Authority - Quotes
Language is not a protocol legislated by an authority but rather a wiki that pools the contributions of millions of writers and speakers, who ceaselessly bend the language to their needs and who inexorably age, die, and get replaced by their children, who adapt the language in their turn.
Meaning can be found outside of religion, and seeking one`s own meaning in life can be far more fulfilling than following the rules of an outside religious authority.
Don`t blindly believe what I say. Don`t believe me because others convince you of my words. Don`t believe anything you see, read, or hear from others, whether of authority, religious teachers or texts. Don`t rely on logic alone, nor speculation. Don`t infer or be deceived by appearances. Do not give up your authority and follow blindly the will of others. This way will lead to only delusion. Discover for yourself what is truth, what is real.
Science helps us avoid dogmatism: basing conclusions on authority rather than logic and evidence.
To argue with a man who has renounced the use and authority of reason [...] is like giving medicine to the dead.
Authority has every reason to fear the skeptic, for authority can rarely survive in the face of doubt.
If we can't think for ourselves, if we're unwilling to question authority, then we're just putty in the hands of those in power. But if the citizens are educated and form their own opinions, then those in power work for us.
In questions of science, the authority of a thousand is not worth the humble reasoning of a single individual.
I have as much authority as the Pope. I just don`t have as many people who believe it.
Always acknowledge a fault frankly. This will throw those in authority off their guard and give you an opportunity to commit more.
Every great advance in natural knowledge has involved the absolute rejection of authority.
A central lesson of science is that to understand complex issues (or even simple ones), we must try to free our minds of dogma and to guarantee the freedom to publish, to contradict, and to experiment. Arguments from authority are unacceptable.