Authority Quote by Samuel R. Delany
“Everyone in a position of authority is hysterical, and everyone else is pretending to be asleep.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: Science Fiction and Society, 1975
Authority figures act irrationally while the masses feign ignorance, creating a false dynamic.
In simple terms: Leaders are hysterical; people pretend to sleep.
Key Takeaway
Question authority and stay aware.
Themes
power
authority
conformity
Mood
critical
provocative
Type
analytical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- activism
- critical thinking workshops
- media literacy
Key Concepts
political theory
social critique
Questions to Reflect On
- Why do people ignore uncomfortable truths?
- How can we encourage genuine engagement?
A Different Perspective
Some may genuinely be unaware, not just pretending.
![“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)