Taylor Mali Quotes

There's great power in deference. You ask somebody 'what' or 'how' questions. People love to be asked how to do something. They feel powerful, and from a deferential position, you've actually granted that power, and you're the one that now actually has the upper hand in the conversation.

A teacher should have maximal authority, and minimal power.

Power runs with ideas that only the crazy would draw into doubt.

I hope somewhere to break down what seems to be a kind of robotic communication between those in power and those who are understanding power.

Some will say that I have an issue with authority, but I just like to question things.

In every part of our society, rules have to be questioned and adapted.

It is not enough to criticize society without offering a workable alternative.

Show respect for those in power, but do not follow them blindly.

It's not enough to be against something.

There is no reason to accept the doctrines crafted to sustain power and privilege, or to believe that we are constrained by mysterious and unknown social laws.

Skepticism cannot be revolutionary, even though it speaks the language of revolution.

As you set off into the world, don't be afraid to question your leaders. But don't ask too many questions at one time or that are too hard because your leaders get tired and/or cranky.

This is the power of the powerful to define, to structure, to say, 'This is the way the world works.' It's enormous power. Among the powers of the weak, I think the first one is the power not to believe the powerful.

Encourage dissent: Leaders should have associates who have contrary views, who are devil's advocates, "variance sensors" who can tell them the difference between what is expected and what is really happening, between what they want to hear and what they need to hear. There are too many naked emperors running around today.

If people aren't educated, they can't question. If they can't question, they can't change anything, which is great for the status quo and all the people who can question them at their own level.

Progressive culture’s substitution of nastiness for persuasion and argument has robbed America of the incisive commentary of which intelligent progressives would otherwise be capable. Progressives got addicted to the power of cancel culture — their seemingly invincible H-bomb — and when it stopped working they just didn’t know what else to do, because they had forgotten everything they used to do in the time before Twitter.

We cannot change our rulers, but we can change the way they rule us.

the difference between a rebel and a patriot depends upon who is in power at the moment.

If the members of a class do not understand -- if those directly addressed fail to listen, or listening, fail to recognize a power in the voice -- surely the fault lies with the speaker, who, having attempted to secure their attention and enlighten their understandings, has failed in the attempt.

I don't entirely agree with the slogan "speaking truth to power."

Distinguish between power and control, delegate, be decisive - and always remember people's first names.

Existing libraries, in their very being, seem to question the authority of those in power.

Politics are about power; we cannot evade that truth or its consequences. We dream of a better world but it is in Utopia - that is, nowhere.

The wielders of power did not speak for it, nor did they naturally serve it. Their interest was to use and develop power, no less natural and necessary than liberty but more dangerous.