Quote by Anne Dudley Bradstreet
Authority without wisdom is like a heavy ax without an edge, fitter to bruise than to polish.
Summary
This quote means that having power or authority alone is not enough. Without wisdom, authority can be harmful or detrimental rather than beneficial. It is compared to a sharp tool such as an ax without a sharpened edge, which is more likely to cause damage than achieve its intended purpose. Just as an ax needs an edge to effectively shape or polish objects, authority needs wisdom to make wise and beneficial decisions for the greater good.