Authority Quote by Robert A. Heinlein
“The nice thing about citing god as an authority is that you can prove anything you set out to prove.”
About This Quote
Source Novel: Stranger in a Strange Land, 1961
Authority can be invoked to justify any claim, making truth dependent on belief rather than evidence.
In simple terms: Citing a deity lets you claim any proof.
Key Takeaway
Question the source of authority.
Themes
skepticism
authority
truth
Mood
critical
inquisitive
Type
philosophical
argumentative
When to use this quote
- debates
- religious discourse
- political arguments
Key Concepts
epistemology
rhetoric
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you verify claims without relying on authority?
- What risks arise when truth is tied to belief?
A Different Perspective
Authority can be misused to silence dissent.
![“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)