"Men of authority have employed all the destructive agents around them to promote their own personal interests at the sacrifice of every just, honorable, and lawful consideration"

This quote by John White Geary speaks to the power of authority and how it can be abused. It suggests that those in positions of authority have used their power to advance their own interests, frequently at the expense of what is simply, respectable, and legal. This implies that those in power have actually utilized their impact to control the law and individuals around them to their own benefit, disregarding the rights of others. This quote works as a cautioning to those in positions of authority to utilize their power properly and to not abuse it for their own gain. It likewise acts as a pointer to the people to be knowledgeable about those in power and to hold them accountable for their actions.