We know not whether laws be right Or whether laws be wrong…
““We know not whether laws be right Or whether laws be wrong All we know who lie in gaol Is that the walls are strong And each day is like a year A year whose days are long.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
He questions the morality of laws while noting prison walls are strong and time drags.
In simple terms: Laws may be flawed; imprisonment feels endless.
Key Takeaway
Consider justice beyond statutes.
Themes
law
justice
prison
time
morality
Mood
somber
thoughtful
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- legal reform
- penal system review
- personal coping with confinement
Key Concepts
ethics
social critique
existentialism
Questions to Reflect On
- What defines a just law?
- How does confinement alter perception of time?
A Different Perspective
The poem offers a limited view of law’s complexity.