Allegiance Quote by Mary Parker Follett
“a little of the ready reliance on the expert comes from the desire to waive responsibillity, comes from the endless evasion of life instead of an honest facing of it. The expert is to many what the priest is, someone who knows absolutely and can tell us what to do. The king, the priest, the expert, have one after the other had our allegiance, but so far as we put any of them in the place of ourselves, we have not a sound society and neither individual nor general progress.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Dynamic Administration, Mary Parker Follett, 1941
Relying on experts lets people avoid personal responsibility and honest engagement with life, weakening society and progress.
In simple terms: Dependence on experts avoids personal responsibility.
Key Takeaway
Take responsibility for your own choices.
Themes
responsibility
authority
society
progress
individualism
Mood
reflective
critical
serious
Type
advice
philosophical
When to use this quote
- personal decision making
- leadership development
- public policy
- education reform
- community building
Key Concepts
ethical autonomy
critical thinking
social contract
Questions to Reflect On
- How does reliance on authority affect your personal growth?
- What steps can you take to engage honestly with life?
A Different Perspective
Experts cannot replace personal judgment and moral agency.
