"Authority without wisdom is like a heavy ax without an edge, fitter to bruise than polish"

This quote by Anne Bradstreet is a warning against the abuse of authority. It suggests that when authority is utilized without wisdom, it can be damaging and harmful. The metaphor of a heavy ax without an edge is used to show this point. An ax without an edge is unable to do its intended task of cutting or polishing, but rather can just bruise and hurt. In the very same method, authority without wisdom can just cause damage and destruction, rather than being utilized to improve or fine-tune. Bradstreet is warning against the misuse of authority, and advising us that knowledge is vital in order to utilize authority in an useful method.