Truth is the secret of eloquence and of virtue, the basis of moral authority; it is the highest summit of art and life.

For purposes of action nothing is more useful than narrowness of thought combined with energy of will.

—Henri-Frederic Amiel

All appears to change when we change.

—Henri-Frederic Amiel

The man who insists on seeing with perfect clearness before he decides, never decides.

—Henri-Frederic Amiel

Nothing is more characteristic of a man than the mann in which he behaves toward fools.

—Henri-Frederic Amiel

Although the world is full of suffering, it is full also of the overcoming of it.

—Henri-Frederic Amiel

The peaceful transfer of authority is rare in history, yet common in our country. With a simple oath, we affirm old traditions and make new beginnings.

—George W. Bush

No moral system can rest solely on authority.

—A. J. Ayer

What you need is sustained outrage.… There's far too much unthinking respect given to authority.

—Molly Ivins

What causes adolescents to rebel is not the assertion of authority but the arbitrary use of power, with little explanation of the rules and no involvement [of the adolescent] in the decision making.

—Laurence Steinberg and Ann Levine

Every great advance in natural knowledge has involved the absolute rejection of authority.

—Thomas H. Huxley