Thomas a Kempis Quotes

If you get to thinking you're a person of some influence, try ordering somebody else's dog around.

Authority is not a quality one person 'has', in the sense that he has property or physical qualities. Authority refers to an interpersonal relation in which one person looks upon another as somebody superior to him.

He who allows me to rule is in fact my master.

No one is able to rule unless he is also able to be ruled.

I am not blaming those who are resolved to rule, only those who show an even greater readiness to submit.

Woe to him that claims obedience when it is not due; woe to him that refuses it when it is.

If thou art a master, be sometimes blind; if a servant, sometimes deaf.

And I particularly like the whole thing of being boss. Boss and employee... It's the slave quality that I find very alluring.

I think of Pope Gregory the Great. He wanted the cloister. He wanted to pray and study, and yet he was thrust into this administrative job, and he submitted to that. And in that submission, he became a great leader. You could say that the only person who is safe to lead is the person who is free to submit.

The only safe ruler is he who has learned to obey willingly.

It is much safer to obey than to rule.

'Tis hard to comprehend how one man can come to be master of many, equal to himself in right, unless it be by consent or by force.

I remember being taught my place.

Jesus' life as a foot-washing servant would eventually lead to the adoption of humility as a widely admired virtue.

They must be governed by and be subordinate to you.

When you make your peace with authority you become authority.

He is the best of men who dislikes power.

No man ruleth safely but that he is willingly ruled.

There is great power in deference. Deference works with everybody.

Everywhere in life people are in authority to make decisions and you have to abide by them, whether right or wrong.

The greater the power that deigns to serve you, the more honor it demands of you.

Let them obey that knows not how to rule.

Great women and men are always more anxious to serve than to have dominion.

He who obeys with modesty appears worthy of being some day a commander.

There are two kinds of people. There are leaders and there are followers. And I'm a follower.