It is a very easy thing to devise good laws; the…
“It is a very easy thing to devise good laws; the difficulty is to make them effective. The great mistake is that of looking upon men as virtuous, or thinking that they can be made so by laws; and consequently the greatest art of a politician is to render vices serviceable to the cause of virtue.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Good laws are easy to draft; making them work requires realistic views of human nature and political skill.
In simple terms: Laws are easy, effectiveness is hard.
Key Takeaway
Design enforceable policies, not idealistic assumptions.
Themes
politics
law
human nature
governance
Mood
skeptical
pragmatic
Type
analytical
critical
When to use this quote
- legislative drafting
- public administration
- policy implementation
Key Concepts
legal theory
realism
political strategy
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we align incentives with legal frameworks?
- What safeguards prevent misuse of political power?
A Different Perspective
Laws alone cannot change behavior without enforcement mechanisms.