“It is not wisdom but authority that makes a law”
— Thomas Hobbes
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Simplified Meaning:
Sometimes, rules and laws are made not because they are the smartest or best choices, but simply because the people in charge say so. Imagine a school where the principal decides that everyone must wear red shirts on Fridays. It’s not because red shirts make people happier or smarter, but because the principal has the power to make that rule. Authority here means having the ability to enforce rules, even if those rules are not the most sensible. In history, many laws were created by kings or leaders who had control, and not all of these laws made sense or were fair. People can keep this in mind and think critically about rules, considering if they are fair or reasonable, rather than just accepting them because an authority figure says so.
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Authority Governance Justice Law Legal system Legislation Political philosophy Power Rule of law WisdomFEATURED QUOTES
