--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Those who live not by law would be…" description: "\"Those who live not by law would be justified by Custom: but, as common practice is the worst teacher that ever was, so the truth and goodness of things..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e22/benjamin-whichcote-7885_acceptance_those-who-live-not-by-law-would-be-justi_2808342.jpg" --- # Those who live not by law would be justified by Custom… ![“Those who live not by law would be justified by Custom: but, as common practice is the worst teacher that ever was, so the truth and goodness of things is not to be estimated by the entertainment and acceptance they find in the world.” quote by Benjamin Whichcote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e22/benjamin-whichcote-7885_acceptance_those-who-live-not-by-law-would-be-justi_2808342.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e22/benjamin-whichcote-7885_acceptance_those-who-live-not-by-law-would-be-justi_2808342.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e22/benjamin-whichcote-7885_acceptance_those-who-live-not-by-law-would-be-justi_2808342.jpg) > “Those who live not by law would be justified by Custom: but, as common practice is the worst teacher that ever was, so the truth and goodness of things is not to be estimated by the entertainment and acceptance they find in the world.” [Benjamin Whichcote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-whichcote/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Custom and common practice can mislead moral judgment; true goodness should not be judged by popular acceptance. **In simple terms:** Goodness isn’t measured by popularity. Key Takeaway Question societal norms when assessing morality. Themes morality custom truth society judgment Mood critical reflective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - evaluating laws - challenging traditions - educational debates - personal ethics - media analysis Key Concepts ethical relativism social conformity critical thinking Questions to Reflect On - What customs conflict with your values? - How do you discern truth beyond popularity? A Different Perspective Customs can be deeply entrenched and hard to change. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acceptance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acceptance/) [Common](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/common/) [Customs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/customs/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Entertainment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/entertainment/) [Goodness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goodness/) [Justified](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justified/) [Justified Custom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justified-custom-3502439/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Law Justified](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law-justified-718144/) [Practice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/practice/) [Practice Worst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/practice-worst-3502440/) [Teacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teacher/) [Teacher Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teacher-truth-1518153/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) [Worst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worst/) [Worst Teacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worst-teacher-904769/) [Would be](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/would-be/) ## Related quotes > [“Intelligence work has one moral law - it is justified by results.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-le-carre/intelligence-work-has-one-moral-law-it-is-justified-by-results/) [John le Carré](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-le-carre/) > [Practice as if you're the worst, act as if you're the best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/practice-as-if-you-re-the-worst-act-as-if-you-re-the-best/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A teacher cannot give you the truth The truth is already in you You only need to open yourself – body, mind and heart-…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-teacher-cannot-give-you-the-truth-the-truth-is-already-in-you-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The Holy Spirit is the teacher of the truth of God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/the-holy-spirit-is-the-teacher-of-the-truth-of-god/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [I wish to become a teacher of the Truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/i-wish-to-become-a-teacher-of-the-truth/) [Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) > [“The Teacher of the Truth trains in righteousness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/the-teacher-of-the-truth-trains-in-righteousness/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“In grammar school he’d had an old priest as his religion teacher. “Truth is light,” the priest had said one day. Montalbano, never very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-camilleri/in-grammar-school-he-d-had-an-old-priest-as-his-religion-teacher/) [Andrea Camilleri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-camilleri/) > [“We must never confuse the teacher with the truth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lama-surya-das/we-must-never-confuse-the-teacher-with-the-truth/) [Lama Surya Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lama-surya-das/) > [“Even though I can’t stand the guy, at that moment, I actually relate to him a little bit. 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But the right wing has never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-o-donnell/the-worst-teacher-in-america-could-never-do-as-much-damage-as-the/) [Lawrence O'Donnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-o-donnell/) > [Success is the worst teacher.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/success-is-the-worst-teacher/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Experience is the worst teacher, but you learn from it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/experience-is-the-worst-teacher-but-you-learn-from-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Experience is the worst teacher; it gives the test before presenting the lesson.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vern-law/experience-is-the-worst-teacher-it-gives-the-test-before-presenting/) [Vern Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vern-law/) > [I was the worst teacher you have ever imagined - not that we did not have fun. We had a ton of fun. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-moore/i-was-the-worst-teacher-you-have-ever-imagined-not-that-we-did-not/) [Beth Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-moore/) ## More by Benjamin Whichcote > [Whoever despiseth shame, despiseth sin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-whichcote/whoever-despiseth-shame-despiseth-sin/) [Benjamin Whichcote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-whichcote/) > [Truth is not only a man's ornament but his instrument; it is the great man's glory, and the poor man's stock: a man's truth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-whichcote/truth-is-not-only-a-man-s-ornament-but-his-instrument-it-is-the-great/) [Benjamin Whichcote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-whichcote/) > [He that repents is angry with himself; I need not be angry with him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-whichcote/he-that-repents-is-angry-with-himself-i-need-not-be-angry-with-him/) [Benjamin Whichcote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-whichcote/) > [None can do a man so much harm as he doeth himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-whichcote/none-can-do-a-man-so-much-harm-as-he-doeth-himself/) [Benjamin Whichcote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-whichcote/) > [Let not a man's self be to him all in all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-whichcote/let-not-a-man-s-self-be-to-him-all-in-all/) [Benjamin Whichcote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-whichcote/) > [Take away the self-conceited, and there will be elbowroom in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-whichcote/take-away-the-self-conceited-and-there-will-be-elbowroom-in-the-world/) [Benjamin Whichcote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-whichcote/) > [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/) > [Christ is God clothed with human nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-whichcote/christ-is-god-clothed-with-human-nature/) [Benjamin Whichcote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-whichcote/) > [The sense of repentance is better assurance of pardon than the testimony of an angel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-whichcote/the-sense-of-repentance-is-better-assurance-of-pardon-than-the/) [Benjamin Whichcote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-whichcote/) > [We are made for one another, and each is to be a supply to his neighbor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-whichcote/we-are-made-for-one-another-and-each-is-to-be-a-supply-to-his-neighbor/) [Benjamin Whichcote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-whichcote/) > [A benefactor is a representative of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-whichcote/a-benefactor-is-a-representative-of-god/) [Benjamin Whichcote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-whichcote/) > [He that would have the perfection of pleasure must be moderate in the use of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-whichcote/he-that-would-have-the-perfection-of-pleasure-must-be-moderate-in-the/) [Benjamin Whichcote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-whichcote/) > [He that useth his reason doth acknowledge God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-whichcote/he-that-useth-his-reason-doth-acknowledge-god/) [Benjamin Whichcote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-whichcote/) > [None of us was born knowing or wise; but men become wise by consideration, observation, experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-whichcote/none-of-us-was-born-knowing-or-wise-but-men-become-wise-by/) [Benjamin Whichcote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-whichcote/) > [None are so empty as those who are full of themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-whichcote/none-are-so-empty-as-those-who-are-full-of-themselves/) [Benjamin Whichcote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-whichcote/) [Explore all 86 Benjamin Whichcote quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-whichcote/) ## More Acceptance quotes > [We only enter into the full life if our faith gives thanks. Because how else do we accept His free gift of salvation if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/we-only-enter-into-the-full-life-if-our-faith-gives-thanks-because/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [You dont choose your life; it chooses you. 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It is liking seeing these pair of shoes at the retail store…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nomthandazo-tsembeni/loving-someone-who-does-not-love-you-back-hurts-alot-i-know-it-is/) [Nomthandazo Tsembeni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nomthandazo-tsembeni/) > [Take responsibily for your past, the bad memories of poor decisions you took were your choices once, and you liked them for the moment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aruho-marvin/take-responsibily-for-your-past-the-bad-memories-of-poor-decisions/) [Aruho Marvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aruho-marvin/) > [Let us learn to accept and appreciate things now, and we'll find more happiness in every moment we live. Happiness comes when we stop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glen-rambharack/let-us-learn-to-accept-and-appreciate-things-now-and-we-ll-find-more/) [Glen Rambharack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glen-rambharack/) > [“Love first; ask questions later.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-courtney/love-first-ask-questions-later/) [Jeremy Courtney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-courtney/) > [“There was beauty in chaos, she'd just never known it before.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-linsmeier/there-was-beauty-in-chaos-she-d-just-never-known-it-before/) [Amanda Linsmeier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-linsmeier/) > [Accepting the challenges in life makes it interesting and overcoming them makes it eloquent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/accepting-the-challenges-in-life-makes-it-interesting-and-overcoming/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Acceptance is the only thing you should teach. Be it Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Dalit, you must inculcate acceptance, not tolerance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamal-haasan/acceptance-is-the-only-thing-you-should-teach-be-it-christian-muslim/) [Kamal Haasan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamal-haasan/) > [There just seems to be more acceptance now of other kinds of British films, than the picture-postcard ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-roth/there-just-seems-to-be-more-acceptance-now-of-other-kinds-of-british/) [Tim Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-roth/) > [You should never hate anyone, even your worst enemies. Everyone has something good about them. 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