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About this quote

What does it mean?
This asserts that religious authority holds higher moral standing than imperial power.
In plain terms
The Church has more authority than the emperor.
What can you take from it?
Spiritual institutions can challenge state power.

Where it applies

  • historical analysis
  • theological debate
  • political theory

Putting it to work

  • analyze church history
  • study medieval politics
  • discuss ethics in governance

Questions to consider

  • How does religious authority interact with government today?
  • When should institutions resist state power?

Another view

It reflects a specific historical viewpoint that may not apply universally.

More from Ambrose

  1. In some causes silence is dangerous; so if any know of conspiracies against their country or king, or any that might greatly prejudice their neighbor, they oug…

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  2. Si fueris Romae, Romano vivito more; Si fueris alibi, vivito sicut ibi.

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  3. When I am at Rome, I fast on a Saturday; when I am at Milan, I do not. Follow the custom of the church where you are.

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