--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The Nuremberg Trial of the German war…" description: "\"The Nuremberg Trial of the German war criminals was tacitly based on the recognition of the principle: criminal actions cannot be excused if committed ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d37/albert-einstein-33_action_the-nuremberg-trial-of-the-german-war-cr_3039101.jpg" --- # The Nuremberg Trial of the German war criminals was… ![“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.” quote by Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d37/albert-einstein-33_action_the-nuremberg-trial-of-the-german-war-cr_3039101.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d37/albert-einstein-33_action_the-nuremberg-trial-of-the-german-war-cr_3039101.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d37/albert-einstein-33_action_the-nuremberg-trial-of-the-german-war-cr_3039101.jpg) > “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.” [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. 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.” ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Authority](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/authority/) [Conscience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conscience/) [Criminals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criminals/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Human rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-rights/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Morality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/morality/) [Nuremberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nuremberg/) [Nuremberg Trial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nuremberg-trial/) [Nuremberg trials](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nuremberg-trials/) [Order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/order/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Principles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principles/) [Recognition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/recognition/) [Trials](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trials/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [The situation in Europe is much more advanced, in terms of pro-genocide trends, than in the United States, yet. 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