Authority Quote by Joseph Joubert
“Every legitimate authority should respect its extent and its limits.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: Maximes et Réflexions, 1765
Authority must be aware of its own boundaries and exercise power responsibly.
In simple terms: Authority should respect its limits.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and respect limits of power.
Themes
authority
responsibility
ethics
governance
Mood
critical
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
political
When to use this quote
- government policy
- corporate leadership
- community organizing
Key Concepts
political philosophy
social contract
power dynamics
Questions to Reflect On
- What limits should authority have?
- How can limits be enforced?
A Different Perspective
Authority can overreach, causing oppression.
![“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)