--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I am unable to accept the idea that I…" description: "\"I am unable to accept the idea that I should be an obedient subject of a gang of corrupt, unprincipled thugs who pontificate about freedom while enslav..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/685/john-pugsley-32728_accepting_i-am-unable-to-accept-the-idea-that-i-sh_2902419.jpg" --- # I am unable to accept the idea that I should be an… ![“I am unable to accept the idea that I should be an obedient subject of a gang of corrupt, unprincipled thugs who pontificate about freedom while enslaving the population.” quote by John Pugsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/685/john-pugsley-32728_accepting_i-am-unable-to-accept-the-idea-that-i-sh_2902419.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/685/john-pugsley-32728_accepting_i-am-unable-to-accept-the-idea-that-i-sh_2902419.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/685/john-pugsley-32728_accepting_i-am-unable-to-accept-the-idea-that-i-sh_2902419.jpg) > “I am unable to accept the idea that I should be an obedient subject of a gang of corrupt, unprincipled thugs who pontificate about freedom while enslaving the population.” [John Pugsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-pugsley/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. One should not submit to corrupt authority that claims liberty while oppressing people; resistance is justified. **In simple terms:** Resist corrupt authority that pretends to grant freedom. Key Takeaway Question and oppose false liberty. Themes freedom corruption authority resistance Mood critical defiant Type political philosophical When to use this quote - activism - journalism - policy making - education Key Concepts political theory ethics civil disobedience Questions to Reflect On - What defines legitimate authority? - How can one oppose oppression responsibly? A Different Perspective Resistance can lead to instability or violence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accepting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accepting/) [Enslaving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enslaving/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Freedom Enslaving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom-enslaving-464895/) [Gang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gang/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Libertarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/libertarian/) [Libertarianism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/libertarianism/) [Liberty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberty/) [Obedient](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obedient/) [Pontificate Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pontificate-freedom-4134530/) [Population](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/population/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Subjects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/subjects/) [Thug](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thug/) [Thugs Pontificate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thugs-pontificate-4134528/) [Unprincipled Thugs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unprincipled-thugs-4134529/) ## Related quotes > [We have to show these men and women freedom by enslaving them, and show them courage by frightening them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/we-have-to-show-these-men-and-women-freedom-by-enslaving-them-and/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [The secret to freedom from enslaving patterns of sin is worship. You need worship. You need great worship. You need weeping worship. You need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-secret-to-freedom-from-enslaving-patterns-of-sin-is-worship-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The flood of cheap manufactures, for which the people have no need,destroys their industries. They become dependent on this trade and the demand for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-unsworth/the-flood-of-cheap-manufactures-for-which-the-people-have-no-need/) [Barry Unsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-unsworth/) > [There is nothing more enticing, disenchanting, and enslaving than the life at sea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-conrad/there-is-nothing-more-enticing-disenchanting-and-enslaving-than-the/) [Joseph Conrad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-conrad/) > [Rulers exist entirely through the persons of others. Their goal is in their subjects, in the activity of enslaving. They are as dependent as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/rulers-exist-entirely-through-the-persons-of-others-their-goal-is-in/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [“But, alas, this wealth, instead of blessing the race, has been the means of enslaving it. The few have come in possession of all,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-v-debs/but-alas-this-wealth-instead-of-blessing-the-race-has-been-the-means/) [Eugene V. Debs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-v-debs/) > [One of the best ways of enslaving a people is to keep them from education... The second way of enslaving a people is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/one-of-the-best-ways-of-enslaving-a-people-is-to-keep-them-from-2/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [One of the best ways of enslaving a people is to keep them from education.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/one-of-the-best-ways-of-enslaving-a-people-is-to-keep-them-from/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [The average European does not seem to feel free until he succeeds in enslaving and oppressing others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-berenson/the-average-european-does-not-seem-to-feel-free-until-he-succeeds-in/) [Bernard Berenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-berenson/) > [The Caribbean calls upon the enslaving governments of Europe and their national institutions, all enriched and empowered by their crimes against humanity, to return…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-beckles/the-caribbean-calls-upon-the-enslaving-governments-of-europe-and/) [Hilary Beckles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-beckles/) > [ When the resolution of enslaving America was formed in Great Britain, the British parliament was advised by an artful man \[Sir William Keith\], who… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-mason/when-the-resolution-of-enslaving-america-was-formed-in-great-britain/) [George Mason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-mason/) > [“The first enslaving illusion is the idea that people are born to be consumers and that they can attain any of their goals by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivan-illich/the-first-enslaving-illusion-is-the-idea-that-people-are-born-to-be/) [Ivan Illich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivan-illich/) > [“Reverend John Allen of Massachusetts took up the cry: Blush ye pretended votaries for freedom! ye trifling patriots!… for while you are fasting, praying,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-brogan/reverend-john-allen-of-massachusetts-took-up-the-cry-blush-ye/) [Hugh Brogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-brogan/) > [Slavery is a wrong to each individual enslaved; and not merely to the first of a series. Natural law, therefore, as much forbids the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lysander-spooner/slavery-is-a-wrong-to-each-individual-enslaved-and-not-merely-to-the/) [Lysander Spooner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lysander-spooner/) > ['The Handmaid's Tale' is not a book or show advocating enslaving women or creating a theocracy. It's not glorifying that. It's talking about what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laeta-kalogridis/the-handmaid-s-tale-is-not-a-book-or-show-advocating-enslaving-women/) [Laeta Kalogridis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laeta-kalogridis/) ## More by John Pugsley > [Size of industry, concentration of market, or production notwithstanding, the consumer is best served when the businessman is completely free to pursue his profit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-pugsley/size-of-industry-concentration-of-market-or-production/) [John Pugsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-pugsley/) > [The consumer gets the best deal when the product is cheapest, and the product is cheapest when people can freely compete in the market…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-pugsley/the-consumer-gets-the-best-deal-when-the-product-is-cheapest-and-the/) [John Pugsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-pugsley/) > [When government taxes and regulates, what is seen are the visible effects of government contracts, grants, and subsidies. What is not seen are all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-pugsley/when-government-taxes-and-regulates-what-is-seen-are-the-visible/) [John Pugsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-pugsley/) > [Peace and prosperity are inversely proportional to the level of taxation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-pugsley/peace-and-prosperity-are-inversely-proportional-to-the-level-of/) [John Pugsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-pugsley/) > [Pugsley's First Law of Government: All government programs accomplish the opposite of what they are designed to achieve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-pugsley/pugsley-s-first-law-of-government-all-government-programs-accomplish/) [John Pugsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-pugsley/) > [...human beings always have and always will seek havens where we are free to be productive and to keep the property we create.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-pugsley/human-beings-always-have-and-always-will-seek-havens-where-we-are/) [John Pugsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-pugsley/) > [In Sherman's famous march through Georgia, his soldiers left a swath of death and destruction, destroying crops, burning homes and killing civilians. Sherman himself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-pugsley/in-sherman-s-famous-march-through-georgia-his-soldiers-left-a-swath/) [John Pugsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-pugsley/) > [Any time you read that your government is erecting tariff barriers, supporting threatened industries with subsidies, or interfering in any way with free trade…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-pugsley/any-time-you-read-that-your-government-is-erecting-tariff-barriers/) [John Pugsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-pugsley/) > [Governments steal from citizens through taxes and through the subterfuge of monetizing their own IOUs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-pugsley/governments-steal-from-citizens-through-taxes-and-through-the/) [John Pugsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-pugsley/) > [Only in situations where competition is illegal will competition not act naturally to bring the best product at the lowest price to the consumer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-pugsley/only-in-situations-where-competition-is-illegal-will-competition-not/) [John Pugsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-pugsley/) > [All of political history history can be summed up as a struggle to throw the bad guys out and put the good guys in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-pugsley/all-of-political-history-history-can-be-summed-up-as-a-struggle-to/) [John Pugsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-pugsley/) > [Monopoly power is an illusion in any system in which free competition is allowed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-pugsley/monopoly-power-is-an-illusion-in-any-system-in-which-free-competition/) [John Pugsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-pugsley/) > [How to obtain freedom has been, and is, mankind's most important quest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-pugsley/how-to-obtain-freedom-has-been-and-is-mankind-s-most-important-quest/) [John Pugsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-pugsley/) > [Being the richest man on a sinking ship is a bitter victory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-pugsley/being-the-richest-man-on-a-sinking-ship-is-a-bitter-victory/) [John Pugsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-pugsley/) [Explore all 15 John Pugsley quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-pugsley/) ## More Accepting quotes > [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) > [Laughing, laughing, laughing, laughing! It is the jester! A voice from the Void, to cheer poor Cicero! I accept your gift, dearest Night Mother.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/laughing-laughing-laughing-laughing-it-is-the-jester-a-voice-from-the/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [This duo inside of me causes the perfect opportunity to live and learn twice as fast as those who choose to accept simplicity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tupac-shakur/this-duo-inside-of-me-causes-the-perfect-opportunity-to-live-and/) [Tupac Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tupac-shakur/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [We only enter into the full life if our faith gives thanks. Because how else do we accept His free gift of salvation if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/we-only-enter-into-the-full-life-if-our-faith-gives-thanks-because/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [Don't be bitter. Everybody suffers. If you can accept your suffering then you will understand other people better. Be grateful for pain. Love life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/don-t-be-bitter-everybody-suffers-if-you-can-accept-your-suffering/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [It takes an unusually philosophic mind to accept that all one’s suffering might be to no end, really, in the larger scheme of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-takes-an-unusually-philosophic-mind-to-accept-that-all-one-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [No nation being under another nation can accept gifts, and kick at the responsibility attached to those gifts, imposed by the conquering nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/no-nation-being-under-another-nation-can-accept-gifts-and-kick-at-the/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Even with clothing naked animals, there were people who wanted to send in money. A woman in Santa Barbara, California, sent a $40,000 check.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-abel/even-with-clothing-naked-animals-there-were-people-who-wanted-to-send/) [Alan Abel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-abel/) > [Society understands the architecture of academia and knows there are relevant qualifications in different fields, and the media accepts the idea of specialisations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-griffiths/society-understands-the-architecture-of-academia-and-knows-there-are/) [Jay Griffiths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-griffiths/) > [Whatever your conscious mind assumes and believes to be true, your subconscious mind will accept and bring to pass. Believe in good fortune, divine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-murphy/whatever-your-conscious-mind-assumes-and-believes-to-be-true-your/) [Joseph Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-murphy/) > [Losing someone is easy, but accepting it is hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/losing-someone-is-easy-but-accepting-it-is-hard/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [… and so he tried to accept the ache in his heart as what Dr. Larch would call the common symptoms of normal life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/and-so-he-tried-to-accept-the-ache-in-his-heart-as-what-dr-larch/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [I think what was special about 'Music by Prudence' was the classic story of the title subject's life path - from being an outcast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-think-what-was-special-about-music-by-prudence-was-the-classic/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [As my films are born at the moment when they are reflected into another person's mind and memories, there are no misconceptions. I totally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pirjo-honkasalo/as-my-films-are-born-at-the-moment-when-they-are-reflected-into/) [Pirjo Honkasalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pirjo-honkasalo/) [Browse all 6,788 Accepting quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accepting/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I am unable to accept the idea that I should be an obedient subject of a gang of corrupt, unprincipled thugs who pontificate about freedom while enslaving the population.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Pugsley" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-pugsley/i-am-unable-to-accept-the-idea-that-i-should-be-an-obedient-subject/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Accepting" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-pugsley/i-am-unable-to-accept-the-idea-that-i-should-be-an-obedient-subject/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/685/john-pugsley-32728_accepting_i-am-unable-to-accept-the-idea-that-i-sh_2902419.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/685/john-pugsley-32728_accepting_i-am-unable-to-accept-the-idea-that-i-sh_2902419.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/685/john-pugsley-32728_accepting_i-am-unable-to-accept-the-idea-that-i-sh_2902419.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I am unable to accept the idea that I should be an obedient subject of a gang of corrupt, unprincipled thugs…” — John Pugsley", "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": "John Pugsley", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-pugsley/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I am unable to accept the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-pugsley/i-am-unable-to-accept-the-idea-that-i-should-be-an-obedient-subject/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-pugsley/i-am-unable-to-accept-the-idea-that-i-should-be-an-obedient-subject/#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 } } ] } ```