Army Quote by Andrew Jackson
“Private property is held sacred in all good governments, and particularly in our own. Yet shall the fear of invading it prevent a general from marching his army over a cornfield or burning a house which protects the enemy? A thousand other instances might be cited to show that laws must sometimes be silent when necessity speaks.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: 1832 address on property rights, United States
Property is sacred, yet extreme necessity may force actions that violate laws, suggesting law can be silent when survival demands.
In simple terms: Even sacred laws may be broken when essential needs arise.
Key Takeaway
Balance respect for law with pragmatic necessity.
Themes
law
property
necessity
ethics
government
military action
Mood
thoughtful
serious
analytical
Type
philosophical
political
When to use this quote
- warfare decisions
- emergency governance
- civil disobedience
- policy making
Key Concepts
legal philosophy
moral dilemmas
state authority
Questions to Reflect On
- When should law yield to necessity?
- What safeguards prevent abuse?
A Different Perspective
Prioritizing necessity over law can erode legal stability.
![“I can't imagine that I would be asked that by the president-elect [Donald Trump], or then-president [Barack Obama]. But it's - I'm very clear. I voted for the change that put the Army Field Manual in place as a member of Congress. I understand that law very, very quickly and am also deeply aware…” quote by James Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/761/james-mattis-9515_army_i-can-t-imagine-that-i-would-be-asked-th_3990.jpg)
