"If their princes exceed their bounds, Madam, no doubt they may be resisted, even by power. For there is neither greater honor, nor greater obedience, to be given to kings or princes, than God hath commanded to be given unto father and mother. But the father may be stricken with a frenzy, in which he would slay his children. If the children arise, join themselves together, apprehend the father, take the sword from him, bind his hands, and keep him in prison till his frenzy be overpast: think ye, Madam, that the children do any wrong? It is even so, Madam, with princes that would murder the children of God that are subjects unto them. Their blind zeal is nothing but a very mad frenzy, and therefore, to take the sword from them, to bind their hands, and to cast them into prison, till they be brought to a more sober mind, is no disobedience against princes, but just obedience, because it agreeth with the will of God."
React to this quote
More by John Knox
See allResonant Thoughts
"The moment juries or judges go beyond their functions, and take upon themselves to lay down the law or find the facts, not according to the law as it is, but according to the law as they think it ough…"
Explore Further
Related Quotes
"My show was so personal, I made it feel like you and I were the only ones there. And I’d say: Boys and girl…"
— Jack LaLanne"An authorship that began with Either/Or and advanced step by step seeks here its decisive place of rest, at…"
— Søren Kierkegaard"Ralph Waldo Emerson Quotes"
— Ralph Waldo Emerson"A man cannot become a child again, or he becomes childish."
— Karl Marx"The Iowa caucuses are no more predictive than a gasbag on an ethanol high swaying from a bridge in Madison …"
— Timothy Egan"As a child, his grandson once drew a sketch and went to show it to his grandfather. After praising him for …"
— Gulzarilal Nanda
