Authority Quote by Joseph Addison
“To say that authority, whether secular or religious, supplies no ground for morality is not to deny the obvious fact that it supplies a sanction.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Spectator, 1711
Authority can legitimize actions but does not create moral values itself.
In simple terms: Authority gives power, not morality.
Key Takeaway
Recognize moral reasoning beyond power structures.
Themes
morality
authority
ethics
Mood
thoughtful
critical
Type
philosophical
reflective
When to use this quote
- political decisions
- religious rulings
- personal ethics
Key Concepts
social contract
legitimacy
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you distinguish moral right from imposed rules?
- Can authority ever be a source of moral guidance?
A Different Perspective
Power can coerce without moral justification.
![“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)