--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: They don't want to be reminded that there…" description: "\"They don't want to be reminded that there is an authority higher than the authority of the state.\" — Roy Moore" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f28/roy-moore-12528_authority_they-don-t-want-to-be-reminded-that-ther_2862924.jpg" --- # They don't want to be reminded that there is an authority… ![“They don't want to be reminded that there is an authority higher than the authority of the state.” quote by Roy Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f28/roy-moore-12528_authority_they-don-t-want-to-be-reminded-that-ther_2862924.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f28/roy-moore-12528_authority_they-don-t-want-to-be-reminded-that-ther_2862924.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f28/roy-moore-12528_authority_they-don-t-want-to-be-reminded-that-ther_2862924.jpg) > “They don't want to be reminded that there is an authority higher than the authority of the state.” [Roy Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-moore/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People resist reminders of higher moral authority because it challenges state power. **In simple terms:** Higher authority challenges state control. Key Takeaway Recognize moral limits of government. Themes politics authority ethics Mood critical concerned Type political analytical When to use this quote - public policy debates - activism - legal challenges - community organizing Key Concepts social contract civil disobedience Questions to Reflect On - Who defines higher authority? - How to balance state power with moral conscience? A Different Perspective Not all claim higher authority are legitimate; abuse can occur. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Authority](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/authority/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) ## Related quotes > [No authority is higher than reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-nivio-zarlenga/no-authority-is-higher-than-reality/) [Peter Nivio Zarlenga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-nivio-zarlenga/) > [But the very fact that this world is so challenging is exactly why you sometimes must reach out of its jurisdiction for help, appealing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/but-the-very-fact-that-this-world-is-so-challenging-is-exactly-why/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [If I deny the authority of the State when it presents my tax bill, it will soon take and waste all my property, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/if-i-deny-the-authority-of-the-state-when-it-presents-my-tax-bill-it/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [The sovereignty of the state as the power that protects the individual and that defines the mutual relationships among the visible spheres, rises high…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-kuyper/the-sovereignty-of-the-state-as-the-power-that-protects-the/) [Abraham Kuyper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-kuyper/) > [The police represent the authority of the state, the willingness of the state to use violence to assert their will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vermin-supreme/the-police-represent-the-authority-of-the-state-the-willingness-of/) [Vermin Supreme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vermin-supreme/) > [“There is no higher authority.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-t-davies-2/there-is-no-higher-authority/) [Russell T. Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-t-davies-2/) > [My background is such that I am uneasy about religious laws, I think there's always a real danger when you start appealing to a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sadakat-kadri/my-background-is-such-that-i-am-uneasy-about-religious-laws-i-think/) [Sadakat Kadri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sadakat-kadri/) > [“The oldest rule in the book is that you can delegate authority, but never responsibility—not even to higher authority.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-anderson/the-oldest-rule-in-the-book-is-that-you-can-delegate-authority-but/) [Taylor Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-anderson/) > [That science has long been neglected and declining in England, is not an opinion originating with me, but is shared by many, and has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-babbage/that-science-has-long-been-neglected-and-declining-in-england-is-not/) [Charles Babbage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-babbage/) > [“And the Vatican, whatever anyone else might have thought on the subject, answered, like Hebrew National hot dogs, to "a higher authority.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/and-the-vatican-whatever-anyone-else-might-have-thought-on-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My speculation is that the U.S. does not want to establish the principle that it has to defer to some higher authority before carrying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/my-speculation-is-that-the-u-s-does-not-want-to-establish-the/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [“I agree--the world isn't a nursery. But the very fact that this world is so challenging is exactly why you sometimes must reach out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/i-agree-the-world-isn-t-a-nursery-but-the-very-fact-that-this-world/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [In other words, the Church acknowledges Science as the higher authority.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-ostwald/in-other-words-the-church-acknowledges-science-as-the-higher-authority/) [Wilhelm Ostwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-ostwald/) > [Historically, America has answered to a higher authority.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-greenwood/historically-america-has-answered-to-a-higher-authority/) [Lee Greenwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-greenwood/) > [“The secular progressive movement in America has been successful in removing all vestiges of faith in God from the public square. The very fact…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-carson/the-secular-progressive-movement-in-america-has-been-successful-in/) [Ben Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-carson/) ## More by Roy Moore > [Homosexual behavior is a ground for divorce, an act of sexual misconduct punishable as a crime in Alabama, a crime against nature, an inherent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-moore/homosexual-behavior-is-a-ground-for-divorce-an-act-of-sexual/) [Roy Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-moore/) > [I was asked three times directly in the hearing before the board of the judiciary whether or not I would continue to acknowledge God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-moore/i-was-asked-three-times-directly-in-the-hearing-before-the-board-of/) [Roy Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-moore/) > [And government's only role is to secure our rights for us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-moore/and-government-s-only-role-is-to-secure-our-rights-for-us/) [Roy Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-moore/) > [America the Beautiful, or so you used to be, Land of the Pilgrims' pride, I'm glad they're not here to see, Babies piled in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-moore/america-the-beautiful-or-so-you-used-to-be-land-of-the-pilgrims-pride/) [Roy Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-moore/) > [There is no such thing as evolution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-moore/there-is-no-such-thing-as-evolution/) [Roy Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-moore/) > [They might object to some of my opinions, but they don't object to my behavior as a judge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-moore/they-might-object-to-some-of-my-opinions-but-they-don-t-object-to-my/) [Roy Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-moore/) > [If government can give you rights, government can take them away from you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-moore/if-government-can-give-you-rights-government-can-take-them-away-from/) [Roy Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-moore/) > [It would bother me if a judge told me how I had to believe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-moore/it-would-bother-me-if-a-judge-told-me-how-i-had-to-believe/) [Roy Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-moore/) > [I must acknowledge God. It says so in the Constitution of Alabama. It says so in the First Amendment of the Constitution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-moore/i-must-acknowledge-god-it-says-so-in-the-constitution-of-alabama-it/) [Roy Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-moore/) > [Anytime you deny the acknowledgement of God you are undermining the entire basis for which our country exists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-moore/anytime-you-deny-the-acknowledgement-of-god-you-are-undermining-the/) [Roy Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-moore/) > [That's not the federal law. What you're confusing is law with the opinion of a justice, what one lone federal judge says is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-moore/that-s-not-the-federal-law-what-you-re-confusing-is-law-with-the/) [Roy Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-moore/) > [Separation of church and state was never meant to separate God and government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-moore/separation-of-church-and-state-was-never-meant-to-separate-god-and/) [Roy Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-moore/) > [False religions like Islam who teach that you must worship this way, are completely opposite with what our First Amendment stands for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-moore/false-religions-like-islam-who-teach-that-you-must-worship-this-way/) [Roy Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-moore/) > [America promotes a lot of bad things, you know. Same-sex marriage, for example.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-moore/america-promotes-a-lot-of-bad-things-you-know-same-sex-marriage-for/) [Roy Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-moore/) > [The forefathers, including James Madison, felt very strongly that the duties that we owe to God were outside of government's prerogative, that government had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-moore/the-forefathers-including-james-madison-felt-very-strongly-that-the/) [Roy Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-moore/) [Explore all 54 Roy Moore quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-moore/) ## 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": "They don't want to be reminded that there is an authority higher than the authority of the state.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Roy Moore" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-moore/they-don-t-want-to-be-reminded-that-there-is-an-authority-higher-than/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Authority" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-moore/they-don-t-want-to-be-reminded-that-there-is-an-authority-higher-than/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f28/roy-moore-12528_authority_they-don-t-want-to-be-reminded-that-ther_2862924.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f28/roy-moore-12528_authority_they-don-t-want-to-be-reminded-that-ther_2862924.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f28/roy-moore-12528_authority_they-don-t-want-to-be-reminded-that-ther_2862924.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“They don't want to be reminded that there is an authority higher than the authority of the state.” — Roy Moore", "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": "Roy Moore", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-moore/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "They don't want to be reminded...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-moore/they-don-t-want-to-be-reminded-that-there-is-an-authority-higher-than/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-moore/they-don-t-want-to-be-reminded-that-there-is-an-authority-higher-than/#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 } } ] } ```