Percy Bysshe Shelley Quotes

There are few things as nauseating as pure obedience.

The being cannot be termed rational or virtuous, who obeys any authority, but that of reason.

I am ready to obey as a child; :;but, not being a child, I think I ought to have a reason.

If children were brought up to become non-conformists it would only ruin their lives. So parents all over China who loved their children told them to do as Chairman Mao said. It was not possible to tell them anything else.

We delude ourselves into believing that morality comes from somewhere else, whereas in reality we behave as we've been told to behave.

Good men must not obey the laws too well.

Reason commands us far more imperiously than a master; for in disobeying the one we are unfortunate, and in disobeying the other we are fools.

The public use of a man's reason must be free at all times…. But I hear people clamor on all sides: Don't argue! The military officer says: Don't argue, drill! The tax collector: Don't argue, pay! The minister: Don't argue, believe!

Every way of a man is right in his own eyes

What we call “morals” is simply blind obedience to words of command.

I always voted at my party's call, And never thought of thinking for myself at all.

… blind followers …

Let us then, dear friends, forever bow down to the general reason of society.

The feeling of patriotism --- It is an immoral feeling because, instead of confessing himself a son of God ... or even a free man guided by his own reason, each man under the influence of patriotism confesses himself the son of his fatherland and the slave of his government, and commits actions contrary to his reason and conscience

Customs do not concern themselves with right or wrong or reason. But they have to be obeyed; one reasons all around them until he is tired, but he must not transgress them, it is sternly forbidden.

When you think of the long and gloomy history of man, you will find that far more, and far more hideous, crimes have been committed in the name of obedience than have ever been committed in the name of rebellion.

It was expected of me that I was to bow to the name of Andrew Jackson, and follow him in all his motions, and windings, and turnings, even at the expense of my consciences and judgment. Such a thing was new to me, and a total stranger to my principles.

Though many men would be content to follow Christ by taking up their cross, few would be willing to follow Him by denying their reason.

I don't like being surrounded by yes men.

All I do is get up in the morning and go where I'm told to go.

When we are placed in a set of circumstances where we have to take initiative and be creative, some of us find it hard to transition. Those people have been trained not to think but to obey orders. They are slaves to the training, unconsciously pledging allegiance to the average. Mentally they recite from the manual of mediocrity.

The true believer, no matter how rowdy and violent his acts, is basically an obedient and submissive person.

The price of maintaining membership in the establishment is unquestioning acceptance of authority.

Docility is the observable half of reason.

The reason he [Jimmy Carter] says he never lies is because he thinks the truth originates with him.