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Law Quotes

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Law Quotes

“There never was a law yet made, I conceive, that hit the taste exactly of every man, or every part of the community; of course, if this be a reason for opposition, no law can be executed at all without force, and every man or set of men will in that case cut and carve for themselves; the consequences of which must be deprecated by all classes of men, who are friends to order, and to the peace and happiness of the country.”

IfsMenMadeCountryReasonLawOrderCoursesForceCommunityClassCasesCuttingTasteConsequenceEvery ManOppositionPeace And Happiness
Book:The Writings of George Washington: pt. IV. Letters official and private, from the beginning of his presidency to the end of his life: (v. 10) May, 1789-November, 1794. (v. 11) November, 1794-December, 1799
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“If the minority, and a small one too, is suffered to dictate to the majority, after measures have undergone the most solemn discussions by the representatives of the people, and their will through this medium is enacted into a law, there can be no security for life, liberty, or property; nor, if the laws are not to govern, can any man know how to conduct himself in safety.”

PeopleIfsKnowsMenLawLibertyKnow HowSecuritySafetyMajorityPropertyMediumsDiscussionMinoritiesRepresentativesSolemn
Book:The Writings of George Washington: pt. IV. Letters official and private, from the beginning of his presidency to the end of his life: (v. 10) May, 1789-November, 1794. (v. 11) November, 1794-December, 1799
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“If a state should pass laws forbidding its citizens to become wise and holy, it would be made a byword for all time. But this, in effect, is what our commercial, social, and political systems do. They compel the sacrifice of mental and moral power to money and dissipation.”

IfsShouldMadeStatesWould BeLawPoliticalSocialMoralWiseSacrificeEffectsCitizensHolyAll TimePolitical SystemsDissipation
Book:Aphorisms and Reflections: Conduct, Culture and Religion
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“For the first time in history, men and women are seriously exploring the possibilities of relationships based on separateness rather than togetherness. Instead of clinging to Yahweh, to a rigid set of laws established by a jealous Father-God who will rant in fury if he is disobeyed, they are simply ignoring that ranting, walking away from it, and attempting to put their trust in the irrational. In other words, they are trying to live by the spirit.”

IfsMenTryingFirstsLawSpiritFatherPossibilityWalkingMen And WomenFirst TimeLive ByJealousIrrationalExploringAttemptingTogethernessFuryClingingWalking AwayRantSeparatenessYahweh
Book:Addiction to Perfection: The Still Unravished Bride : a Psychological Study
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“If children had teachers for judgment and eloquence just as they have for languages, if their memory was exercised less than their energy or their natural genius, if instead of deadening their vivacity of mind we tried to elevate the free scope and impulse of their souls, what might not result from a fine disposition? As it is, we forget that courage, or love of truth and glory are the virtues that matter most in youth; and our one endeavour is to subdue our children's spirits, in order to teach them that dependence and suppleness are the first laws of success in life.”

IfsMindFirstsChildrenSoulMatterMightLawSpiritOrderEnergyLanguageNaturalMemoriesForgetResultsTeachVirtueTeacherYouthFineGeniusJudgmentGloryOur ChildrenImpulseSuccess In LifeDependenceDispositionScopeEloquenceEndeavourVivacity
Author:Luc de Clapiers
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“We cannot live in peace without Law. And though law cannot be perfect, it may be just if it is written in ignorance of the identity of the claimants and applied equally to all. Then it is a possession not only of the claimants but of the society, which may now base its actions upon a reasonable assumption of the law?s treatment.”

IfsMayActionLawPerfectWrittenIdentityIgnorancePossessionAssumptionReasonableTreatment
Book:The Secret Knowledge: On the Dismantling of American Culture
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“For example: (1) As if governed by Newton's First Law of Motion, an institution will resist any change in its current direction; (2) Just as work expands to fill available time, corporate projects or acquisitions will materialize to soak up available funds; (3) Any business craving of the leader, however foolish, will be quickly supported by detailed rate-of-return and strategic studies prepared by his troops; and (4) The behavior of peer companies, whether they are expanding, acquiring, setting executive compensation or whatever, will be mindlessly imitated.”

IfsFirstsLawCompanyLeaderStudyExampleReturnBehaviorProjectsInstitutionsPreparedRateCurrentsAvailableFoolishSettingSettingsCorporateFundExecutivesTroopsPeersExpandingCravingCompensationStrategicNewtonAcquisitionLaws Of MotionExecutive Compensation
Book:Warren Buffett on Business: Principles from the Sage of Omaha
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“Our whole life can go on in observation of the laws of nature, if we gain dominion over our desires from the beginning and if we do not kill, by various means of a perverse art, the human offspring, born according to the designs of divine providence; for these women who, in order to hide their immorality, use abortive drugs which expel the child completely dead, abort at the same time their own human feelings.”

IfsHumansMeanChildrenArtWholeUseFeelingsLawDesireOrderBornDesignDivineGoes OnDrugGainsVariousWhole LifeObservationProvidenceLaws Of NatureDominionOffspringImmoralityDivine Providence
Author:Clement of Alexandria
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“Thus, if there exists a law which sanctions slavery or monopoly, oppression or robbery, in any form whatever, it must not even be mentioned. For how can it be mentioned without damaging the respect which it inspires? Still further, morality and political economy must be taught from the point of view of this law; from the supposition that it must be a just law merely because it is a law. Another effect of this tragic perversion of the law is that it gives an exaggerated importance to political passions and conflicts, and to politics in general.”

IfsGivingStillsFormLawPoliticalPassionPoliticsViewsEconomyEffectsInspireTaughtMoralityConflictImportanceSlaveryPoint Of ViewOppressionTragicMonopolySanctionsExaggeratedPerversionRobberyPolitical EconomySupposition
Author:Frederic Bastiat
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“I have known a great many men who have left this Church for whom there is no chance whatever for exaltation, but if their blood had been spilled, it would have been better for them. The wickedness and ignorance of the nations forbid this principle's being in full force, but the time will come when the law of God will be in full force.”

IfsMenHas BeensLawLeftForceNationsChurchChanceKnownPrinciplesBloodIgnoranceGods WillGreat MenWickednessExaltation
Book:The Essential Brigham Young
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“Whether a law be void for its repugnancy to the Constitution, is, at all times, a question of much delicacy, which out seldom, if ever, to be decided in the affirmative, in doubtful case. ... But it is not on slight implication and vague conjecture that the legislature is to be pronounced to have transcended its powers, and its acts to be considered as void. The opposition between the Constitution and the law should be such that the judge feels a clear and strong conviction of their incompatibility with each other.”

IfsFeelsShouldLawStrongCasesClearJudgingDecidedConstitutionConvictionAll TimeOppositionVoidVagueImplicationsLegislatureDoubtfulDelicacyAffirmativeConjectureIncompatibility
Author:John Marshall
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“Active liberty is particularly at risk when law restricts speech directly related to the shaping of public opinion, for example, speech that takes place in areas related to politics and policy-making by elected officials. That special risk justifies especially strong pro-speech judicial presumptions. It also justifies careful review whenever the speech in question seeks to shape public opinion, particularly if that opinion in turn will affect the political process and the kind of society in which we live.”

IfsKindLawPoliticalTurnsStrongProcessLibertyOpinionRiskSpecialPolicyExampleShapesSpeechAreasCarefulActiveRelatedOfficialsJustifyReviewsFreedom Of SpeechPublic OpinionJudicialPresumptionElected OfficialsLive FreePublic OfficialsPolicy Making
Author:Stephen Breyer
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“What is the most rigorous law of our being? Growth. No smallest atom of our moral, mental, or physical structure can stand still a year. It grows--it must grow smaller or larger, better or worse--it cannot stand still. In other words, we change--and must change, constantly, and keep on changing as long as we live. What, then, is the true Gospel of consistency? Change. Who is the really consistent man? The man who changes. Since change is the law of his being, he cannot be consistent if he's stuck in a rut.”

IfsMenYearsLongStillsLawGrowsGrowthMoralHe ManStructureStuckConsistentAtomsSmallestConsistencyRutsStuck In A Rut
Author:Mark Twain
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“If men were wise they would see that the affection that God has implanted in us is amply sufficient, when not weakened by artificial aid, to ensure permanence of union; and if they would have more faith in this all would go well. To tie together by human law what God has tied together by passion, is about as wise as it would be to chain the moon to the earth lest the natural attraction existing between them should not be sufficient to prevent them flying asunder.”

IfsMenShouldHumansWellsWould BeEarthTogetherLawPassionNaturalMarriageWiseMoonUnionsAffectionAttractionAidsFlyingChainsTiesSufficientArtificialTiedPermanence
Book:An Autobiography: By Herbert Spencer
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“If we could suppose a great multitude of men to consent to the observation of justice, and other laws of Nature, without a common Power to keep them all in awe; we might as well suppose all mankind to do the same; and then there neither would be nor need to be any civil government or commonwealth at all, because there would be Peace without subjection.”

IfsMenNeedsWellsGovernmentMightWould BeLawJusticeCommonMankindObservationAweMultitudesConsentLaws Of NatureCommonwealthSubjection
Book:Leviathan: Or the Matter, Forme, and Power of a Commonwealth Ecclesiasticall and Civil
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“The Universal Declaration of Human Rights recognizes that 'if man is not to be compelled to have recourse, as a last resort, to rebellion against tyranny and oppression', human rights should be protected by the rule of law. That just laws which uphold human rights are the necessary foundation of peace and security would be denied only by closed minds which interpret peace as the silence of all opposition and security as the assurance of their own power.”

IfsMenShouldMindHumansWould BeLastsLawPeaceSilenceRightsSecurityUniversalFoundationHuman RightsTyrannyOppressionOppositionRebellionDeniedProtectedDeclarationCompelledAssuranceResortsRule Of LawRecoursePeace And SecurityClosed MindDeclaration Of Human Rights
Author:Aung San Suu Kyi
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“In dealing with those nations that break rules and laws, I believe that we must develop alternatives to violence that are tough enough to actually change behavior -- for if we want a lasting peace, then the words of the international community must mean something. Those regimes that break the rules must be held accountable. Sanctions must exact a real price. Intransigence must be met with increased pressure -- and such pressure exists only when the world stands together as one.”

IfsWorldWantBelieveMeanRealEnoughTogetherLawI BelieveNationsCommunityBreakViolenceMetsBehaviorToughPressureInternationalAlternativesLastingRegimesSanctionsInternational CommunityTogether As One
Author:Barack Obama
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“The whole life of Christians ought to be an exercise of piety, since they are called to sanctification. It is the office of the law to remind them of their duty and thereby to excite them to the pursuit of holiness and integrity. But when their consciences are solicitous how God may be propitiated, what answer they shall make, and on what they shall rest their confidence, if called to his tribunal, there must then be no consideration of the requisitions of the law, but Christ alone must be proposed for righteousness, who exceeds all the perfection of the law.”

IfsMayWholeChristianLawChristAnswersDutyOughtExerciseIntegrityOfficeConsciencePerfectionWhole LifePursuitHolinessConsiderationRighteousnessExceedPietySanctificationTribunalsChrist Alone
Book:On God and Political Duty: Calvin
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“It had long been true, and prisoners knew this better than anyone, that the poorer you were the more likely you were to end up in jail. This was not just because the poor committed more crimes. In fact, they did. The rich did not have to commit crimes to get what they wanted; the laws were on their side. But when the rich did commit crimes, they often were not prosecuted, and if they were they could get out on bail, hire clever lawyers, get better treatment from judges. Somehow, the jails ended up full of poor black people.”

PeopleIfsLongEndsFactsWantedLawSidesBlackPoorRichCrimeJudgingPrisonCommittedLawyerCleverCommitGet BetterTreatmentJailPrisonerBlack PeopleBail
Book:A People's History of the United States: 1492-Present
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“I think the origin of all this clamour for tonality is not so much the need to sense a relationship to the tonic, as a need for familiar chords: let us be frank and say "for the triad"; and I believe I have good reason to say that just so long as a certain kind of music contains enough such triads, it causes no offence, even if in other ways it most violently clashes with the sacred laws of tonality.”

IfsThinkingWayNeedsBelieveKindLongReasonEnoughLawCertainI BelieveCausesSacredFamiliarFrankChordsClashOffenceClamourTriads
Author:Alban Berg
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“If we move away from the American tradition of lawyers defending those with whom they vehemently disagree -- as we temporarily did during the McCarthy period -- we weaken our commitment to the rule of law... So beware of an approach which limits advocacy to that which is approved by the standards of political correctness.”

IfsMovingLawPoliticalPoliticsJusticeResponsibilityPeriodsLimitsApproachStandardsRespectConscienceCommitmentTraditionLawyerToleranceHypocrisyDisagreeRule Of LawPolitical CorrectnessApprovedCorrectnessAdvocacyAmerican Tradition
Book:Letters to a Young Lawer (Easyread Large Edition)
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“I have no doubt that if an actual ticking bomb situation were to arise, our law enforcement authorities would torture. The real debate is whether such torture should take place outside of our legal system or within it. The answer to this seems clear: If we are to have torture, it should be authorized by the law.”

IfsShouldRealSeemsLawAnswersSituationClearDoubtAuthorityDebateAriseTortureNo DoubtBombsLaw EnforcementEnforcementLegal System
Author:Alan Dershowitz
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“When we are inclined to boast of our position [as Christians] we should remember that we are but Gentiles, while the Jews are of the lineage of Christ. We are aliens and in-laws; they are blood relatives, cousins, and brothers of our Lord. Therefore, if one is to boast of flesh and blood the Jews are actually nearer to Christ than we are.”

IfsShouldChristianRememberLawChristLordBloodPositionBrotherJewFleshAliensBoastCousinOur LordIn-lawsFlesh And BloodLineageGentilesBlood Relatives
Book:The Christian in society
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“How can there be democracy if the leadership in the United States and Britain don't uphold the values which my father's generation fought the Nazis, millions of people gave their lives against the Soviet Union's regime, didn't they? Because of what? Democracy. And what democracy meant. No torture, no camps, no detention forever or without trial, without charges. In solitary confinement. Those techniques which are not just alleged, they have actually been written about by the FBI. I don't think it's being far left - I hope that I'm wrong to consider that it's far left to uphold the rule of law.”

PeopleIfsThinkingStatesLawValuesFatherLeftUnitedMillionsUnited StatesForeverDemocracyWrittenGenerationsUnionsTechniqueTrialsTortureBritainCampsSovietRegimesSolitaryNaziSoviet UnionFbiRule Of LawConfinementDetentionSolitary Confinement
Author:Vanessa Redgrave
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“Any politico who's afraid of his constituents being armed, should be. Leaders of the anti-gun movement (for the most part, politicians who enthusiastically advocate confiscatory taxation and government control of everything) realize that a populace is much easier to herd, loot and dispose of if it has been stripped of its weapons. The naked fraud and transparent fascism of victim disarmament must be eradicated through the repeal of all gun laws at every level of government.”

IfsShouldHas BeensGovernmentLawRealizingLevelsLeaderMovementPoliticianEasierWeaponsGunVictimNakedFraudFascismTaxationTransparentHerdsDisarmamentConstituentsAnti GunGun Law
Author:L. Neil Smith
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“Repealing drug laws would remove the risks involved with producing and distributing drugs, bringing 'street prices' crashing down (it's estimated that a 'spoon' of heroin would cost about a quarter in the free market), thereby eradicating any incentive that criminals might have to compete with legitimate businesses, and greatly reducing if not eliminating altogether any economic reason to 'push' drugs on children.”

IfsChildrenReasonMightLawRiskEconomicStreetsInvolvedCostDrugCriminalsRemoveQuartersFree MarketIncentivesReducingHeroinSpoonsEliminatingDrug LawsRepealingCrashing Down
Author:L. Neil Smith
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“It has always seemed to me that the social order was implicit in the very nature of things, and required nothing more from the human spirit than care in arranging the various elements; that a people could be governed without being made thralls or libertines or victims thereby; that man was born for peace and liberty, and became miserable and cruel only through the action of insidious and oppressive laws. And I believe therefore that if man be given laws which harmonize with the dictates of nature and of his heart he will cease to be unhappy and corrupt.”

PeopleIfsMenBelieveHumansHeartMadeCareActionLawSpiritOrderGivenI BelieveSocialBornLibertyElementsVictimVariousCeaseUnhappyMiserableHuman SpiritImplicitSocial OrderInsidiousArrangingLibertine
Author:Louis Antoine de Saint-Just
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“Who should regulate the media? Who should control the press? The commentariat agonises, as if the choice was between state control through some autocratic press law or a new Press Complaints Commission redecorated with false teeth. But there is another way. Let journalists regulate themselves.... Let's have a little democracy in the media. Even in the Murdoch papers, the number of journalists who are irretrievably lawless and callous is quite small. Most of the disasters at the News of the World happened because its editors treated their staff in the style of Muammar Gaddafi.”

IfsWorldWayShouldLittlesStatesLawChoicesNumbersDemocracyHappenedMediaStylePaperNewsPressesDisasterTeethTreatedJournalistEditorsStaffComplaintsPapersAnother WayCallousGaddafiMuammar Gaddafi
Author:Neal Ascherson
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“If we paint the phases of a riot, the crowd bustling with uplifted fists and the noisy onslaughts of cavalry are translated upon the canvas in sheaves of lines corresponding with all the conflicting forces, following the general laws of violence of the picture... These force-lines must encircle and involve the spectator so that he will in a manner be forced to struggle himself with the persons in the picture.”

IfsPersonsLawForceLinesStruggleViolencePaintCrowdsFollowingPhasesCanvasFistsSpectatorsRiotNoisyCorrespondingCavalry
Author:Umberto Boccioni
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