Dalton Trumbo Quotes

The hierarchy shouldn't fear what we're doing.

Fear is a strange soil. It grows obedience like corn, which grow in straight lines to make weeding easier. But sometimes it grows the potatoes of defiance, which flourish underground.

I did so many things that made me a threat.

Disobedience is essentially a prideful power struggle against someone in authority over us. It can be a parent, a priesthood leader, a teacher, or ultimately God. A proud person hates the fact that someone is above him. He thinks this lowers his position.

Whenever there is authority, there is a natural inclination to disobedience.

I cannot stand authority.

No act which is directed against the Inquisition can deserve the name of a rebellion.

I just don't like authority. I do like authority when I respect it.

Kill if you will, but command me nothing!

Defiance, not obedience, is the American's answer to overbearing authority.

The answer is to say 'No!' to authority when authority is wrong.

Men live in glad obedience to the masters they believe in, or they live in a frictional opposition to the master they wish to undermine.

It's a great feeling to know that 100 cops want to stop you doing something and they can't.

Authority is never without hate.

I wasn't that kid where if you told me 'No,' I was just going to do it anyway.

The student will try to defy the master. Always.

If you're going to kick authority in the teeth, you might as well use both feet.

I've always had trouble with authority.

Don't tell me to watch the beat. You watch me.

Don't talk to me about rules, dear. Wherever I stay I make the goddam rules.

If you attack the establishment long enough and hard enough, they will make you a member of it.

Ladies and gentlemen, even my own staff challenges me. When I issue edicts, commands, orders, ideas, you would think that there would be overwhelming blanket acquiescence, approval, and support.

Authority has every reason to fear the skeptic, for authority can rarely survive in the face of doubt.

I respect only those who resist me, but I cannot tolerate them.

I use the rules to frustrate the law. But I didn't set up the ground rules.