Command Quote by Samuel Richardson
“Those commands of superiors which are contrary to our first duties are not to be obeyed.”
About This Quote
Source Novel: Clarissa, Samuel Richardson, 1748
One should not obey orders that conflict with one's fundamental moral duties, placing higher ethical obligations above hierarchical commands.
In simple terms: Disobey orders that clash with core moral duties.
Key Takeaway
Prioritize personal conscience over unjust commands.
Themes
ethics
authority
conscience
obedience
Mood
serious
instructive
Type
ethical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- military service
- workplace ethics
- family decisions
Key Concepts
moral duty
civil disobedience
hierarchical conflict
Questions to Reflect On
- When should you refuse a superior's order?
- How to balance duty and conscience?
A Different Perspective
Blind obedience can cause moral harm.
![“Geometry, which should only obey Physics, when united with it sometimes commands it. If it happens that the question which we wish to examine is too complicated for all the elements to be able to enter into the analytical comparison we wish to make, we separate the more inconvenient [elements], we…” quote by Jean le Rond d'Alembert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/0d9/jean-le-rond-d-alembert-26487_able_geometry-which-should-only-obey-physics_6945.jpg)
