--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When men are pure, laws are useless; when…" description: "\"When men are pure, laws are useless; when men are corrupt, laws are broken.\" — Benjamin Disraeli" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b39/benjamin-disraeli-390_broken_when-men-are-pure-laws-are-useless-when_2200397.png" --- # When men are pure, laws are useless; when men are corrupt… ![“When men are pure, laws are useless; when men are corrupt, laws are broken.” quote by Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b39/benjamin-disraeli-390_broken_when-men-are-pure-laws-are-useless-when_2200397.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b39/benjamin-disraeli-390_broken_when-men-are-pure-laws-are-useless-when_2200397.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b39/benjamin-disraeli-390_broken_when-men-are-pure-laws-are-useless-when_2200397.png) > “When men are pure, laws are useless; when men are corrupt, laws are broken.” [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. If people are morally pure, laws become unnecessary; if they are corrupt, laws are broken. **In simple terms:** Pure people need no laws; corrupt people break them. Key Takeaway Cultivate integrity, not just rules. Themes morality law corruption Mood critical thoughtful Type political philosophical When to use this quote - government - justice - education - leadership Key Concepts ethical theory political philosophy Questions to Reflect On - What values should guide a just society? - Can law ever fully prevent wrongdoing? A Different Perspective Laws alone cannot fix immoral behavior. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Broken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/broken/) [Corrupt Laws](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corrupt-laws-3144464/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Laws](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laws/) [Laws Broken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laws-broken-1731944/) [Laws Useless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laws-useless-2548527/) [Lawyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lawyer/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Men Corrupt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men-corrupt-532919/) [Pure Laws](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pure-laws-4830449/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) [Useless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/useless/) ## Related quotes > [When the state is most corrupt, then the laws are most multiplied.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tacitus/when-the-state-is-most-corrupt-then-the-laws-are-most-multiplied/) [Tacitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tacitus/) > [Probably all laws are useless; for good men do not need laws at all, and bad men are made no better by them](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demonax-the-cynic/probably-all-laws-are-useless-for-good-men-do-not-need-laws-at-all/) [Demonax The Cynic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demonax-the-cynic/) > [When the State is corrupt, then the laws are most multiplied.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tacitus/when-the-state-is-corrupt-then-the-laws-are-most-multiplied/) [Tacitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tacitus/) > [Laws were made to be broken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-north/laws-were-made-to-be-broken/) [Christopher North](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-north/) > [“Laws ... would be useless on the moon.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-fowler/laws-would-be-useless-on-the-moon/) [George Fowler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-fowler/) > [There is a bizarre notion according to which it is claimed that because men are corrupt, it is necessary to give certain of them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-constant/there-is-a-bizarre-notion-according-to-which-it-is-claimed-that/) [Benjamin Constant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-constant/) > [Legislatures have no right to set up an inquisition and examine into the private opinions of men. Test-laws are useless and ineffectual, unjust and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-ellsworth/legislatures-have-no-right-to-set-up-an-inquisition-and-examine-into/) [Oliver Ellsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-ellsworth/) > [Various are the pleas and arguments which men of corrupt minds frequently urge against yielding obedience to the just and holy commands of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-whitefield/various-are-the-pleas-and-arguments-which-men-of-corrupt-minds/) [George Whitefield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-whitefield/) > [“The cities make ferocious men because they may corrupt man. The mountain, the sea, the forest, make savage men; they development fierce side, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/the-cities-make-ferocious-men-because-they-may-corrupt-man-the/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [“Literature decays only as men become more and more corrupt.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/literature-decays-only-as-men-become-more-and-more-corrupt/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Probably all laws are useless; for good men do not want laws at all, and bad men are made no better by them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demonax/probably-all-laws-are-useless-for-good-men-do-not-want-laws-at-all/) [Demonax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demonax/) > [LAWS ARE MADE TO BE BROKEN BUT PUNISHMENT IS THE TOOL USE TO AMEND A BROKEN LAW.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornelius-ibiolorundun/laws-are-made-to-be-broken-but-punishment-is-the-tool-use-to-amend-a/) [CORNELIUS IBIOLORUNDUN](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornelius-ibiolorundun/) > [“As for peace, it was never free and laws were made to be broken. Peacemaker or lawbreaker, someone, somewhere always paid the price no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-mckevitt/as-for-peace-it-was-never-free-and-laws-were-made-to-be-broken/) [Virginia McKevitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-mckevitt/) > [We may avoid the laws of man, but there are greater laws that can't be broken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-nightingale/we-may-avoid-the-laws-of-man-but-there-are-greater-laws-that-can-t-be/) [Earl Nightingale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-nightingale/) > [We must reject the idea that every time a laws broken, society is guilty rather than the lawbreaker. It is time to restore the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/we-must-reject-the-idea-that-every-time-a-laws-broken-society-is/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) ## More by Benjamin Disraeli > [Next to the assumption of power was the responsibility of relinquishing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/next-to-the-assumption-of-power-was-the-responsibility-of/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [We make our fortunes and we call them fate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/we-make-our-fortunes-and-we-call-them-fate/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [The European talks of progress because by the aid of a few scientific discoveries he has established a society which has mistaken comfort for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/the-european-talks-of-progress-because-by-the-aid-of-a-few-scientific/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [It shows you exactly how a star is formed; nothing else can be so pretty! A cluster of vapor, the cream of the milky…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/it-shows-you-exactly-how-a-star-is-formed-nothing-else-can-be-so/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [Terror has its inspiration, as well as competition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/terror-has-its-inspiration-as-well-as-competition/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [I am prepared for the worst, but hope for the best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/i-am-prepared-for-the-worst-but-hope-for-the-best/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [Religion should be the rule of life, not a casual incident in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/religion-should-be-the-rule-of-life-not-a-casual-incident-in-it/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [Frank and explicit - that is the right line to take when you wish to conceal your own mind and confuse the minds of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/frank-and-explicit-that-is-the-right-line-to-take-when-you-wish-to/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [I was told that the privileged and the people formed two nations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/i-was-told-that-the-privileged-and-the-people-formed-two-nations/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [The praise of a fool is incense to the wisest of us . . .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/the-praise-of-a-fool-is-incense-to-the-wisest-of-us/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [Expediency is a law of nature. The camel is a wonderful animal, but the desert made the camel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/expediency-is-a-law-of-nature-the-camel-is-a-wonderful-animal-but-the/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [Is man an ape or an angel? Now I am on the side of the angels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/is-man-an-ape-or-an-angel-now-i-am-on-the-side-of-the-angels/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [Real politics are the possession and distribution of power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/real-politics-are-the-possession-and-distribution-of-power/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [Desperation is sometimes as powerful an inspirer as genius.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/desperation-is-sometimes-as-powerful-an-inspirer-as-genius/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [Why, I say, that to tax the community for the advantage of a class is not protection; it is plunder, and I entirely disclaim…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/why-i-say-that-to-tax-the-community-for-the-advantage-of-a-class-is/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) [Explore all 603 Benjamin Disraeli quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) ## More Broken quotes > [Broken by hardships, disappointments and tragedy, people can become discouraged and cynical. But lives can also be mended. Put back together well, they won't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-goodier/broken-by-hardships-disappointments-and-tragedy-people-can-become/) [Steve Goodier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-goodier/) > [You don't want to fix things that aren't broken, so that kind of stops you from make changes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-weidman/you-don-t-want-to-fix-things-that-aren-t-broken-so-that-kind-of-stops/) [Chris Weidman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-weidman/) > [How else but through a broken heart may Lord Christ enter in?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/how-else-but-through-a-broken-heart-may-lord-christ-enter-in/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [The worst advice? 'Don't listen to the critics.' I think that you really ought to listen to the critics, because sometimes they're telling you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/the-worst-advice-don-t-listen-to-the-critics-i-think-that-you-really/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [Marriage is a desperate thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-selden/marriage-is-a-desperate-thing/) [John Selden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-selden/) > [The child who ran weeping to you with a cut finger is now brought home, smiling gamely, with a broken collarbone and incredible contusions-…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pam-brown/the-child-who-ran-weeping-to-you-with-a-cut-finger-is-now-brought/) [Pam Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pam-brown/) > [There is no pain like the first time you get your heart broken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ne-yo/there-is-no-pain-like-the-first-time-you-get-your-heart-broken/) [Ne-Yo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ne-yo/) > [Broken china lasts longer than unbroken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-renard/broken-china-lasts-longer-than-unbroken/) [Jules Renard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-renard/) > [My life was incoherent to me. I felt it quivering, spitting out broken teeth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-fox/my-life-was-incoherent-to-me-i-felt-it-quivering-spitting-out-broken/) [Paula Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-fox/) > [Don't fix what's not broken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-atkins/don-t-fix-what-s-not-broken/) [Robert Atkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-atkins/) > [“ving self and others is an every second of every day of every week, of every month, of every year gift that should not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanjo-jendayi/ving-self-and-others-is-an-every-second-of-every-day-of-every-week-of/) [Sanjo Jendayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanjo-jendayi/) > [Your head's like mine, like all our heads; big enough to contain every god and devil there ever was. Big enough to hold the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-morrison/your-head-s-like-mine-like-all-our-heads-big-enough-to-contain-every/) [Grant Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-morrison/) > [Rome, believe me, my friend, is like its own Monte Testaceo, Merelya marvellous mass of broken and castaway wine-pots.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-hugh-clough/rome-believe-me-my-friend-is-like-its-own-monte-testaceo-merelya/) [Arthur Hugh Clough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-hugh-clough/) > [Its funny how someone breaks your heart but you still love them with all those broken pieces..!!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/its-funny-how-someone-breaks-your-heart-but-you-still-love-them-with/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When we don't get what we want, there's a legitimate grieving, and then the spiritual journey truly begins, because not getting what we want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-nepo/when-we-don-t-get-what-we-want-there-s-a-legitimate-grieving-and-then/) [Mark Nepo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-nepo/) [Browse all 5,851 Broken quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/broken/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When men are pure, laws are useless; when men are corrupt, laws are broken.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Benjamin Disraeli" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/when-men-are-pure-laws-are-useless-when-men-are-corrupt-laws-are/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Broken" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/when-men-are-pure-laws-are-useless-when-men-are-corrupt-laws-are/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b39/benjamin-disraeli-390_broken_when-men-are-pure-laws-are-useless-when_2200397.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b39/benjamin-disraeli-390_broken_when-men-are-pure-laws-are-useless-when_2200397.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b39/benjamin-disraeli-390_broken_when-men-are-pure-laws-are-useless-when_2200397.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When men are pure, laws are useless; when men are corrupt, laws are broken.” — Benjamin Disraeli", "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": "Benjamin Disraeli", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When men are pure, laws are...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/when-men-are-pure-laws-are-useless-when-men-are-corrupt-laws-are/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/when-men-are-pure-laws-are-useless-when-men-are-corrupt-laws-are/#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 } } ] } ```