Laws gain their authority from actual possession and…
“Laws gain their authority from actual possession and custom: it is perilous to go back to their origins; laws, like our rivers, get greater and nobler as they roll along: follow them back upstream to their sources and all you find is a tiny spring, hardly recognizable; as time goes by it swells with pride and grows in strength.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Laws evolve over time, gaining strength and legitimacy as they are practiced, so their origins become obscure and less important.
In simple terms: Laws grow stronger with use.
Key Takeaway
Respect the law’s current form.
Themes
law
history
authority
Mood
reflective
analytical
Type
philosophical
historical
When to use this quote
- government
- legal practice
- policy making
- civil rights
Key Concepts
social contract
institutional development
Questions to Reflect On
- What does the “tiny spring” symbolize about original intent?
- Should we ever revert to a law’s original purpose?
A Different Perspective
Historical context may be ignored, leading to misinterpretation.