I assure you the law isn't a line engraved in marble…
““I assure you the law isn't a line engraved in marble, immovable and unchangeable through the centuries. Rather...the law is like a string, fixed at both ends but with a great deal of play in it-very loose, the line of the law-so you can stretch it this way or that, rearrange the arc of it so you are always-short of the blantant theft or cold-blooded murder-safely on the right side.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Law is flexible, not rigid; it can be interpreted and adjusted to prevent injustice while maintaining core principles.
In simple terms: Law can bend to avoid injustice.
Key Takeaway
Interpret law with compassion and flexibility.
Themes
justice
flexibility
ethics
law
Mood
critical
inquisitive
Type
philosophical
practical
When to use this quote
- courtroom strategy
- policy making
- human rights advocacy
- ethical debates
Key Concepts
Legal theory
moral philosophy
interpretation
Questions to Reflect On
- When should law be stretched?
- Who decides the limits of flexibility?
A Different Perspective
Risk of subjective manipulation eroding legal certainty.