--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To say that authority, whether secular or…" description: "\"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.\" — Jo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/696/joseph-addison-377_authority_to-say-that-authority-whether-secular-or_2723187.png" --- # To say that authority, whether secular or religious… ![“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.” quote by Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/696/joseph-addison-377_authority_to-say-that-authority-whether-secular-or_2723187.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/696/joseph-addison-377_authority_to-say-that-authority-whether-secular-or_2723187.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/696/joseph-addison-377_authority_to-say-that-authority-whether-secular-or_2723187.png) > “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.” [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. 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. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Authority](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/authority/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Morality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/morality/) [Religious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religious/) [Secular](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secular/) ## Related quotes > [“I deny morality as I deny alchemy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/i-deny-morality-as-i-deny-alchemy/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [Food movement organic food stores supplies health food products and facilitate with instrumental support in organic agriculture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-benn/food-movement-organic-food-stores-supplies-health-food-products-and/) [Tony Benn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-benn/) > [However, I think we have to go back to the American bogeyman - we have to understand that this is a country which currently…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fatima-bhutto/however-i-think-we-have-to-go-back-to-the-american-bogeyman-we-have/) [Fatima Bhutto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fatima-bhutto/) > [An entrepreneur is someone that steals office supplies from home and brings them to work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/auren-hoffman/an-entrepreneur-is-someone-that-steals-office-supplies-from-home-and/) [Auren Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/auren-hoffman/) > [You kids have fun, and be home by Thanksgiving!" our parents would call to us on Halloween night, as we staggered out the front…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/you-kids-have-fun-and-be-home-by-thanksgiving-our-parents-would-call/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [His mind worked fast, flying in emergency supplies of common sense, as human minds do, to construct a huge anchor in sanity and prove…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/his-mind-worked-fast-flying-in-emergency-supplies-of-common-sense-as/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [Truth is rhythmical: if it implies stasis, it is platitude. 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