Authority Quote by Lucretia Mott
“Truth for authority, not authority for truth.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Women’s Rights Convention, 1848
Advocates that truth should guide authority, not authority dictate truth.
In simple terms: Truth over power.
Key Takeaway
Seek truth, not control.
Themes
justice
truth
authority
Mood
inspirational
determined
Type
activist
philosophical
When to use this quote
- legal reform
- education
- activism
Key Concepts
philosophy
human rights
Questions to Reflect On
- How do we ensure institutions serve truth?
- What role does dissent play in truth‑seeking?
A Different Perspective
Power structures often resist truth, making change difficult.
![“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)