--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We should understand the source of our…" description: "\"We should understand the source of our authority and something of the keys that control its power.\" — Russell M. Nelson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ac/russell-m-nelson-1457_authority_we-should-understand-the-source-of-our-a_1605886.png" --- # We should understand the source of our authority and… ![“We should understand the source of our authority and something of the keys that control its power.” quote by Russell M. Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ac/russell-m-nelson-1457_authority_we-should-understand-the-source-of-our-a_1605886.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ac/russell-m-nelson-1457_authority_we-should-understand-the-source-of-our-a_1605886.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ac/russell-m-nelson-1457_authority_we-should-understand-the-source-of-our-a_1605886.png) > “We should understand the source of our authority and something of the keys that control its power.” [Russell M. Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-m-nelson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Understanding the basis of authority and its limits helps prevent abuse and fosters humility. **In simple terms:** Know where power comes from and its limits. Key Takeaway Question authority and seek transparency. Themes authority humility responsibility Mood thoughtful critical Type reflective instructive When to use this quote - organizational leadership - government - religious institutions - personal decision making Key Concepts theology political theory ethics Questions to Reflect On - What safeguards exist for authority? - How do you verify legitimate power? A Different Perspective Power can be misused if not checked by accountability. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Authority](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/authority/) [Control](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/control/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) ## Related quotes > [Taking responsibility is the source of authority.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yoav-gallant/taking-responsibility-is-the-source-of-authority/) [Yoav Gallant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yoav-gallant/) > [“Do not hope to understand the source of my understanding.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-fitzgerald/do-not-hope-to-understand-the-source-of-my-understanding/) Thomas Fitzgerald > [The economy has made me think I have no power. That is not true. I control the power to change my future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-jones/the-economy-has-made-me-think-i-have-no-power-that-is-not-true-i/) [Jon Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-jones/) > [“The control and power to construct or destroy is within you—choose wisely." —Sepideh Irvani, PsyD”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sepideh-irvani/the-control-and-power-to-construct-or-destroy-is-within-you-choose/) Sepideh Irvani > [I've had a lot of years of football so I've been in control of power for a very long time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-hardy/i-ve-had-a-lot-of-years-of-football-so-i-ve-been-in-control-of-power/) [Greg Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-hardy/) > [“All you care about is the control and power you have over me and I hate myself for giving that to you!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-kelly/all-you-care-about-is-the-control-and-power-you-have-over-me-and-i/) [Lydia Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-kelly/) > [I am better when I have control. I am not a power freak. But my point is that I need to feel that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendan-rodgers/i-am-better-when-i-have-control-i-am-not-a-power-freak-but-my-point/) [Brendan Rodgers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brendan-rodgers/) > [Power isnt control at all, power is strength, and giving that strength to others. A leader isnt someone who forces others to make him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-revis/power-isnt-control-at-all-power-is-strength-and-giving-that-strength/) [Beth Revis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-revis/) > [Incredible change happens in your life when you decide to take control of what you do have power over instead of craving control over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/incredible-change-happens-in-your-life-when-you-decide-to-take/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I came to realize that if people could make me angry they could could control me. Why should I give someone else such power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-came-to-realize-that-if-people-could-make-me-angry-they-could-could/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Control Power, or be Controlled”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-walker/control-power-or-be-controlled/) Chris Walker > [“Great change happens in your life when you decide to take control of what you do have power over & release control over what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ziad-k-abdelnour/great-change-happens-in-your-life-when-you-decide-to-take-control-of/) [Ziad K. Abdelnour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ziad-k-abdelnour/) > [“Not everyone needs motivation, so it always helps to know yourself. Control your will-power.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mwanandeke-kindembo/not-everyone-needs-motivation-so-it-always-helps-to-know-yourself/) [Mwanandeke Kindembo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mwanandeke-kindembo/) > [Your true strength lies within your ability to control power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rochelle-morrison/your-true-strength-lies-within-your-ability-to-control-power/) [Rochelle Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rochelle-morrison/) > [“One way or another, we spend our whole lives being conditioned into accepting some line or order, some position of domination or subjection. It’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cliff-james/one-way-or-another-we-spend-our-whole-lives-being-conditioned-into/) [Cliff James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cliff-james/) ## More by Russell M. Nelson > [A pivotal spiritual attribute is that of self-mastery-th e strength to place reason over appetite. Self-mastery builds a strong conscience. And your conscience determines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-m-nelson/a-pivotal-spiritual-attribute-is-that-of-self-mastery-th-e-strength/) [Russell M. Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-m-nelson/) > [To understand the power of the priesthood, we must know its limitations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-m-nelson/to-understand-the-power-of-the-priesthood-we-must-know-its-limitations/) [Russell M. Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-m-nelson/) > [A saint is tolerant and is attentive to the pleadings of other human beings, not only to spoken messages but to unspoken messages as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-m-nelson/a-saint-is-tolerant-and-is-attentive-to-the-pleadings-of-other-human/) [Russell M. Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-m-nelson/) > [Preparation for a mission is important. A mission is a voluntary act of service to God and humankind. Missionaries support that privilege with their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-m-nelson/preparation-for-a-mission-is-important-a-mission-is-a-voluntary-act/) [Russell M. Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-m-nelson/) > [Every religious group, while perhaps a majority somewhere, is also inevitably a minority somewhere else. Thus, religious organizations should and do show tolerance toward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-m-nelson/every-religious-group-while-perhaps-a-majority-somewhere-is-also/) [Russell M. Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-m-nelson/) > [The living Lord leads His living church.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-m-nelson/the-living-lord-leads-his-living-church/) [Russell M. Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-m-nelson/) > [How much better it would be if all could be more aware of God's providence and love and express that gratitude to Him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-m-nelson/how-much-better-it-would-be-if-all-could-be-more-aware-of-god-s/) [Russell M. Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-m-nelson/) > [Our personal intelligence is everlasting and divine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-m-nelson/our-personal-intelligence-is-everlasting-and-divine/) [Russell M. Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-m-nelson/) > [God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, but we are not. Each day, ours is the challenge to access the power of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-m-nelson/god-is-the-same-yesterday-today-and-forever-but-we-are-not-each-day/) [Russell M. Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-m-nelson/) > [No matter your situation, you can make family history a part of your life right now. Primary children can draw a family tree. Youth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-m-nelson/no-matter-your-situation-you-can-make-family-history-a-part-of-your/) [Russell M. Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-m-nelson/) > [Counsel with your parents is a privilege at any age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-m-nelson/counsel-with-your-parents-is-a-privilege-at-any-age/) [Russell M. Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-m-nelson/) > [While musical experts of the world focus on what choir members can do, I would like to focus on what choir members can be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-m-nelson/while-musical-experts-of-the-world-focus-on-what-choir-members-can-do/) [Russell M. Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-m-nelson/) > [To rule children by force is the technique of Satan, not of the Savior.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-m-nelson/to-rule-children-by-force-is-the-technique-of-satan-not-of-the-savior/) [Russell M. Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-m-nelson/) > [I first found delight in the Sabbath many years ago when, as a busy surgeon, I knew that the Sabbath became a day for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-m-nelson/i-first-found-delight-in-the-sabbath-many-years-ago-when-as-a-busy/) [Russell M. Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-m-nelson/) > [As a member of the Church, you have made sacred covenants with the Lord.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-m-nelson/as-a-member-of-the-church-you-have-made-sacred-covenants-with-the-lord/) [Russell M. Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-m-nelson/) [Explore all 239 Russell M. Nelson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-m-nelson/) ## 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. 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