer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fannie-lou-hamer/) > [“I enjoy life so much more now, and I try hard to appreciate each and every day, but deep down I am still afraid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaycee-dugard/i-enjoy-life-so-much-more-now-and-i-try-hard-to-appreciate-each-and/) [Jaycee Dugard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaycee-dugard/) > [I can be taken away from myself quite easily, I kind of start betraying myself and compromising my integrity, to keep someone else happy.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aimee-lou-wood/i-can-be-taken-away-from-myself-quite-easily-i-kind-of-start/) [Aimee Lou Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aimee-lou-wood/) ## More by James Hunter > [Leadership is character in action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hunter/leadership-is-character-in-action/) [James Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hunter/) > [Leadership: The skill of influencing people to work enthusiastically toward goals identified as being for the common good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hunter/leadership-the-skill-of-influencing-people-to-work-enthusiastically/) [James Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hunter/) > [Those who follow the crowd will never be followed by the crowd.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hunter/those-who-follow-the-crowd-will-never-be-followed-by-the-crowd/) [James Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hunter/) > [I get influenced by stuff that isn't even music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hunter/i-get-influenced-by-stuff-that-isn-t-even-music/) [James Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hunter/) > [...leaders who do not hold their people accountable to a set standard are, in effect, thieves and liars. Thieves because they are stealing from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hunter/leaders-who-do-not-hold-their-people-accountable-to-a-set-standard/) [James Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hunter/) > [Authority is always built on service and sacrifice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hunter/authority-is-always-built-on-service-and-sacrifice/) [James Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hunter/) > [It is a shame that so many leaders spend their time pondering their rights as leaders instead of their awesome responsibilities as leaders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hunter/it-is-a-shame-that-so-many-leaders-spend-their-time-pondering-their/) [James Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hunter/) > [If I have any claim to originality, I do it by investing my own personality into it, so it's coming from a slightly more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hunter/if-i-have-any-claim-to-originality-i-do-it-by-investing-my-own/) [James Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hunter/) > [For me, hearing the term 'apply yourself' was like a crucifix to Bella Lugosi's Dracula. 'Ahhh, it burns!'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hunter/for-me-hearing-the-term-apply-yourself-was-like-a-crucifix-to-bella/) [James Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hunter/) > [As leaders we do not create growth. The best we can do is create an environment that is conducive to growth. It is like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hunter/as-leaders-we-do-not-create-growth-the-best-we-can-do-is-create-an/) [James Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hunter/) > [Power: The ability to force or coerce someone to do your will, even if they would choose not to, because of your position or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hunter/power-the-ability-to-force-or-coerce-someone-to-do-your-will-even-if/) [James Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hunter/) > [Serving others breaks you free from the shackles of self and self-absorption that choke out the joy of living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hunter/serving-others-breaks-you-free-from-the-shackles-of-self-and-self/) [James Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hunter/) > [I'm conscious enough that how I'm singing is not my own accent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hunter/i-m-conscious-enough-that-how-i-m-singing-is-not-my-own-accent/) [James Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hunter/) > [“Or in gamer terms, Ares had been a giant, douchey Leeroy Jenkins.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hunter/or-in-gamer-terms-ares-had-been-a-giant-douchey-leeroy-jenkins/) [James Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hunter/) > [Our top-down pyramid style of management is a very old concept borrowed from centuries of war and monarchies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hunter/our-top-down-pyramid-style-of-management-is-a-very-old-concept/) [James Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hunter/) [Explore all 40 James Hunter quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hunter/) ## 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": "Authority cannot be bought or sold, given or taken away.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "James Hunter" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hunter/authority-cannot-be-bought-or-sold-given-or-taken-away/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Authority" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hunter/authority-cannot-be-bought-or-sold-given-or-taken-away/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c39/james-hunter-16269_authority_authority-cannot-be-bought-or-sold-given_1915853.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c39/james-hunter-16269_authority_authority-cannot-be-bought-or-sold-given_1915853.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c39/james-hunter-16269_authority_authority-cannot-be-bought-or-sold-given_1915853.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Authority cannot be bought or sold, given or taken away.” — James Hunter", "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": "James Hunter", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hunter/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Authority cannot be bought or sold,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hunter/authority-cannot-be-bought-or-sold-given-or-taken-away/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hunter/authority-cannot-be-bought-or-sold-given-or-taken-away/#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 } } ] } ```