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Laws


Laws

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Quotations

TacitusThe more corrupt the state, the more numerous the laws.

—  Tacitus, 55-120 AD, Roman historian

41 likes
Harry TrumanA person who is fundamentally honest doesn't need a code of ethics. The Ten Commandments and the Sermon on the Mount are all the ethical code anybody needs.

—  Harry Truman, 1884-1972, American President [1945-1953]

15 likes
Nicolas Gomez DavilaDying societies accumulate laws like dying men accumulate remedies.

—  Nicolas Gomez Davila, 1913-1994, Colombian writer

14 likes
Harry TrumanIt's not the hand that signs the laws that holds the destiny of America. It's the hand that casts the ballot.

—  Harry Truman, 1884-1972, American President [1945-1953]

12 likes
Anatole FranceIn its majestic equality, the law forbids rich and poor alike to sleep under bridges, beg in the streets and steal loaves of bread.

—  Anatole France, 1844-1924, French writer, Nobel 1921

11 likes
Saint AugustineAn unjust law is no law at all.

—  Saint Augustine, 354-430, Christian theologian & philosopher

11 likes
AristotleLaw is order, and good law is good order.

—  Aristotle, 384-322 BC, Ancient Greek philosopher

10 likes
Martin Luther KingIt may be true that the law cannot make a man love me, but it can keep him from lynching me, and I think that's pretty important.

—  Martin Luther King, 1929-1968, American leader in the Civil Rights Movement

10 likes
Otto von BismarckLaws are like sausages. It is better not to see them being made.

—  Otto von Bismarck, 1815-1898, German chancellor

8 likes
Winston ChurchillIf you make 10,000 regulations you destroy all respect for the law.

—  Winston Churchill, 1874-1965, British Prime Minister, Nobel 1953

8 likes
Aleister CrowleyRepeal all laws which assume that mankind is a herd of cattle.

—  Aleister Crowley, 1875-1945, British magician & occultist,

8 likes
TacitusFormerly we suffered from crimes; now we suffer from laws.

—  Tacitus, 55-120 AD, Roman historian

7 likes
VauvenarguesThose who fear men like laws.

—  Vauvenargues, 1715-1747, French author of maxims

7 likes
Will DurantIf man asks for many laws it is only because he is sure that his neighbor needs them; privately he is an unphilosophical anarchist, and thinks laws in his own case superfluous.

—  Will Durant, 1885-1981, American historian & philosopher

7 likes
AristotleThe law is reason unaffected by desire.

—  Aristotle, 384-322 BC, Ancient Greek philosopher

6 likes
NapoleonThere are so many laws that no one is safe from hanging.

—  Napoleon, 1769-1821, French Emperor

6 likes
René DescartesA state is better governed which has few laws, and those laws strictly observed.

—  René Descartes, 1596-1650, French philosopher

6 likes
SenecaSome laws are not written, but are more decisive than any written law.

—  Seneca, 5 AD-65 AD, Roman philosopher

6 likes
Benjamin DisraeliWhen men are pure, laws are useless; when men are corrupt, laws are broken.

—  Benjamin Disraeli, 1804-1881, British Prime Minister

6 likes
Dr. Thomas FullerThe more laws, the more offenders.

—  Dr. Thomas Fuller, 1654-1734,  English physician and adage collector

6 likes
Pierre-Joseph ProudhonLaws: We know what they are, and what they are worth! They are spider webs for the rich and mighty, steel chains for the poor and weak, fishing nets in the hands of government.

—  Pierre-Joseph Proudhon, 1809-1865, French anarchist

6 likes
Luis XVIIt is legal because I want it.

—  Luis XVI, 1754-1793, King of France [1774-1792]

5 likes
Henry David ThoreauThe law will never make men free; it is men who have got to make the law free.

—  Henry David Thoreau, 1817-1862, American writer

4 likes
Peter DruckerWe do not need more laws. No country suffers from a shortage of laws. We need a new model.

—  Peter Drucker, 1909–2005, Austrian management guru

4 likes
MontesquieuLiberty is the right to do what the laws permit.

—  Montesquieu, 1689-1755, French thinker

3 likes
NapoleonA constitution should be framed so as not to impede the action of government, nor force the government to its violation.

—  Napoleon, 1769-1821, French Emperor

3 likes
Michel de MontaigneThere is no man so good that if he placed all his actions and thoughts under the scrutiny of the laws, he would not deserve hanging ten times in his life.

—  Michel de Montaigne, 1533-1592, French thinker

3 likes
Calvin CoolidgeTo live under the American Constitution is the greatest political privilege that was ever accorded to the human race.

—  Calvin Coolidge, 1872-1933, American President [1923-1929]

3 likes
Calvin CoolidgeIt is much more important to kill bad bills than to pass good ones.

—  Calvin Coolidge, 1872-1933, American President [1923-1929]

3 likes
Calvin CoolidgeI sometimes wish that people would put a little more emphasis on the observance of the law than they do upon its enforcement.

—  Calvin Coolidge, 1872-1933, American President [1923-1929]

3 likes
Margaret ThatcherConstitutions have to be written on hearts, not just paper.

—  Margaret Thatcher, 1925-2013, British Prime Minister

3 likes
MontesquieuUseless laws weaken the necessary laws.

—  Montesquieu, 1689-1755, French thinker

3 likes
Sydney SmithWhen I hear any man talk of an unalterable law, the only effect it produces upon me is to convince me that he is an unalterable fool.

—  Sydney Smith, 1771-1845, British writer & cleric

2 likes
Niccolò MachiavelliThe chief foundations of all states are good laws and good arms; and as there cannot be good laws where the state is not well armed, it follows that where they are well armed they have good laws.

—  Niccolò Machiavelli, 1469-1527, Italian political philosopher

2 likes
Antoine RivarolMen are born naked and live clothed, as they are born independent and live under laws.

—  Antoine Rivarol, 1753-1801, French author of maxims

Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr.The life of the law has not been logic; it has been experience.

—  Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr., 1841-1935, 

Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr.Constitutions are intended to preserve practical and substantial rights, not to maintain theories.

—  Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr., 1841-1935, 

Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr.If you want to know the law and nothing else, you must look at it as a bad man.

—  Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr., 1841-1935, 

Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr.The aim of the law is not to punish sins, but is to prevent certain external results.

—  Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr., 1841-1935, 

Honoré de BalzacWhen law becomes despotic, morals are relaxed, and vice versa.

—  Honoré de Balzac, 1799-1850, French writer

Bertolt BrechtThe law was made for one thing alone, for the exploitation of those who don’t understand it, or are prevented by naked misery from obeying it.

—  Bertolt Brecht, 1898-1956, German writer

Earl WarrenIn civilized life, law floats in a sea of ethics.

—  Earl Warren, 1891-1974, American Chief Justice

Terry PratchettTwo types of people laugh at the law: those that break it and those that make it.

—  Terry Pratchett, 1948-2015, British writer

Donald RumsfeldReduce the number of lawyers. They are like beavers - they get in the middle of the stream and dam it up.

—  Donald Rumsfeld, American politician

Joseph De MaistreA constitution that is made for all nations is made for none.

—  Joseph De Maistre, 1753-1821, Savoyard diplomat & philosopher

Frank ZappaThe United States is a nation of laws, badly written and randomly enforced.

—  Frank Zappa, 1940-1993, American musician

Jules VerneWe may brave human laws, but we cannot resist natural ones.

—  Jules Verne, 1826-1905, French writer

P.J. O’ RourkeWhen buying and selling are controlled by legislation, the first things to be bought and sold are legislators.

—  P.J. O’ Rourke, 1947-2022, American columnist & writer

Ambrose BierceLawyer – One skilled in the circumvention of the law.

—  Ambrose Bierce, 1842–1914, American writer

Leonardo da VinciNature never breaks her own laws.

—  Leonardo da Vinci, 1452-1519, Italian polymath & painter

Latin Quotes

Latin phraseNecessity has no law.

Necessitas non habet legem.

—  Latin phrase

54 likes
CiceroWe are slaves of the law in order to be free.

Legum servi sumus ut liberi esse possimus.

—  Cicero, 106-43 BC, Roman orator & statesman

42 likes
Saint Thomas AquinasBad law, no law.

Lex malla, lex nulla

—  Saint Thomas Aquinas, 1225-1274, Italian Dominican friar & philosopher

29 likes
CiceroThe welfare of the people is the ultimate law.

Salus populi suprema lex.

—  Cicero, 106-43 BC, Roman orator & statesman

29 likes
CiceroLaw stands mute in the midst of arms.

Inter arma silent leges.

—  Cicero, 106-43 BC, Roman orator & statesman

27 likes
Latin proverbTough law but still a law.

Dura lex, sed lex.

—  Latin proverb

19 likes
OvidEven the gods have their own laws.

Sunt superis sua jura.

—  Ovid, 43 BC-17 AD, Roman poet

14 likes
Latin phraseThe agreements must be kept.

Pacta sunt servanda.

—  Latin phrase

     (Principle of Civil and International law)

12 likes
Latin phraseThe reason of the law is the spirit of the law.

Ratio legis est anima legis.

—  Latin phrase

12 likes
Latin phraseNo crime, no penalty without law.

Nullum crimen, nulla poena sine lege.

—  Latin phrase

     (moral principle in criminal law)

10 likes

Funny Quotes

Fred AllenI learned law so well, the day I graduated I sued the college, won the case, and got my tuition back.

—  Fred Allen, 1894-1956, American comedian

2 likes
Ashleigh BrilliantWhat I need is a lawyer who specializes in the law of the jungle.

—  Ashleigh Brilliant, 1933-, British cartoonist & epigrammatist

Ancient Greek

SolonReligion and laws, if they are exercised well, are beneficial; if exercised badly, they do not benefit at all.

Το θείον και οι νόμοι, ευ μεν αγόντων, εισίν ωφέλιμοι, κακώς δε αγόντων ουδέν ωφελούσιν.

—  Solon, 630-560 BC, Ancient Greek lawmaker & philosopher

18 likes
AristotleThe human life is governed by nature and laws.

Άπας ό βίος των ανθρώπων φύσει και νόμοις διοικείται.

—  Aristotle, 384-322 BC, Ancient Greek philosopher

16 likes
SolonLaws are like spider’s webs: If some poor weak creature comes up against them, it is caught; but a big one can break through and get away.

Τους δε νόμους τοις αραχνίοις ομοίους· και γαρ εκείνα, εάν μεν εμπέση τι κούφον και ασθενές, στέγειν· εάν δε μείζον, διακόψαν οίχεσθαι.

—  Solon, 630-560 BC, Ancient Greek lawmaker & philosopher

11 likes
AristotleThere is no difference between not having laws and not following the laws.

Ουδέν διαφέρει ή μη κείσθαι ή μη χρήσθαι τους νόμους.

—  Aristotle, 384-322 BC, Ancient Greek philosopher

6 likes
Ancient Greek phraseIf you are s stranger, follow the local laws.

Ξένος ών ακολούθει τοις επιχωρίοις νόμοις.

—  Ancient Greek phrase

5 likes
AntiphanesHe who is never unjust has no need of laws.

Ο μηδέν αδικών ουδενός δείται νόμου.

—  Antiphanes, 405-335 BC, Ancient comic poet

5 likes
IsokratesThe good condition of the state depends on ethics and not on the laws we vote.

Ου γαρ τοις ψηφίσµασιν αλλά τοις ήθεσιν καλώς οικείσθαι τας πόλεις.

—  Isokrates, 436-338 BC, Ancient Greek rhetorician

5 likes
Chilon of SpartaThe best state is one where the laws and not the politicians are obeyed.

Την μάλιστα νόμων, ήκιστα δε ρητόρων ακούουσαν πολιτείαν αρίστην είναι.

—  Chilon of Sparta, 6th cent. BC, one of the 7 sages of Ancient Greece

4 likes
Periander of CorinthUse old laws and fresh food.

Τοις μεν νόμοις, παλαιοίς χρώ, τοις δ' όψοις, προσφάτοις.

—  Periander of Corinth, 668-584 BC, tyrant of Corinth

4 likes
DemosthenesEvery law is a gift and an invention of by the gods.

Πας εστι νόμος εύρημα μεν και δώρον θεών.

—  Demosthenes, 384-322 BC, Ancient Athenian & statesman orator

4 likes



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