Authority Quote by Thomas Browne
“The mortalist enemy unto knowledge, and that which hath done the greatest execution unto truth, has been a preemptory adhesion unto authority.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Pseudodoxia Epidemica, 1646
He warns that authority can masquerade as knowledge, suppressing truth through premature acceptance.
In simple terms: Authority may hide truth by claiming it early.
Key Takeaway
Scrutinize claims from power.
Themes
authority
knowledge
truth
skepticism
Mood
critical
analytical
Type
philosophical
warning
When to use this quote
- academic research
- political policy
- media narratives
Key Concepts
epistemology
power dynamics
Questions to Reflect On
- What evidence challenges the authority?
- How to differentiate genuine insight from dogma?
A Different Perspective
Authority can be misused, not always wrong.
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