--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I bow before the authority of special men…" description: "\"I bow before the authority of special men because it is imposed upon me by my own reason.\" — Mikhail Bakunin" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a1/mikhail-bakunin-3075_authority_i-bow-before-the-authority-of-special-me_1242611.png" --- # I bow before the authority of special men because it is… ![“I bow before the authority of special men because it is imposed upon me by my own reason.” quote by Mikhail Bakunin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a1/mikhail-bakunin-3075_authority_i-bow-before-the-authority-of-special-me_1242611.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a1/mikhail-bakunin-3075_authority_i-bow-before-the-authority-of-special-me_1242611.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a1/mikhail-bakunin-3075_authority_i-bow-before-the-authority-of-special-me_1242611.png) > “I bow before the authority of special men because it is imposed upon me by my own reason.” [Mikhail Bakunin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-bakunin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. One must respect the authority of exceptional individuals because reason compels it. **In simple terms:** Reason forces respect for exceptional authority. Key Takeaway Question the basis of authority. Themes authority reason individualism philosophy politics Mood skeptical analytical Type philosophical political When to use this quote - political discourse - academic debate - personal decision-making Key Concepts anarchism critical theory ethical reasoning Questions to Reflect On - What defines 'special' authority? - How does reason justify obedience? A Different Perspective Blind respect can suppress dissent and autonomy. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Authority](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/authority/) [Bow Authority](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bow-authority-3363715/) [Imposed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imposed/) [Imposed Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imposed-reason-3885078/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Men Imposed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men-imposed-3885077/) [My own](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/my-own/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Special](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/special/) ## Related quotes > [Let us therefore yield ourselves and bow to the authority of the Holy Scriptures, which can neither err nor deceive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine/let-us-therefore-yield-ourselves-and-bow-to-the-authority-of-the-holy/) [Saint Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-augustine/) > [Governments show thus how successfully men can be imposed on, even impose on themselves, for their own advantage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/governments-show-thus-how-successfully-men-can-be-imposed-on-even/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“Does it follow that I reject all authority? 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The United States…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-u-s-the-idea-that-the-u-s-has-introduced-and-imposed-principles/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Stress is the negative whirlwind of emotions that gets imposed on top of our stimulation and engagement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/stress-is-the-negative-whirlwind-of-emotions-that-gets-imposed-on-top/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Mikhail Bakunin > [It clearly follows that to make men moral it is necessary to make their social environment moral. And that can be done in only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-bakunin/it-clearly-follows-that-to-make-men-moral-it-is-necessary-to-make/) [Mikhail Bakunin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-bakunin/) > [There are but three ways for the populace to escape its wretched lot. 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I am truly free…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-bakunin/i-am-not-myself-free-or-human-until-or-unless-i-recognize-the-freedom/) [Mikhail Bakunin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-bakunin/) > [In antiquity slaves were, in all honesty called slaves. In the middle ages, they took the name of serfs. Nowadays they are called wage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-bakunin/in-antiquity-slaves-were-in-all-honesty-called-slaves-in-the-middle/) [Mikhail Bakunin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-bakunin/) > [He who desires to worship God must harbor no childish illusions about the matter but bravely renounce his liberty and humanity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-bakunin/he-who-desires-to-worship-god-must-harbor-no-childish-illusions-about/) [Mikhail Bakunin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-bakunin/) > [They maintain that only a dictatorship - their dictatorship, of course - can create the will of the people, while our answer to this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-bakunin/they-maintain-that-only-a-dictatorship-their-dictatorship-of-course/) [Mikhail Bakunin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-bakunin/) > [“The masses, on admitting their own incapacity to govern themselves, have elected me as their head By doing so, they have clearly proclaimed their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-bakunin/the-masses-on-admitting-their-own-incapacity-to-govern-themselves/) [Mikhail Bakunin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-bakunin/) > [We must overthrow the material and moral conditions of our present-day life. . . . 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