--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Wherever there is a man who exercises…" description: "\"Wherever there is a man who exercises authority, there is a man who resists authority.\" — Oscar Wilde" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d3/oscar-wilde-16_authority_wherever-there-is-a-man-who-exercises-au_584583.jpg" --- # Wherever there is a man who exercises authority, there is… ![“Wherever there is a man who exercises authority, there is a man who resists authority.” quote by Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d3/oscar-wilde-16_authority_wherever-there-is-a-man-who-exercises-au_584583.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d3/oscar-wilde-16_authority_wherever-there-is-a-man-who-exercises-au_584583.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d3/oscar-wilde-16_authority_wherever-there-is-a-man-who-exercises-au_584583.jpg) > “Wherever there is a man who exercises authority, there is a man who resists authority.” [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Authority always creates resistance; power and opposition are linked. **In simple terms:** Power invites pushback. Key Takeaway Expect and manage resistance. Themes authority power conflict Mood critical reflective Type philosophical political When to use this quote - leadership - activism - negotiation - law enforcement Key Concepts political theory human nature Questions to Reflect On - How does resistance shape authority? - When is resistance justified? A Different Perspective Resistance can be constructive, not just obstruction. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Authority](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/authority/) [Authority Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/authority-man-1189173/) [Exercise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exercise/) [Exercises Authority](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exercises-authority-4797907/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Man Resists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-resists-1554996/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) [Resists Authority](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/resists-authority-4797906/) ## Related quotes > [If, therefore, the Greeks or others say that they are not committed to Peter and to his successors, they necessarily say that they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-boniface-viii/if-therefore-the-greeks-or-others-say-that-they-are-not-committed-to/) [Pope Boniface VIII](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-boniface-viii/) > [“When he was with a woman, he saw to her welfare with the easy authority of a man who believed it was his responsibility…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joey-w-hill/when-he-was-with-a-woman-he-saw-to-her-welfare-with-the-easy/) [Joey W. Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joey-w-hill/) > [All authority must be out of a man's self, turned . . . either upon an art, or upon a man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/all-authority-must-be-out-of-a-man-s-self-turned-either-upon-an-art/) [Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/) > [You can become anything you want to be ... It's a matter of authority. Whatever a man's confidence, that's his capacity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marijane-meaker/you-can-become-anything-you-want-to-be-it-s-a-matter-of-authority/) [Marijane Meaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marijane-meaker/) > [Any man that resists the present tides that run in the world, will find himself thrown upon a shore so high and barren that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/any-man-that-resists-the-present-tides-that-run-in-the-world-will/) [Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) > [When a man resists sin on human motive only, he will not hold out long.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-wilson/when-a-man-resists-sin-on-human-motive-only-he-will-not-hold-out-long/) [Daniel H. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-wilson/) > [So long as man resists a situation, he will have it with him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-scovel-shinn/so-long-as-man-resists-a-situation-he-will-have-it-with-him/) [Florence Scovel Shinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-scovel-shinn/) > [Man alone resists the direction of gravitation: he constantly wants to fall--upwards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/man-alone-resists-the-direction-of-gravitation-he-constantly-wants-to/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [“As one reads history, not in the expurgated editions written for schoolboys and passmen, but in the original authorities of each time, one is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/as-one-reads-history-not-in-the-expurgated-editions-written-for/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [To get back my youth I would do anything in the world, except take exercise, get up early, or be respectable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/to-get-back-my-youth-i-would-do-anything-in-the-world-except-take/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Man was appointed by God to have dominion over the beasts, and everything a man does to an animal is either a lawful exercise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/man-was-appointed-by-god-to-have-dominion-over-the-beasts-and/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [Force was the factor in the government of the world when Christ was born, and force was the source and exercise of authority both…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chauncey-depew/force-was-the-factor-in-the-government-of-the-world-when-christ-was/) [Chauncey Depew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chauncey-depew/) > [The exercise of authority is odious, and they who know how to govern, leave it in abeyance as much as possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lancaster-spalding/the-exercise-of-authority-is-odious-and-they-who-know-how-to-govern/) [John Lancaster Spalding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lancaster-spalding/) > [We have been deceived into believing prayer is all about persuading God to release His power. We no longer need to beg or plead;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-wommack/we-have-been-deceived-into-believing-prayer-is-all-about-persuading/) [Andrew Wommack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-wommack/) > [I don't believe in competitions between artists. This is insane. Who has the authority to say someone is better?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-arkin/i-don-t-believe-in-competitions-between-artists-this-is-insane-who/) [Alan Arkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-arkin/) ## More by Oscar Wilde > [How else but through a broken heart may Lord Christ enter in?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/how-else-but-through-a-broken-heart-may-lord-christ-enter-in/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [The books that the world calls immoral are the books that show the world its own shame.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/the-books-that-the-world-calls-immoral-are-the-books-that-show-the/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Bachelors should be heavily taxed. It is not fair that some men should be happier than others](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/bachelors-should-be-heavily-taxed-it-is-not-fair-that-some-men-should/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Who, being loved, is poor?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/who-being-loved-is-poor/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“Basil my dear boy puts everything that is charming in him into his work. The consequence is that he has nothing left for life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/basil-my-dear-boy-puts-everything-that-is-charming-in-him-into-his/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Anybody can be good in the country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/anybody-can-be-good-in-the-country/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [I don't at all like knowing what people say of me behind my back. It makes me far too conceited.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/i-don-t-at-all-like-knowing-what-people-say-of-me-behind-my-back-it/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“Alles Populäre ist falsch.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/alles-popul-re-ist-falsch/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“If these elements of beauty are real, the whole thing simply appeals to our sense of dramatic effect. Suddenly we find that we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/if-these-elements-of-beauty-are-real-the-whole-thing-simply-appeals/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [To love one's self is the beginning of a life-long romance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/to-love-one-s-self-is-the-beginning-of-a-life-long-romance/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“Those who find beautiful meanings in beautiful things are the cultivated. For these there is hope.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/those-who-find-beautiful-meanings-in-beautiful-things-are-the/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Men always want to be a womans first love. Women have a more subtle instinct: What they like is to be a mans last…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/men-always-want-to-be-a-womans-first-love-women-have-a-more-subtle/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Why is it that at a bachelor's establishment the servants invariably drink the champagne.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/why-is-it-that-at-a-bachelor-s-establishment-the-servants-invariably/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Moderation is a fatal thing. Enough is as bad as a meal. More than enough is as good as a feast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/moderation-is-a-fatal-thing-enough-is-as-bad-as-a-meal-more-than/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Beauty is the only thing that time cannot harm. Philosophies fall away like sand, creeds follow one another, but what is beautiful is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/beauty-is-the-only-thing-that-time-cannot-harm-philosophies-fall-away/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) [Explore all 3,343 Oscar Wilde quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) ## More Authority quotes > [I don't believe in competitions between artists. This is insane. Who has the authority to say someone is better?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-arkin/i-don-t-believe-in-competitions-between-artists-this-is-insane-who/) [Alan Arkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-arkin/) > [Islam never differentiates between men and women as regards political rights and puts them on an equal footing. However, even if a woman is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yusuf-al-qaradawi/islam-never-differentiates-between-men-and-women-as-regards-political/) [Yusuf al-Qaradawi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yusuf-al-qaradawi/) > [I think people need to be comfortable questioning the authority of a doctor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susannah-cahalan/i-think-people-need-to-be-comfortable-questioning-the-authority-of-a/) [Susannah Cahalan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susannah-cahalan/) > [At a distance, we cannot conceive of the authority of a despot who knows all his subjects on sight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stendhal/at-a-distance-we-cannot-conceive-of-the-authority-of-a-despot-who/) [Stendhal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stendhal/) > [Throughout human history, as our species has faced the frightening, terrorizing fact that we do not know who we are, or where we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-leary/throughout-human-history-as-our-species-has-faced-the-frightening/) [Timothy Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-leary/) > [“I'm of the age and immaturity level that I cannot give you my respect solely because you are older or ranked higher on an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-goros/i-m-of-the-age-and-immaturity-level-that-i-cannot-give-you-my-respect/) [Erica Goros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-goros/) > [In the end theologians are jealous of science, for they are aware that it has greater authority than do their own ways of finding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-a-coyne/in-the-end-theologians-are-jealous-of-science-for-they-are-aware-that/) [Jerry A. Coyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-a-coyne/) > [Every wife ought to answer for her man. If the husband be engaged in a seditious club, or drinks mysterious healths, or be frugal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/every-wife-ought-to-answer-for-her-man-if-the-husband-be-engaged-in-a/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [Miracles are like candles lit up until the sun rises, and then blown out. Therefore, I am amused when I hear sects and churches…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/miracles-are-like-candles-lit-up-until-the-sun-rises-and-then-blown/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [The execution was set for the 29th of March, at nine in the morning. This delay was due to a desire on the part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/the-execution-was-set-for-the-29th-of-march-at-nine-in-the-morning/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [I started with the belief that every person who came to the laboratory was free to accept or to reject the dictates of authority.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-milgram/i-started-with-the-belief-that-every-person-who-came-to-the/) [Stanley Milgram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-milgram/) > [The rationale which accompanies that imposition of male authority euphemistically referred to as 'the battle of the sexes' bears a certain resemblance to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-millett/the-rationale-which-accompanies-that-imposition-of-male-authority/) [Kate Millett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-millett/) > [“We are at the mercy of whoever wields authority over the things we either desire or detest. If you would be free, then, do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/we-are-at-the-mercy-of-whoever-wields-authority-over-the-things-we/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [Sometimes it's easier for people who are in authority to be authoritarian, because people know where you stand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-streep/sometimes-it-s-easier-for-people-who-are-in-authority-to-be/) [Meryl Streep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meryl-streep/) > [The victory of Hamas is not only based on the corruption of the Palestinian Authority. Hamas has a vision and a program, and this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ismail-haniyeh/the-victory-of-hamas-is-not-only-based-on-the-corruption-of-the/) [Ismail Haniyeh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ismail-haniyeh/) [Browse all 4,003 Authority quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/authority/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Wherever there is a man who exercises authority, there is a man who resists authority.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Oscar Wilde" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/wherever-there-is-a-man-who-exercises-authority-there-is-a-man-who/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Authority" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/wherever-there-is-a-man-who-exercises-authority-there-is-a-man-who/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d3/oscar-wilde-16_authority_wherever-there-is-a-man-who-exercises-au_584583.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d3/oscar-wilde-16_authority_wherever-there-is-a-man-who-exercises-au_584583.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d3/oscar-wilde-16_authority_wherever-there-is-a-man-who-exercises-au_584583.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Wherever there is a man who exercises authority, there is a man who resists authority.” — Oscar Wilde", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Oscar Wilde", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Wherever there is a man who...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/wherever-there-is-a-man-who-exercises-authority-there-is-a-man-who/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/wherever-there-is-a-man-who-exercises-authority-there-is-a-man-who/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```