Authority Quote by Saint Augustine
“What is held by the whole Church, and that not as instituted by Councils, but as a matter of invariable custom, is rightly held to have been handed down by authority.”
About This Quote
Source Treat: The City of God, Book 22, 426 AD
Institutional authority is rooted in longstanding tradition rather than formal council decisions.
In simple terms: Authority comes from tradition, not just councils.
Key Takeaway
Respect enduring customs.
Themes
tradition
authority
church
customs
Mood
reflective
serious
Type
theological
historical
When to use this quote
- church governance
- doctrine formation
- liturgical practice
- faith education
Key Concepts
theology
ecclesiology
canon law
Questions to Reflect On
- How do we balance tradition with needed change?
- When should councils override custom?
A Different Perspective
Tradition may resist needed reform.
![“After I handed over all my authority, I feel now our struggle [for Tibet ] become much, much safer. And me personally, the day I officially handed over, that night, very unusual sound. I am quite free now.” quote by Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ea4/dalai-lama-89_authority_after-i-handed-over-all-my-authority-i-f_755795.jpg)
![“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)