No society can exist unless the laws are respected to a…
““No society can exist unless the laws are respected to a certain degree, but the safest way to make them respected is to make them respectable. When the law and morality are in contradiction to each other, the citizen finds himself in the cruel alternative of either losing his moral sense, or of losing his respect for the law--two evils of equal magnitude, between which it would be difficult to choose. It is so much in the nature of law to support justice that in the minds of the masses they are one and the same.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Law must be respected, but its legitimacy depends on moral respectability; conflict between law and morality creates a dilemma.
In simple terms: Law needs moral respect to be effective.
Key Takeaway
Align law with moral standards.
Themes
law
morality
justice
society
conflict
Mood
critical
thought‑provoking
Type
philosophical
political
ethical
When to use this quote
- legislation
- public policy
- civic education
- ethical debates
Key Concepts
social contract
ethical legitimacy
Questions to Reflect On
- How can law stay moral?
- What happens when law and morality clash?
A Different Perspective
Law without moral grounding can lose authority.