moral authority

Noun

 * 1)  The quality or characteristic of being respected for having good character or knowledge, especially as a source of guidance or an exemplar of proper conduct.
 * 2) * 1835, John Orville Taylor, The District School or National Education 3rd ed., Carey, Lea, and Blanchard, Philadelphia, p. 287:
 * The people adopted the government they had framed, and thus gave it its moral authority.
 * 1) One possessing this characteristic.
 * 2) The right or power to act (or direct others to act), based on the belief that the actor is moral, rather than on the actor having or needing some formal power to do so.
 * 1) One possessing this characteristic.
 * 2) The right or power to act (or direct others to act), based on the belief that the actor is moral, rather than on the actor having or needing some formal power to do so.
 * 1) The right or power to act (or direct others to act), based on the belief that the actor is moral, rather than on the actor having or needing some formal power to do so.
 * 1) The right or power to act (or direct others to act), based on the belief that the actor is moral, rather than on the actor having or needing some formal power to do so.
 * 1) The right or power to act (or direct others to act), based on the belief that the actor is moral, rather than on the actor having or needing some formal power to do so.

Translations

 * Dutch: moreel gezag
 * German: moralische authorität
 * Icelandic:
 * Romanian: autoritate morală