Authority Quote by Robert H. Jackson
“We set up government by consent of the governed, and the Bill of Rights denies those in power any legal opportunity to coerce that consent. Authority here is to be controlled by public opinion, not public opinion by authority.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Nuremberg Trials, 1946
Authority must be accountable to the people, not the other way around.
In simple terms: Power should serve, not dominate.
Key Takeaway
Demand transparency and public oversight.
Themes
democracy
rights
authority
public opinion
law
Mood
critical
reflective
Type
political
legal
When to use this quote
- political campaigns
- legislative debates
- judicial reviews
- grassroots activism
Key Concepts
social contract
checks and balances
civil liberties
Questions to Reflect On
- How can citizens ensure their consent remains genuine?
- What mechanisms protect against coercive authority?
A Different Perspective
Power can be abused if public opinion is manipulated.
![“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)