--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The code of poor laws has at length grown…" description: "\"The code of poor laws has at length grown up into a tree, which, like the fabulous Upas, overshadows and poisons the land; unwholesome expedients were ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/872/charles-caleb-colton-270_bitter_the-code-of-poor-laws-has-at-length-grow_724916.png" --- # The code of poor laws has at length grown up into a tree… ![“The code of poor laws has at length grown up into a tree, which, like the fabulous Upas, overshadows and poisons the land; unwholesome expedients were the bud, dilemmas and depravities have been the blossom, and danger and despair are the bitter fruit.” quote by Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/872/charles-caleb-colton-270_bitter_the-code-of-poor-laws-has-at-length-grow_724916.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/872/charles-caleb-colton-270_bitter_the-code-of-poor-laws-has-at-length-grow_724916.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/872/charles-caleb-colton-270_bitter_the-code-of-poor-laws-has-at-length-grow_724916.png) > “The code of poor laws has at length grown up into a tree, which, like the fabulous Upas, overshadows and poisons the land; unwholesome expedients were the bud, dilemmas and depravities have been the blossom, and danger and despair are the bitter fruit.” [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Legal systems can become corrupt and oppressive, producing harmful outcomes that affect society. **In simple terms:** Laws can become corrupt. Key Takeaway Advocate for transparent, just laws. Themes justice law corruption Mood critical concerned Type philosophical advice When to use this quote - policy reform - activism - community organizing - education Key Concepts legal theory ethics Questions to Reflect On - What reforms could reduce legal corruption? - How can citizens hold institutions accountable? A Different Perspective Changing entrenched systems is difficult and slow. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bitter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bitter/) [Bitter Fruit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bitter-fruit-1287005/) [Bud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bud/) [Code](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/code/) [Danger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/danger/) [Depravities Blossom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/depravities-blossom-5689811/) [Depravity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/depravity/) [Despair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/despair/) [Dilemma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dilemma/) [Fabulous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fabulous/) [Fruit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fruit/) [Has beens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/has-beens/) [Land](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/land/) [Land Unwholesome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/land-unwholesome-5689812/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Length](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/length/) [Overshadows Poisons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/overshadows-poisons-5689813/) [Poison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poison/) [Poor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poor/) [Poverty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poverty/) [Programming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/programming/) [Tree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tree/) [Upas Overshadows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/upas-overshadows-5689810/) ## Related quotes > [Better be jocund with the fruitful Grape Than sadden after none, or bitter, Fruit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-khayy-m/better-be-jocund-with-the-fruitful-grape-than-sadden-after-none-or/) [Omar Khayyam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-khayy-m/) > [“Waste not your Hour, nor in the vain pursuit Of This and That endeavor and dispute; Better be merry with the fruitful Grape Than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-khayy-m/waste-not-your-hour-nor-in-the-vain-pursuit-of-this-and-that-endeavor/) [Omar Khayyam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-khayy-m/) > [The roots of education are bitter, but the fruit is sweet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/the-roots-of-education-are-bitter-but-the-fruit-is-sweet/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [“Even the most bitter fruit has sugar in it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-a-o-neal/even-the-most-bitter-fruit-has-sugar-in-it/) [Terry A O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-a-o-neal/) > [The roots of knowledge are bitter, but its fruit are sweet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/the-roots-of-knowledge-are-bitter-but-its-fruit-are-sweet/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [“Roland was far from the relentless creature he would eventually become, but the seeds of that relentlessness were there—small, stony things that would, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/roland-was-far-from-the-relentless-creature-he-would-eventually/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [Patience is a tree whose root is bitter, but its fruit is very sweet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-morgan/patience-is-a-tree-whose-root-is-bitter-but-its-fruit-is-very-sweet/) [Harriet Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-morgan/) > [“A man may beat down the bitter fruit from an evil tree until he is weary; while the root abides in strength and vigour,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-owen/a-man-may-beat-down-the-bitter-fruit-from-an-evil-tree-until-he-is/) [John Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-owen/) > [“Even the most bitter fruit may contain something sweet at it's core.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cameron-dokey/even-the-most-bitter-fruit-may-contain-something-sweet-at-it-s-core/) [Cameron Dokey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cameron-dokey/) > [“Alike to the heart When left without attention, Vines bear bitter fruit.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-j-pommarane/alike-to-the-heart-when-left-without-attention-vines-bear-bitter-fruit/) [R.J. Pommarane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-j-pommarane/) > [ “When you understand that \[in reality\] the bitter fruit \[unfavourable result\] is sweet and the sweet fruit \[favourable result\] is bitter, then you will… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/when-you-understand-that-in-reality-the-bitter-fruit-unfavourable/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [The grapevine should be named after a more bitter fruit. It should be called the grapefruit tree.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chrystos/the-grapevine-should-be-named-after-a-more-bitter-fruit-it-should-be/) [Chrystos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chrystos/) > [A forced faithfulness is a bitter fruit for all concerned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/a-forced-faithfulness-is-a-bitter-fruit-for-all-concerned/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [“Love has an extreme capacity to offer everything we need but not without extreme pain. Anyone who tastes the sweet fruit -joy of love,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-aswini/love-has-an-extreme-capacity-to-offer-everything-we-need-but-not/) [D. Aswini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-aswini/) > [I am a thing not new, I am as old As human nature. I am that which lurks, Ready to spring whenever a bar…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-weldon-johnson/i-am-a-thing-not-new-i-am-as-old-as-human-nature-i-am-that-which/) [James Weldon Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-weldon-johnson/) ## More by Charles Caleb Colton > [Villainy that is vigilant will be an overmatch for virtue, if she slumber at her post.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/villainy-that-is-vigilant-will-be-an-overmatch-for-virtue-if-she/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [A beautiful woman, if poor, should use double circumspection; for her beauty will tempt others, her poverty herself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/a-beautiful-woman-if-poor-should-use-double-circumspection-for-her/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [Were the life of man prolonged, he would become such a proficient in villainy, that it would become necessary again to drown or to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/were-the-life-of-man-prolonged-he-would-become-such-a-proficient-in/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [To dare to live alone is the rarest courage; since there are many who had rather meet their bitterest enemy in the field, than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/to-dare-to-live-alone-is-the-rarest-courage-since-there-are-many-who/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [It is doubtful whether mankind are most indebted to those who like Bacon and Butler dig the gold from the mine of literature, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/it-is-doubtful-whether-mankind-are-most-indebted-to-those-who-like/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [Be very slow to believe that you are wiser than all others; it is a fatal but common error. Where one has been saved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/be-very-slow-to-believe-that-you-are-wiser-than-all-others-it-is-a/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [None are so fond of secrets as those who do not mean to keep them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/none-are-so-fond-of-secrets-as-those-who-do-not-mean-to-keep-them/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [Mental pleasures never cloy; unlike those of the body, they are increased by reputation, approved by reflection, and strengthened by enjoyment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/mental-pleasures-never-cloy-unlike-those-of-the-body-they-are/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [Ignorance lies at the bottom of all human knowledge, and the deeper we penetrate, the nearer we arrive unto it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/ignorance-lies-at-the-bottom-of-all-human-knowledge-and-the-deeper-we/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [Heroism, self-denial, and magnanimity, in all instances where they do not spring from a principle of religion, are but splendid altars on which we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/heroism-self-denial-and-magnanimity-in-all-instances-where-they-do/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [We ought not to be over-anxious to encourage innovation in cases of doubtful improvement, for an old system must ever have two advantages over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/we-ought-not-to-be-over-anxious-to-encourage-innovation-in-cases-of/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [We owe almost all our knowledge not to those who have agreed, but to those who have differed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/we-owe-almost-all-our-knowledge-not-to-those-who-have-agreed-but-to/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [Metaphysicians have been learning their lessons for the last four thousand years, and it is high time that they should now begin to teach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/metaphysicians-have-been-learning-their-lessons-for-the-last-four/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [Faith and works are necessary to our spiritual life as Christians, as soul and body are to our natural life as men; for faith…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/faith-and-works-are-necessary-to-our-spiritual-life-as-christians-as/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [When all moves equally (says Pascal), nothing seems to move as in a vessel under sail; and when all run by common consent into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/when-all-moves-equally-says-pascal-nothing-seems-to-move-as-in-a/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) [Explore all 778 Charles Caleb Colton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) ## More Bitter quotes > [The cooler days have brought a wistful mood upon him. The smell of coalsmoke in the air at night. Old times, dead years. For…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cormac-mccarthy/the-cooler-days-have-brought-a-wistful-mood-upon-him-the-smell-of/) [Cormac McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cormac-mccarthy/) > [From the bitter cold winter at Valley Forge, to the mountains of Afghanistan and the deserts of Iraq, our soldiers have courageously answered when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/solomon-ortiz/from-the-bitter-cold-winter-at-valley-forge-to-the-mountains-of/) [Solomon Ortiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/solomon-ortiz/) > [Don't be bitter. Everybody suffers. If you can accept your suffering then you will understand other people better. Be grateful for pain. Love life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/don-t-be-bitter-everybody-suffers-if-you-can-accept-your-suffering/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [Troy was a sweet, good man. We just were never destined to be married. We just didn't have the same values. But I'm not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-pleshette/troy-was-a-sweet-good-man-we-just-were-never-destined-to-be-married/) [Suzanne Pleshette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-pleshette/) > [You should be angry. You must not be bitter. Bitterness is like cancer. It eats upon the host. It doesn't do anything to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/you-should-be-angry-you-must-not-be-bitter-bitterness-is-like-cancer/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [Holy shadows of the dead, I'm not to blame for your cruel and bitter fate, but the accursed rivalry which brought sister nations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-the-great/holy-shadows-of-the-dead-i-m-not-to-blame-for-your-cruel-and-bitter/) [Alexander the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-the-great/) > [One may have been a fool, but there's no foolishness like being bitter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-norris/one-may-have-been-a-fool-but-there-s-no-foolishness-like-being-bitter/) [Kathleen Norris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-norris/) > [“I doubt taking in a sullen, bitter, teenage girl with more issues than National Geographic is at the center of the vision board for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katja-millay/i-doubt-taking-in-a-sullen-bitter-teenage-girl-with-more-issues-than/) [Katja Millay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katja-millay/) > [Tireless passion, fierce jealousy, longing to possess and crush-these alone were left of all his love for Rosalind; these remained to him as payment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/tireless-passion-fierce-jealousy-longing-to-possess-and-crush-these/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [Life is too bitter already, without territories and wars and noble feuds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-too-bitter-already-without-territories-and-wars-and-noble/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [With every interview you feel like you lose a piece of yourself, and with every bad review you become just that little bit more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-march/with-every-interview-you-feel-like-you-lose-a-piece-of-yourself-and/) [Jane March](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-march/) > [“Without the bitter, the sweet ain’t as sweet.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/without-the-bitter-the-sweet-ain-t-as-sweet/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I refuse to be one of those artists who, 10 years from now, they're bitter about the rise and the fall of their career.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-bryan/i-refuse-to-be-one-of-those-artists-who-10-years-from-now-they-re/) [Luke Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-bryan/) > [“In these days in which we live, when existence has become a thing of infinite complexity and fate, if it slips us a bit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-g-wodehouse/in-these-days-in-which-we-live-when-existence-has-become-a-thing-of/) [P.G. Wodehouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-g-wodehouse/) > [If a sudden jar can cause me to speak an impatient, unloving word, then I know nothing of Calvary love. For a cup brimful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-carmichael/if-a-sudden-jar-can-cause-me-to-speak-an-impatient-unloving-word-then/) [Amy Carmichael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-carmichael/) [Browse all 1,923 Bitter quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bitter/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The code of poor laws has at length grown up into a tree, which, like the fabulous Upas, overshadows and poisons the land; unwholesome expedients were the bud, dilemmas and depravities have been the blossom, and danger and despair are the bitter fruit.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Charles Caleb Colton" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/the-code-of-poor-laws-has-at-length-grown-up-into-a-tree-which-like/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bitter" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/the-code-of-poor-laws-has-at-length-grown-up-into-a-tree-which-like/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/872/charles-caleb-colton-270_bitter_the-code-of-poor-laws-has-at-length-grow_724916.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/872/charles-caleb-colton-270_bitter_the-code-of-poor-laws-has-at-length-grow_724916.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/872/charles-caleb-colton-270_bitter_the-code-of-poor-laws-has-at-length-grow_724916.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The code of poor laws has at length grown up into a tree, which, like the fabulous Upas, overshadows and…” — Charles Caleb Colton", "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": "Charles Caleb Colton", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The code of poor laws has...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/the-code-of-poor-laws-has-at-length-grown-up-into-a-tree-which-like/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/the-code-of-poor-laws-has-at-length-grown-up-into-a-tree-which-like/#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 } } ] } ```