God Quote by A.E. Housman
““ The Laws Of God, The Laws Of Man The laws of God, the laws of man, He may keep that will and can; Now I: let God and man decree Laws for themselves and not for me; And if my ways are not as theirs Let them mind their own affairs. Their deeds I judge and much condemn, Yet when did I make laws for them? Please yourselves, say I, and they Need only look the other way. But no, they will not; they must still Wrest their neighbour to their will, And make me dance as they desire With jail and gallows and hell-fire. And how am I to face the odds Of man’s bedevilment and God’s? I, a stranger and afraid In a world I never made. They will be master, right or wrong; Though both are foolish, both are strong, And since, my soul, we cannot fly To Saturn or Mercury, Keep we must, if keep we can, These foreign laws of God and man.””
About This Quote
Source Poem: “The Laws Of God, The Laws Of Man” by A.E. Housman, 1915
The speaker critiques the imposition of both divine and human laws that oppress individuals, questioning authority and the conflict between personal freedom and societal control.
In simple terms: Questioning oppressive rules and seeking personal liberty.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and resist unjust authority.
Themes
authority
freedom
oppression
justice
Mood
defiant
reflective
Type
philosophical
political
When to use this quote
- political activism
- personal reflection
- legal reform
- ethical debate
Key Concepts
social contract
power dynamics
existential angst
Questions to Reflect On
- What laws protect you?
- How can you balance order and freedom?
A Different Perspective
The speaker assumes all laws are oppressive, ignoring beneficial structures.
