--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: And forget not this: that outward…" description: "\"“And forget not this: that outward semblance of authority is not a necessary symptom of its essence. There are men in high place who have no authority ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/048/talbot-mundy-28038_spirituality_and-forget-not-this-that-outward-semblan_1066735.jpg" --- # And forget not this: that outward semblance of authority… ![“And forget not this: that outward semblance of authority is not a necessary symptom of its essence. There are men in high place who have no authority at all beyond what indolence confers because the indolence of many is the opportunity of one. Such men lead multitudes astray.--From The Book Of The…” quote by Talbot Mundy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/048/talbot-mundy-28038_spirituality_and-forget-not-this-that-outward-semblan_1066735.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/048/talbot-mundy-28038_spirituality_and-forget-not-this-that-outward-semblan_1066735.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/048/talbot-mundy-28038_spirituality_and-forget-not-this-that-outward-semblan_1066735.jpg) > ““And forget not this: that outward semblance of authority is not a necessary symptom of its essence. There are men in high place who have no authority at all beyond what indolence confers because the indolence of many is the opportunity of one. Such men lead multitudes astray.--From The Book Of The Sayings Of Tsiang Samdup”” [Talbot Mundy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/talbot-mundy/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Authority does not always stem from position; often, indolence enables those in power to manipulate the masses, leading to widespread misdirection. **In simple terms:** Authority can be empty; laziness lets leaders mislead. Key Takeaway Beware of empty authority and complacency. Themes power authority manipulation Mood cautious analytical Type philosophical political When to use this quote - political campaigns - corporate hierarchies - social movements Key Concepts indolence leadership mass influence Questions to Reflect On - What signs indicate true authority? - How does collective laziness enable manipulation? A Different Perspective The statement may generalize and ignore genuine, earned authority. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Authority](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/authority/) [Spirituality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirituality/) ## Related quotes > [People have the most control over their affairs at the grass-roots level. Anything that can be fairly and efficiently handled at a grass-roots level…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peace-pilgrim/people-have-the-most-control-over-their-affairs-at-the-grass-roots/) [Peace Pilgrim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peace-pilgrim/) > [Our founders understood that divine authority was necessary in order to establish a ground on which the weak, the defenseless, the powerless, the poor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-keyes/our-founders-understood-that-divine-authority-was-necessary-in-order/) [Alan Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-keyes/) > [“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/) > [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/) > [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 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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [“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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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 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/) ## More by Talbot Mundy > [“I, myself, searched for Sham-bha-la for eleven years. I am perhaps a little wiser than I was, but it may be I am only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talbot-mundy/i-myself-searched-for-sham-bha-la-for-eleven-years-i-am-perhaps-a/) [Talbot Mundy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/talbot-mundy/) > [“You may be sure of this, my son: that no decision you may take, nor any course, will meet with universal favor. Though you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talbot-mundy/you-may-be-sure-of-this-my-son-that-no-decision-you-may-take-nor-any/) [Talbot Mundy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/talbot-mundy/) > [“Of every ten who tread the Middle Way to Knowledge there are nine who turn aside through avarice, though not all avarice is born…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talbot-mundy/of-every-ten-who-tread-the-middle-way-to-knowledge-there-are-nine-who/) [Talbot Mundy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/talbot-mundy/) > [“There be many gurus, and some good ones whom it is no great task to differentiate, seeing that those who make the loudest claim…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talbot-mundy/there-be-many-gurus-and-some-good-ones-whom-it-is-no-great-task-to/) [Talbot Mundy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/talbot-mundy/) > [“I spoke to you all of the Wheel,” he said quietly. “The Wheel turns and unless we are alert an opportunity is snatched or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talbot-mundy/i-spoke-to-you-all-of-the-wheel-he-said-quietly-the-wheel-turns-and/) [Talbot Mundy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/talbot-mundy/) > [“If a man stole my dinner, I might let him run; but if he stole my horse, he and I and death would play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talbot-mundy/if-a-man-stole-my-dinner-i-might-let-him-run-but-if-he-stole-my-horse/) [Talbot Mundy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/talbot-mundy/) > [“I am a lama," said the man in yellow. "It is lamas who identify incarnate Buddhas. If I say the Lord Chenresi is among…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talbot-mundy/i-am-a-lama-said-the-man-in-yellow-it-is-lamas-who-identify-incarnate/) [Talbot Mundy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/talbot-mundy/) > [“Teach a child arithmetic," he said at last, "and he can use it to cheat with, can't he? Teach a man the laws and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talbot-mundy/teach-a-child-arithmetic-he-said-at-last-and-he-can-use-it-to-cheat/) [Talbot Mundy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/talbot-mundy/) > [“For a government,' said the god, 'is nothing but a mirror of your minds--tyrannical for tyrants--hypocritical for hypocrites --corrupt for those who are indifferent--extravagant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talbot-mundy/for-a-government-said-the-god-is-nothing-but-a-mirror-of-your-minds/) [Talbot Mundy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/talbot-mundy/) > [“Fear is an ugly weapon, sahib, whose hilt is more dangerous than its blade.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talbot-mundy/fear-is-an-ugly-weapon-sahib-whose-hilt-is-more-dangerous-than-its/) [Talbot Mundy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/talbot-mundy/) > [“Consider this, my son: this earth-life is a little time, of which a third is spent asleep. What went before it, and what cometh…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talbot-mundy/consider-this-my-son-this-earth-life-is-a-little-time-of-which-a/) [Talbot Mundy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/talbot-mundy/) > [“Good women don't reform bad men, they only irritate them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talbot-mundy/good-women-don-t-reform-bad-men-they-only-irritate-them/) [Talbot Mundy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/talbot-mundy/) > [“Oh, would that I had died the way the Sikh did! I can not go forward. I shall not submit to being made to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talbot-mundy/oh-would-that-i-had-died-the-way-the-sikh-did-i-can-not-go-forward-i/) [Talbot Mundy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/talbot-mundy/) > [“Silence is the only safe answer to Silence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talbot-mundy/silence-is-the-only-safe-answer-to-silence/) [Talbot Mundy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/talbot-mundy/) > [“Some of them will welcome me as small boys do a teacher, telling me the little secrets better to conceal the big ones.For I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talbot-mundy/some-of-them-will-welcome-me-as-small-boys-do-a-teacher-telling-me/) [Talbot Mundy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/talbot-mundy/) [Explore all 20 Talbot Mundy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/talbot-mundy/) ## 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": "“And forget not this: that outward semblance of authority is not a necessary symptom of its essence. There are men in high place who have no authority at all beyond what indolence confers because the indolence of many is the opportunity of one. Such men lead multitudes astray.--From The Book Of The Sayings Of Tsiang Samdup”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Talbot Mundy" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talbot-mundy/and-forget-not-this-that-outward-semblance-of-authority-is-not-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Authority" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talbot-mundy/and-forget-not-this-that-outward-semblance-of-authority-is-not-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/048/talbot-mundy-28038_spirituality_and-forget-not-this-that-outward-semblan_1066735.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/048/talbot-mundy-28038_spirituality_and-forget-not-this-that-outward-semblan_1066735.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/048/talbot-mundy-28038_spirituality_and-forget-not-this-that-outward-semblan_1066735.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“And forget not this: that outward semblance of authority is not a necessary symptom of its essence. There…” — Talbot Mundy", "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": "Talbot Mundy", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/talbot-mundy/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“And forget not this: that outward...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talbot-mundy/and-forget-not-this-that-outward-semblance-of-authority-is-not-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talbot-mundy/and-forget-not-this-that-outward-semblance-of-authority-is-not-a/#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 } } ] } ```