Action Quote by Albert Einstein
“The Nuremberg Trial of the German war criminals was tacitly based on the recognition of the principle: criminal actions cannot be excused if committed on government orders; conscience supersedes the authority of the law of the state.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Historical analysis of Nuremberg Trials, 1946
The principle that individuals must not obey immoral orders, placing conscience above state law.
In simple terms: Conscience beats illegal orders.
Key Takeaway
Stand up for moral law over unjust commands.
Themes
ethics
law
responsibility
Mood
serious
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
historical
When to use this quote
- military service
- corporate compliance
- civil disobedience
- public policy
Key Concepts
moral philosophy
human rights
Questions to Reflect On
- When have you faced a moral conflict at work?
- How can societies enforce accountability?
A Different Perspective
Legal systems may protect perpetrators under “following orders.”
![“The [Nuremberg Trial was] the biggest legal farce in history... the legend about six million supposedly murdered Jews acquired a legal basis, even though the court did not have a single document signed by A. Hitler concerning the extermination of Jews...” quote by Rick Sanchez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/624/rick-sanchez-51196_bases_the-nuremberg-trial-was-the-biggest-lega_1175801.jpg)
