We look upon authority too often and focus over and over again, for thirty or forty or fifty years, as if there is something wrong with authority. We see only the oppressive side of authority. Maybe it comes out of our history and our background. What we don't see is that freedom is not a concept in which people can do anything they want, be anything they can be. Freedom is about authority. Freedom is about the willingness of every single human being to cede to lawful authority a great deal of discretion about what you do.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Giuliani redefines freedom as relying on lawful authority and the willingness to cede discretion rather than absolute autonomy.
- In plain terms
- Freedom requires agreeing to lawful authority instead of doing whatever you want.
- What can you take from it?
- Recognize that true freedom depends on lawful authority.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Is freedom possible without authority?
- How much discretion should we cede?
Another view
It frames freedom narrowly by emphasizing cession of discretion.
More from Rudy Giuliani
It's about time law enforcement got as organized as organized crime.
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Permalink to quote #3 I'm pro-choice. I'm pro-gay rights.
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