--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Isn’t it a strange thing,” he asked…" description: "\"“Isn’t it a strange thing,” he asked Barton, “that in every period of social unrest men have the notion that they can pass a law and suspend the operat..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/152/amity-shlaes-9137_laws_isn-t-it-a-strange-thing-he-asked-barton_459744.jpg" --- # Isn’t it a strange thing,” he asked Barton, “that in every… ![“Isn’t it a strange thing,” he asked Barton, “that in every period of social unrest men have the notion that they can pass a law and suspend the operations of economic law?” quote by Amity Shlaes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/152/amity-shlaes-9137_laws_isn-t-it-a-strange-thing-he-asked-barton_459744.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/152/amity-shlaes-9137_laws_isn-t-it-a-strange-thing-he-asked-barton_459744.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/152/amity-shlaes-9137_laws_isn-t-it-a-strange-thing-he-asked-barton_459744.jpg) > ““Isn’t it a strange thing,” he asked Barton, “that in every period of social unrest men have the notion that they can pass a law and suspend the operations of economic law?”” [Amity Shlaes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amity-shlaes/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People often think legislation can halt market forces during turmoil, but economic law persists regardless of political actions. **In simple terms:** Law can’t stop economics. Key Takeaway Recognize limits of political fixes. Themes politics economics law social unrest Mood critical analytical skeptical Type philosophical commentary When to use this quote - financial crises - policy debates - business planning - activism - public discourse Key Concepts market dynamics government intervention legal theory Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance legal reforms with economic realities? - When should markets be allowed to self‑correct? A Different Perspective Political actions may delay but cannot fully suspend market realities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Laws](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laws/) [Social unrest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social-unrest/) ## Related quotes > [He has outsoared the shadow of our night; envy and calumny and hate and pain, and that unrest which men miscall delight, can touch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-bysshe-shelley/he-has-outsoared-the-shadow-of-our-night-envy-and-calumny-and-hate/) [Percy Bysshe Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/percy-bysshe-shelley/) > [To expect to increase prices and then to maintain them at a higher level by means of a plan which must of necessity increase…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-coolidge/to-expect-to-increase-prices-and-then-to-maintain-them-at-a-higher/) [Calvin Coolidge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-coolidge/) > [I have read a great deal of economic theory for over 50 years now, but have found only one economic "law" to which I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-anton-wilson/i-have-read-a-great-deal-of-economic-theory-for-over-50-years-now-but/) [Robert Anton Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-anton-wilson/) > [Economic inequality is a corrosive force that undermines economic growth, puts a brake on the fight against poverty, and sparks social unrest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winnie-byanyima/economic-inequality-is-a-corrosive-force-that-undermines-economic/) [Winnie Byanyima](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winnie-byanyima/) > [If the Settlement seeks its expression through social activity, it must learn the difference between mere social unrest and spiritual impulse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-addams/if-the-settlement-seeks-its-expression-through-social-activity-it/) [Jane Addams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-addams/) > [“But given the changes that had already taken place in economic and political institutions, long-run repression was not a solution in England. The Peterloo…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daron-acemo-lu/but-given-the-changes-that-had-already-taken-place-in-economic-and/) [Daron Acemoğlu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daron-acemo-lu/) > [It is a question of building which is at the root of the social unrest of today: architecture or revolution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/le-corbusier/it-is-a-question-of-building-which-is-at-the-root-of-the-social/) [Le Corbusier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/le-corbusier/) > [Don't get depressed when you read the press about world revolution and social unrest. Try not to panic when you switch on the news…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-davies/don-t-get-depressed-when-you-read-the-press-about-world-revolution/) [Ray Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-davies/) > [Capitalism inevitably and by virtue of the very logic of its civilization creates, educates and subsidizes a vested interest in social unrest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-a-schumpeter/capitalism-inevitably-and-by-virtue-of-the-very-logic-of-its/) [Joseph A. Schumpeter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-a-schumpeter/) > [Social unrest and protectionism are the two major risks of the world economic crisis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-lagarde/social-unrest-and-protectionism-are-the-two-major-risks-of-the-world/) [Christine Lagarde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-lagarde/) > [Stark inequality, poverty, and unemployment are driving increased social unrest and, consequently, social and economic risk. Environmental deterioration may well intensify social inequality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharan-burrow/stark-inequality-poverty-and-unemployment-are-driving-increased/) [Sharan Burrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharan-burrow/) > [Misusing the democrazy will lead in to social unrest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sumesh-nair/misusing-the-democrazy-will-lead-in-to-social-unrest/) [Sumesh Nair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sumesh-nair/) > [As a technologist, I see the trends, and I see that automation inevitably is going to mean fewer and fewer jobs. And if we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/as-a-technologist-i-see-the-trends-and-i-see-that-automation/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [“Conant was concerned that the “particular functions” that might be assigned to young people would be dictated by the economic conditions of their families,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-s-roth/conant-was-concerned-that-the-particular-functions-that-might-be/) Michael S. Roth > [When the civil rights are denying by the authorities, in a country.The people will be under the slavery , from the slavery all social…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sumesh-nair/when-the-civil-rights-are-denying-by-the-authorities-in-a-country-the/) [Sumesh Nair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sumesh-nair/) ## More by Amity Shlaes > [Right now we're concerned about budget. Right now we're concerned about the prospect of interest rate rise. We're concerned about government corruption, government handing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amity-shlaes/right-now-we-re-concerned-about-budget-right-now-we-re-concerned/) [Amity Shlaes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amity-shlaes/) > [The donning of the ear buds marks the beginning of teen life, when children set off on their own for the passage through adolescence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amity-shlaes/the-donning-of-the-ear-buds-marks-the-beginning-of-teen-life-when/) [Amity Shlaes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amity-shlaes/) > [Seems like Americans just want it to be Halloween all year. The holiday just keeps getting more popular.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amity-shlaes/seems-like-americans-just-want-it-to-be-halloween-all-year-the/) [Amity Shlaes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amity-shlaes/) > [Europe unified its monetary policy through the euro before it unified politically, therefore sustaining member countries' abilities to pursue the kind of independent fiscal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amity-shlaes/europe-unified-its-monetary-policy-through-the-euro-before-it-unified/) [Amity Shlaes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amity-shlaes/) > [Democrats who see virtue in the estate tax are doing the equivalent of aborting future enterprises. They deprive businesses of oxygen with their support…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amity-shlaes/democrats-who-see-virtue-in-the-estate-tax-are-doing-the-equivalent/) [Amity Shlaes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amity-shlaes/) > [Policy people suffer their own kind of agony, and no wonder. After all, what is the average life of the policy person? You go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amity-shlaes/policy-people-suffer-their-own-kind-of-agony-and-no-wonder-after-all/) [Amity Shlaes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amity-shlaes/) > [With demands for special education or standardized test prep being shouted in their ears, public schools can't always hear a parent when he says:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amity-shlaes/with-demands-for-special-education-or-standardized-test-prep-being/) [Amity Shlaes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amity-shlaes/) > [Anti-parent music seems to be all the pop-rock market wants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amity-shlaes/anti-parent-music-seems-to-be-all-the-pop-rock-market-wants/) [Amity Shlaes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amity-shlaes/) > [To investors, job creation is a second-order effect. Market participants care first about interest rates, exchange rates, bond prices and the one great factor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amity-shlaes/to-investors-job-creation-is-a-second-order-effect-market/) [Amity Shlaes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amity-shlaes/) > [In my view, if you have one in 10 unemployed - something is wrong with the economy whether you call it recession or not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amity-shlaes/in-my-view-if-you-have-one-in-10-unemployed-something-is-wrong-with/) [Amity Shlaes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amity-shlaes/) > [The difference between recession and depression is simple. Recession, goes the saying, is when you lose your job; depression is when I lose mine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amity-shlaes/the-difference-between-recession-and-depression-is-simple-recession/) [Amity Shlaes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amity-shlaes/) > [When you see government leaders really bullying business, you know that government's economic policy is failing. They get angry and they get desperate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amity-shlaes/when-you-see-government-leaders-really-bullying-business-you-know/) [Amity Shlaes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amity-shlaes/) > [Today many politicians suggest that where the federal government does not act, there must be anarchy. That view is odd, blinkering out the work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amity-shlaes/today-many-politicians-suggest-that-where-the-federal-government-does/) [Amity Shlaes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amity-shlaes/) > [If expectations of lifetime earnings drop, then so will spending.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amity-shlaes/if-expectations-of-lifetime-earnings-drop-then-so-will-spending/) [Amity Shlaes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amity-shlaes/) > [“Hoover had also created a Division of Simplified Practices, whose job it was to standardize and harmonize the distressinly fractious and unresponsible manufacturing and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amity-shlaes/hoover-had-also-created-a-division-of-simplified-practices-whose-job/) [Amity Shlaes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amity-shlaes/) [Explore all 75 Amity Shlaes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amity-shlaes/) ## More Laws quotes > [The law is like apparel, which alters with the time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dodderidge/the-law-is-like-apparel-which-alters-with-the-time/) John Dodderidge > [“The laws of every country must be analogous to some common principle.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/the-laws-of-every-country-must-be-analogous-to-some-common-principle/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [We are always saying: Let the Law take its Course but what we really mean is: Let the Law take OUR Course.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-rogers/we-are-always-saying-let-the-law-take-its-course-but-what-we-really/) [Will Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-rogers/) > [The function of the law is not to provide justice or to preserve freedom. The function of the law is to keep those who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-spence/the-function-of-the-law-is-not-to-provide-justice-or-to-preserve/) [Gerry Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-spence/) > [Well of course there's been a great deal of progress over the last 40 years. We don't have laws that segregate black people within…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-davis/well-of-course-there-s-been-a-great-deal-of-progress-over-the-last-40/) [Angela Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-davis/) > [Laws are not masters but servants, and he rules them who obey them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/laws-are-not-masters-but-servants-and-he-rules-them-who-obey-them/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [The law is the collective organization of the individual's right to lawful defense of his life, liberty and property. When it is used for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederic-bastiat/the-law-is-the-collective-organization-of-the-individual-s-right-to/) [Frederic Bastiat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederic-bastiat/) > [“Any law too often subject to infraction is bad; it is the duty of the legislator to repeal or to change it, lest the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marguerite-yourcenar/any-law-too-often-subject-to-infraction-is-bad-it-is-the-duty-of-the/) [Marguerite Yourcenar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marguerite-yourcenar/) > [Governments regard their own citizens as their main enemy, and they have to be - protect themselves. That's why you have state secret laws.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/governments-regard-their-own-citizens-as-their-main-enemy-and-they/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [It is quite wrong that one group of people should regularly and deliberately flout the law, boast about it and get away with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-widdecombe/it-is-quite-wrong-that-one-group-of-people-should-regularly-and/) [Ann Widdecombe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-widdecombe/) > [The laws keep up their credit, not by being just, but because they are laws; 'tis the mystic foundation of their authority; they have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/the-laws-keep-up-their-credit-not-by-being-just-but-because-they-are/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [The sanctity of law can be maintained only so long as it is the expression of the will of the people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhagat-singh/the-sanctity-of-law-can-be-maintained-only-so-long-as-it-is-the/) [Bhagat Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhagat-singh/) > [Very often the law of extremity demands an attention to irrelevance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-frame/very-often-the-law-of-extremity-demands-an-attention-to-irrelevance/) [Janet Frame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-frame/) > [“Countries, states, cities, corporations and laws are all words on paper.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/countries-states-cities-corporations-and-laws-are-all-words-on-paper/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [The law says you cannot touch, but I see a lot of lawbreakers up in this house.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-mcconaughey/the-law-says-you-cannot-touch-but-i-see-a-lot-of-lawbreakers-up-in/) [Matthew McConaughey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-mcconaughey/) [Browse all 1,713 Laws quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laws/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Isn’t it a strange thing,” he asked Barton, “that in every period of social unrest men have the notion that they can pass a law and suspend the operations of economic law?”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Amity Shlaes" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amity-shlaes/isn-t-it-a-strange-thing-he-asked-barton-that-in-every-period-of/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Laws" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amity-shlaes/isn-t-it-a-strange-thing-he-asked-barton-that-in-every-period-of/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/152/amity-shlaes-9137_laws_isn-t-it-a-strange-thing-he-asked-barton_459744.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/152/amity-shlaes-9137_laws_isn-t-it-a-strange-thing-he-asked-barton_459744.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/152/amity-shlaes-9137_laws_isn-t-it-a-strange-thing-he-asked-barton_459744.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Isn’t it a strange thing,” he asked Barton, “that in every period of social unrest men have the notion that…” — Amity Shlaes", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Amity Shlaes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amity-shlaes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Isn’t it a strange thing,” he...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amity-shlaes/isn-t-it-a-strange-thing-he-asked-barton-that-in-every-period-of/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amity-shlaes/isn-t-it-a-strange-thing-he-asked-barton-that-in-every-period-of/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```