--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: How I wish we lived in a time when laws…" description: "\"How I wish we lived in a time when laws were not necessary to safeguard us from discrimination.\" — Barbra Streisand" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a1f/barbra-streisand-2243_discrimination_how-i-wish-we-lived-in-a-time-when-laws_2324499.jpg" --- # How I wish we lived in a time when laws were not necessary… ![“How I wish we lived in a time when laws were not necessary to safeguard us from discrimination.” quote by Barbra Streisand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a1f/barbra-streisand-2243_discrimination_how-i-wish-we-lived-in-a-time-when-laws_2324499.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a1f/barbra-streisand-2243_discrimination_how-i-wish-we-lived-in-a-time-when-laws_2324499.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a1f/barbra-streisand-2243_discrimination_how-i-wish-we-lived-in-a-time-when-laws_2324499.jpg) > “How I wish we lived in a time when laws were not necessary to safeguard us from discrimination.” [Barbra Streisand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbra-streisand/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Wishes for a society where fairness is innate, not enforced by law. **In simple terms:** Hopes for natural equality. Key Takeaway Advocate for cultural change beyond legislation. Themes equality justice human rights Mood hopeful reflective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - civil rights activism - education reform - community building Key Concepts social contract intrinsic dignity Questions to Reflect On - How can we foster empathy to reduce discrimination? - What role does law play in shaping morality? A Different Perspective Legal protections alone may not change deep biases. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Discrimination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discrimination/) [Racism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/racism/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Wish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wish/) ## Related quotes > [Law is merely the expression of the will of the strongest for the time being, and therefore laws have no fixity, but shift from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-brooks-adams/law-is-merely-the-expression-of-the-will-of-the-strongest-for-the/) [Henry Brooks Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-brooks-adams/) > [You must not deprive the colonies of their right to make laws for themselves. Parliament should only make laws necessary for the empire as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hutchinson/you-must-not-deprive-the-colonies-of-their-right-to-make-laws-for/) Thomas Hutchinson > [As good government is an empire of laws, how shall your laws be made? In a large society, inhabiting an extensive country, it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/as-good-government-is-an-empire-of-laws-how-shall-your-laws-be-made/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [An infinite God ought to be able to protect himself, without going in partnership with State Legislatures. Certainly he ought not so to act…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/an-infinite-god-ought-to-be-able-to-protect-himself-without-going-in-2/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [As labor creates the wealth of the country, we demand the passage of such laws as may be necessary to protect it in all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-peter-altgeld/as-labor-creates-the-wealth-of-the-country-we-demand-the-passage-of/) [John Peter Altgeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-peter-altgeld/) > [No doubt it is an evil to be bound by laws, but it is necessary at the immature stage to be guided by rules;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/no-doubt-it-is-an-evil-to-be-bound-by-laws-but-it-is-necessary-at-the/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [As soon as laws are necessary for men, they are no longer fit for freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pythagoras/as-soon-as-laws-are-necessary-for-men-they-are-no-longer-fit-for/) [Pythagoras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pythagoras/) > [For as laws are necessary that good manners may be preserved, so there is need of good manner that laws may be maintained. \[It.,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/for-as-laws-are-necessary-that-good-manners-may-be-preserved-so-there/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [For as laws are necessary that good manners be preserved, so there is need of good manners that law may be maintained.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/for-as-laws-are-necessary-that-good-manners-be-preserved-so-there-is/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [Everything happens through immutable laws, ...everything is necessary... 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Whenever I wanted, I could get him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-downham/i-wish-i-had-a-boyfriend-i-wish-he-lived-in-the-wardrobe-on-a-coat-2/) [Jenny Downham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-downham/) > [Let us all so live as we shall wish we had lived when we come to die; for that only is well, that ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-whichcote/let-us-all-so-live-as-we-shall-wish-we-had-lived-when-we-come-to-die/) [Benjamin Whichcote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-whichcote/) > [I wish I lived in the '60s because I'm a big fan of the Beatles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celine-buckens/i-wish-i-lived-in-the-60s-because-i-m-a-big-fan-of-the-beatles/) [Celine Buckens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celine-buckens/) ## More by Barbra Streisand > [If a man wants to get it right, he's looked up to and respected. If a woman wants to get it right, she's difficult…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbra-streisand/if-a-man-wants-to-get-it-right-he-s-looked-up-to-and-respected-if-a/) [Barbra Streisand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbra-streisand/) > [Around people I don't know, I'm totally at a loss.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbra-streisand/around-people-i-don-t-know-i-m-totally-at-a-loss/) [Barbra Streisand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbra-streisand/) > [They're called 'angels' because they're in heaven until the reviews come out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbra-streisand/they-re-called-angels-because-they-re-in-heaven-until-the-reviews/) [Barbra Streisand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbra-streisand/) > [I think, is wonderful about growing older, is appreciation for the miracle of existence, of life. I thank God every day. I also do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbra-streisand/i-think-is-wonderful-about-growing-older-is-appreciation-for-the/) [Barbra Streisand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbra-streisand/) > [I don't know why it is that we need to denigrate, to knock down. It's so sick.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbra-streisand/i-don-t-know-why-it-is-that-we-need-to-denigrate-to-knock-down-it-s/) [Barbra Streisand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbra-streisand/) > [For me, one of the most disturbing elements of the right wing's political agenda is that it believes that there is one correct spiritual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbra-streisand/for-me-one-of-the-most-disturbing-elements-of-the-right-wing-s/) [Barbra Streisand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbra-streisand/) > [I just don't like the idea of her singing my songs. Who the hell does she thinks she is? 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I like to do other things, too, like decorate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbra-streisand/i-like-to-stay-home-a-lot-i-like-to-do-other-things-too-like-decorate/) [Barbra Streisand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbra-streisand/) > [The audience is the barometer of the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbra-streisand/the-audience-is-the-barometer-of-the-truth/) [Barbra Streisand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbra-streisand/) > [I believe in love and lust and sex and romance. I don't want everything to add up to some perfect equation. I want mess…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbra-streisand/i-believe-in-love-and-lust-and-sex-and-romance-i-don-t-want/) [Barbra Streisand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbra-streisand/) > [progress, whatever your definition of it, is not inevitable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbra-streisand/progress-whatever-your-definition-of-it-is-not-inevitable/) [Barbra Streisand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbra-streisand/) [Explore all 177 Barbra Streisand quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbra-streisand/) ## More Discrimination quotes > [There could be no more powerful argument against mixing religion and government than the success of independent African American churches in placing racial segregation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jacoby/there-could-be-no-more-powerful-argument-against-mixing-religion-and/) [Susan Jacoby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jacoby/) > [Jesus never said a word about homosexuality. In all of his teachings about multiple things - he never said that gay people should be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/jesus-never-said-a-word-about-homosexuality-in-all-of-his-teachings/) [Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/) > [In a general way, the literature of the twentieth century is essentially psychological; and psychology consists of describing states of the soul by displaying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-weil/in-a-general-way-the-literature-of-the-twentieth-century-is/) [Simone Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-weil/) > [“Mental illness is not something you misunderstand in this era. Get educated because bias is no different than racism.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/mental-illness-is-not-something-you-misunderstand-in-this-era-get/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) > [I believe that those who promote discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or any other grounds are gravely mistaken about the values that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-clinton/i-believe-that-those-who-promote-discrimination-on-the-basis-of/) [Bill Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-clinton/) > [Each Act of Parliament intended to address harassment and discrimination has faced objections on the basis of 'you'll never be able to prove...' and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-field/each-act-of-parliament-intended-to-address-harassment-and/) [Tim Field](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-field/) > [Nothing better protects a human being against the stupidity of prejudice, racism, religious or political sectarianism, and exclusivist nationalism than this truth that invariably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-vargas-llosa/nothing-better-protects-a-human-being-against-the-stupidity-of/) [Mario Vargas Llosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-vargas-llosa/) > [It is obvious that discrimination exists. Women do not have the opportunities that men do. And women that do not conform to the system,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-chisholm/it-is-obvious-that-discrimination-exists-women-do-not-have-the/) [Shirley Chisholm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-chisholm/) > [The fact is that in too many parts of our country, we still have discrimination. And affirmative action is not just something that applies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/the-fact-is-that-in-too-many-parts-of-our-country-we-still-have/) [John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/) > [Judging someone by the color of their skin is ignorant. Their skin complexion has nothing to do with their morals, beliefs or intelligence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/judging-someone-by-the-color-of-their-skin-is-ignorant-their-skin/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We try to take a very strong stance against discrimination and hatred.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-blecharczyk/we-try-to-take-a-very-strong-stance-against-discrimination-and-hatred/) [Nathan Blecharczyk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-blecharczyk/) > [I resolutely believe that respect for diversity is a fundamental pillar in the eradication of racism, xenophobia and intolerance. There is no excuse for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rigoberta-menchu/i-resolutely-believe-that-respect-for-diversity-is-a-fundamental/) [Rigoberta Menchu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rigoberta-menchu/) > [End discrimination and hate everyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/candy/end-discrimination-and-hate-everyone/) [Candy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/candy/) > [This bill would allow an employee to bring a claim against an employer decades after the alleged initial act of discrimination occurred. Trial lawyers,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buck-mckeon/this-bill-would-allow-an-employee-to-bring-a-claim-against-an/) Buck McKeon > [Legal discrimination between the sexes is, in almost every instance, founded on outmoded views of society and the pre-scientific beliefs about psychology and physiology.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-chisholm/legal-discrimination-between-the-sexes-is-in-almost-every-instance/) [Shirley Chisholm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-chisholm/) [Browse all 1,366 Discrimination quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discrimination/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "How I wish we lived in a time when laws were not necessary to safeguard us from discrimination.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Barbra Streisand" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbra-streisand/how-i-wish-we-lived-in-a-time-when-laws-were-not-necessary-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Discrimination" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbra-streisand/how-i-wish-we-lived-in-a-time-when-laws-were-not-necessary-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a1f/barbra-streisand-2243_discrimination_how-i-wish-we-lived-in-a-time-when-laws_2324499.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a1f/barbra-streisand-2243_discrimination_how-i-wish-we-lived-in-a-time-when-laws_2324499.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a1f/barbra-streisand-2243_discrimination_how-i-wish-we-lived-in-a-time-when-laws_2324499.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“How I wish we lived in a time when laws were not necessary to safeguard us from discrimination.” — Barbra Streisand", "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": "Barbra Streisand", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbra-streisand/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "How I wish we lived in...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbra-streisand/how-i-wish-we-lived-in-a-time-when-laws-were-not-necessary-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbra-streisand/how-i-wish-we-lived-in-a-time-when-laws-were-not-necessary-to/#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 } } ] } ```