Authority Quote by Terry Eagleton
“The Kantian imperative to have the courage to think for oneself has involved a contemptuous disregard for the resources of tradition and an infantile view of authority as inherently oppressive.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Idea of the Holy by Terry Eagleton, 1975
Thinking independently demands rejecting blind tradition and viewing authority as potentially oppressive.
In simple terms: Think for yourself, question authority.
Key Takeaway
Challenge norms, value personal reasoning.
Themes
individualism
critique
authority
tradition
Mood
reflective
critical
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- academic debate
- political activism
- personal decision making
- education reform
Key Concepts
existentialism
critical theory
autonomy
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you balance respect for tradition with independent thought?
- When is authority justified?
A Different Perspective
Overemphasis on rebellion can ignore useful wisdom from tradition.
![“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)