“RIGHT, n. Legitimate authority to be, to do or to have; as the right to be a king, the right to do one's neighbor, the right to have measles, and the like. The first of these rights was once universally believed to be derived directly from the will of God; and this is still sometimes affirmed _in partibus infidelium_ outside the enlightened realms of Democracy; as the well known lines of Sir Abednego Bink, following:By what right, then, do royal rulers rule? Whose is the sanction of their state and pow'r? He surely were as stubborn as a mule Who, God unwilling, could maintain an hour His uninvited session on the throne, or air His pride securely in the Presidential chair.Whatever is is so by Right Divine; Whate'er occurs, God wills it so. Good land! It were a wondrous thing if His design A fool could baffle or a rogue withstand! If so, then God, I say (intending no offence) Is guilty of contributory negligence.”
Ambrose Bierce
“Unthinking respect for authority is the greatest enemy of truth.”
Albert Einstein
“[Human rights groups applauded the Gherebi decision.] No president should be able to assume such unilateral authority over people's freedoms, most crucially during times of threat to our national well-being, ... The Bush administration is mistaken if it believes the proper way to fight the war on terrorism is to ignore the courts and the Congress.”
Anthony Romero
“on many key issues such as congressional power; presidential authority; women's rights including abortion; civil rights including voting and affirmative action; defendants' rights including the death penalty; prayer; and technology of the future.”
Arlen Specter
“I can't openly say that human rights are violated in Cuba. I don't have either the moral authority or the knowledge that would allow me to say so.”
Nestor Kirchner
“The moral authority of the United States depends on its working effectively with other countries to advance human rights protection ? not blocking a consensus proposal that makes so much progress for human rights. The current resolution can be made to work if the United States joins with other democracies to establish the new council and make it function effectively.”
Kenneth Roth
“When the authorities warn you of the dangers of having sex, there is an important lesson to be learned. Do not have sex with the authorities.”
Matt Groening
