First of all, the people has a right to passive…
““First of all, the people has a right to passive resistance. The tyrannical law that is a law against reason, a law not directed to a common good, is not true law, but a depravity of law. Consequently it does not bind in conscience. This passive resistance becomes a duty when the tyrannical law demands something that is against the divine good (“bonum divinum”). A typical case would be a law to compel blasphemous adoration of the ruler as a quasi-divine being.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The passage argues that unjust laws, which oppose reason and the common good, are not true law and do not bind conscience; passive resistance becomes a moral duty against such tyranny.
In simple terms: Unjust laws should not be obeyed; resist them.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and oppose unjust authority.
Themes
law
morality
civil disobedience
justice
Mood
serious
reflective
Type
ethical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- protesting oppressive legislation
- refusing to support immoral directives
- civil activism
Key Concepts
natural law
ethical duty
political philosophy
Questions to Reflect On
- What defines a law as unjust?
- When is passive resistance justified?
A Different Perspective
Might provoke severe legal consequences.