Quotations

«Obedience to lawful authority is the foundation of manly character.»

«The key to the behavior of subjects lies not in pent-up anger or aggression, but in the nature of their relationship to authority. They have given themselves to the authority; they see themselves as instruments for the execution of his wishes; once so defined, they are unable to break free.»

«The current state of the news media is partially to blame for the public?s general lack of information vital for responsible citizenship in a democracy. The news media has become an aspect of show business, offering merely infotainment. It has evolved into an entity that tends to function as a public relations agency for wealthy and powerful multinational corporations, members of Congress, the current Presidential Administration including the administrations that preceded it. The news media is being utilized as a political tool of suppression and propaganda by those in power, and propaganda is psychological in nature. Full of half-truths and utter misinformation, it?s an arrogant and very commercial strategy that is implemented because it appeals to emotions, fear being the main one relentless talk of national security, personal and community safety, can trigger childhood insecurities and indoctrinated views of authority.»

«The most obvious and condescending tell-tale sign that manipulation is taking place is that no one takes responsibility for the actions of the administration, it?s always some other department who is to blame and never the people who have authority, it?s always some nameless foot-soldiers, a ?few bad apples,? when we all know that such excuses don?t hold water, we know who gave the order for soldiers to engage in the abhorrent techniques of torture, we know who told subordinates in the corporation(s) to ?fudge the numbers? and ?be creative,? we know full well who makes these decisions. President Truman said, ?The buck stops here,? now the buck effectively floats over many people never stopping anywhere, so there?s no one to blame.»

«Move decisions out to the Cabinet and agencies. Strengthen them by moving responsibility, authority, and accountability their direction.»

«Most men, after a little freedom, have preferred authority with the consoling assurances and the economy of effort it brings.»

«New faces have more authority than accustomed ones.»

«Nothing destroys authority more than the unequal and untimely interchange of power stretched too far and relaxed too much.»

«Surround yourself with the best people you can find, delegate authority, and don't interfere»

«The country and the Congress were misled into war. I regret that we were not given the truth; as I said more than a year ago, knowing what we know now, I would not have gone to war in Iraq. And knowing now the full measure of the Bush Administration?s duplicity and incompetence, I doubt there are many members of Congress who would give them the authority they abused so badly. I know I would not.»