He proved that it was equally true if the disregard was by…
““He proved that it was equally true if the disregard was by a ruler or by a people. "It spreads like a disease," he said. "And it's infinitely more deadly when the law is disregarded by men pretending to act for justice than when it's simply inefficient, or even when its elected administrator's are crooked.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Disregarding law, whether by leaders or masses, spreads like a disease and becomes deadly when justified as justice.
In simple terms: Ignoring law harms society, especially when cloaked in false justice.
Beware of false righteousness.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- political leadership
- civil activism
- legal reform
- media criticism
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How do we differentiate legitimate protest from harmful law‑breaking?
- What safeguards prevent misuse of “justice” rhetoric?
The quote assumes all law‑breakers are equally dangerous, ignoring nuance.