“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”
— Erich Fromm
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Simplified Meaning:
Authority isn't something you can own like a car or a physical trait like height. Think of it like respect or leadership. When we say someone has authority, it means other people see them as someone in charge or someone to look up to. For example, a teacher in a classroom has authority because students listen and believe what they say. The teacher's authority comes from the students choosing to see them as knowledgeable and in control. So, if you want to have authority, it's about building trust and showing you deserve to be followed or respected, not about having something other people don't.
Related tags
Authority Human behavior Influence Interpersonal relations Leadership Power dynamics Respect Social hierarchy Social psychology Superiority
