--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The laws would not prevent each man from…" description: "\"The laws would not prevent each man from living according to his inclination, unless individuals harmed each other; for envy creates the beginning of s..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e50/democritus-4814_envy_the-laws-would-not-prevent-each-man-from_2700627.png" --- # The laws would not prevent each man from living according… ![“The laws would not prevent each man from living according to his inclination, unless individuals harmed each other; for envy creates the beginning of strife.” quote by Democritus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e50/democritus-4814_envy_the-laws-would-not-prevent-each-man-from_2700627.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e50/democritus-4814_envy_the-laws-would-not-prevent-each-man-from_2700627.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e50/democritus-4814_envy_the-laws-would-not-prevent-each-man-from_2700627.png) > “The laws would not prevent each man from living according to his inclination, unless individuals harmed each other; for envy creates the beginning of strife.” [Democritus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/democritus/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Laws should only restrict actions that harm others; otherwise people can follow personal desires freely. **In simple terms:** Laws limit harm, not personal choice. Key Takeaway Respect others’ rights. Themes ethics personal liberty social order Mood thoughtful analytical Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - community living - conflict resolution - personal conduct Key Concepts non‑aggression principle human nature Questions to Reflect On - How to balance freedom with safety? - What defines “harm” in diverse societies? A Different Perspective Enforcing such minimal laws can be complex. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Beginning Strife](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beginning-strife-2730232/) [Envy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/envy/) [Envy Creates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/envy-creates-1527102/) [Harmed Envy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harmed-envy-2730231/) [Inclination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inclination/) [Individual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individual/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Laws Prevent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laws-prevent-696042/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Strife](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strife/) ## Related quotes > [Envy creates the beginning of strife.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/democritus/envy-creates-the-beginning-of-strife/) [Democritus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/democritus/) > [“LAW 46 Never Appear Too Perfect Appearing better than others is always dangerous, but most dangerous of all is to appear to have no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/law-46-never-appear-too-perfect-appearing-better-than-others-is/) [Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/) > [What sort of a brain-dead idiot does it take to actually believe that gun laws will prevent criminals from obtaining and carrying guns?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-boortz/what-sort-of-a-brain-dead-idiot-does-it-take-to-actually-believe-that/) [Neal Boortz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-boortz/) > [I don't understand why we have laws that prevent someone from walking a school campus and selling alcohol or drugs but somehow can't feed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-zimmern/i-don-t-understand-why-we-have-laws-that-prevent-someone-from-walking/) [Andrew Zimmern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-zimmern/) > [Resolved, That all laws which prevent women from occupying such a station in society as her conscience shall dictate, or which place her in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-cady-stanton/resolved-that-all-laws-which-prevent-women-from-occupying-such-a/) [Elizabeth Cady Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-cady-stanton/) > [The evangelical and religious community has much to contribute to our politics, yet our laws prevent you from speaking your minds from your own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/the-evangelical-and-religious-community-has-much-to-contribute-to-our/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [The prohibition amendment to the Constitution requires the Congress. and the President to provide adequate laws to prevent its violation. It is my duty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-coolidge/the-prohibition-amendment-to-the-constitution-requires-the-congress/) [Calvin Coolidge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-coolidge/) > [“Laws cannot make men good: that is the work of the Holy Spirit. But laws can prevent men from doing evil.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rousas-john-rushdoony/laws-cannot-make-men-good-that-is-the-work-of-the-holy-spirit-but/) [Rousas John Rushdoony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rousas-john-rushdoony/) > [uproar against a new idea, and laws to prevent anybody's accepting it, nearly always can be regarded as a signal that the new idea…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwen-bristow/uproar-against-a-new-idea-and-laws-to-prevent-anybody-s-accepting-it/) [Gwen Bristow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwen-bristow/) > [When the gun lobby fights gun-control legislation, its logic is clear: it does not like laws that prevent people from owning or using guns.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-cohen/when-the-gun-lobby-fights-gun-control-legislation-its-logic-is-clear/) [Adam Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-cohen/) > [Senators of both parties are working together on tough new laws to prevent anyone from buying guns for resale to criminals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/senators-of-both-parties-are-working-together-on-tough-new-laws-to/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [...we shall incur no slight injury, but rather great danger, if we rashly yield ourselves to the inclinations of men who aim at exciting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-of-damascus/we-shall-incur-no-slight-injury-but-rather-great-danger-if-we-rashly/) [John of Damascus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-of-damascus/) > [These differences, they say, are three: shape, arrangement, and position; because they hold that what is differs only in contour, inter-contact, inclination.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/democritus/these-differences-they-say-are-three-shape-arrangement-and-position/) [Democritus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/democritus/) > [We artists give daily thanks for the miracle of our planet and for the inclination and the capability to honour it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-genn/we-artists-give-daily-thanks-for-the-miracle-of-our-planet-and-for/) [Robert Genn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-genn/) > [Writing is something I took up rather than anything I had an inclination toward. I like acting -delivering someone else's message - but writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-martin/writing-is-something-i-took-up-rather-than-anything-i-had-an/) [Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/) ## More by Democritus > [If your desires are not great, a little will seem much to you; for small appetite makes poverty equivalent to wealth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/democritus/if-your-desires-are-not-great-a-little-will-seem-much-to-you-for/) [Democritus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/democritus/) > [Men will cease to be fools only when they cease to be men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/democritus/men-will-cease-to-be-fools-only-when-they-cease-to-be-men/) [Democritus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/democritus/) > [Nothing exists but atoms and the void.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/democritus/nothing-exists-but-atoms-and-the-void/) [Democritus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/democritus/) > [If thou suffer injustice, console thyself; the true unhappiness is in doing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/democritus/if-thou-suffer-injustice-console-thyself-the-true-unhappiness-is-in/) [Democritus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/democritus/) > [Men have made an idol of luck as an excuse for their own thoughtlessness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/democritus/men-have-made-an-idol-of-luck-as-an-excuse-for-their-own/) [Democritus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/democritus/) > [By desiring little, a poor man makes himself rich.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/democritus/by-desiring-little-a-poor-man-makes-himself-rich/) [Democritus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/democritus/) > [People sometimes rationalize their greed by saying that it is all for the good of their children but this is nothing but an excuse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/democritus/people-sometimes-rationalize-their-greed-by-saying-that-it-is-all-for/) [Democritus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/democritus/) > [Beautiful objects are wrought by study through effort, but ugly things are reaped automatically without toil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/democritus/beautiful-objects-are-wrought-by-study-through-effort-but-ugly-things/) [Democritus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/democritus/) > [Nature and education are somewhat similar. The latter transforms man, and in so doing creates a second nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/democritus/nature-and-education-are-somewhat-similar-the-latter-transforms-man/) [Democritus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/democritus/) > [The wise man’s home is the universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/democritus/the-wise-man-s-home-is-the-universe/) [Democritus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/democritus/) > [“Accept nothing pleasant unless it is beneficial.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/democritus/accept-nothing-pleasant-unless-it-is-beneficial/) [Democritus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/democritus/) > [Raising children is an uncertain thing; success is reached only after a life of battle and worry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/democritus/raising-children-is-an-uncertain-thing-success-is-reached-only-after/) [Democritus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/democritus/) > [Nature . . . has buried truth deep in the bottom of the sea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/democritus/nature-has-buried-truth-deep-in-the-bottom-of-the-sea/) [Democritus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/democritus/) > [More men have become great through practice than by nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/democritus/more-men-have-become-great-through-practice-than-by-nature/) [Democritus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/democritus/) > [Happiness resides not in possessions and not in golds; the feeling of happiness dwells in the soul. Democritus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/democritus/happiness-resides-not-in-possessions-and-not-in-golds-the-feeling-of/) [Democritus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/democritus/) [Explore all 106 Democritus quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/democritus/) ## More Envy quotes > [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [“He often remembered his dad's admonition that envy was mental theft. If you coveted another man's possessions, Dad said, then you should be willing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/he-often-remembered-his-dad-s-admonition-that-envy-was-mental-theft/) [Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/) > [“I don't envy "busy." Busy means having a schedule, not living life. What I really covet is leisure and peace of mind. Those who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-lynn-hope/i-don-t-envy-busy-busy-means-having-a-schedule-not-living-life-what-i/) [Donna Lynn Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-lynn-hope/) > [There is no sweeter sound than the crumbling of one's fellow man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/groucho-marx/there-is-no-sweeter-sound-than-the-crumbling-of-one-s-fellow-man/) [Groucho Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/groucho-marx/) > [Thinking, or more precisely identification with thinking, gives rise to and maintains the ego, which, in our Western society in particular, is out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/thinking-or-more-precisely-identification-with-thinking-gives-rise-to/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [“Is it not strange that the more someone has, the less he feels he has? Envy can never be sated.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-wheeler/is-it-not-strange-that-the-more-someone-has-the-less-he-feels-he-has/) [Jeff Wheeler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-wheeler/) > [I avoid envy at all costs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudia-winkleman/i-avoid-envy-at-all-costs/) [Claudia Winkleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudia-winkleman/) > [Sometimes I envy painters, it is wonderful to remain in front of a bouquet of flowers a whole morning, or even longer. A photographer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edouard-boubat/sometimes-i-envy-painters-it-is-wonderful-to-remain-in-front-of-a/) [Edouard Boubat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edouard-boubat/) > [avarice breeds envy, a worm that is always gnawing, letting the avaricious enjoy neither their own nor anyone else's good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-catherine-of-siena/avarice-breeds-envy-a-worm-that-is-always-gnawing-letting-the/) [St. Catherine of Siena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-catherine-of-siena/) > [“You don’t see someone flying and you begin to bite yourself for not being able to do that. You do what you can.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/you-don-t-see-someone-flying-and-you-begin-to-bite-yourself-for-not/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [Knowledge forbidden? Suspicious, reasonless. Why should their Lord Envy them that? Can it be sin to know, Can it be death? And do they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/knowledge-forbidden-suspicious-reasonless-why-should-their-lord-envy/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [“Who would have thought you had so many supporters?" she whispered. "Not mine, my love. Yours. I had not a one till you started…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michele-sinclair/who-would-have-thought-you-had-so-many-supporters-she-whispered-not/) [Michele Sinclair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michele-sinclair/) > [“Treachery is always a hairy caterpillar bred of a small butterfly called envy, no matter how lofty the principles involved.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fazil-iskander/treachery-is-always-a-hairy-caterpillar-bred-of-a-small-butterfly/) [Fazil Iskander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fazil-iskander/) > [Yes, Clay Matthews has a long, golden, Fabio-esque flowing mane that most women would chick-slap someone for. And yes, the shiny, beautiful, dark locks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-foudy/yes-clay-matthews-has-a-long-golden-fabio-esque-flowing-mane-that/) [Julie Foudy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-foudy/) > [“I have known many true connoisseurs, with excellent tastes that range across the humanities and the culinary arts--and they never fail to have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zadie-smith/i-have-known-many-true-connoisseurs-with-excellent-tastes-that-range/) [Zadie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zadie-smith/) [Browse all 2,111 Envy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/envy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The laws would not prevent each man from living according to his inclination, unless individuals harmed each other; for envy creates the beginning of strife.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Democritus" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/democritus/the-laws-would-not-prevent-each-man-from-living-according-to-his/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Envy" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/democritus/the-laws-would-not-prevent-each-man-from-living-according-to-his/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e50/democritus-4814_envy_the-laws-would-not-prevent-each-man-from_2700627.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e50/democritus-4814_envy_the-laws-would-not-prevent-each-man-from_2700627.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e50/democritus-4814_envy_the-laws-would-not-prevent-each-man-from_2700627.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The laws would not prevent each man from living according to his inclination, unless individuals harmed each…” — Democritus", "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": "Democritus", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/democritus/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The laws would not prevent each...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/democritus/the-laws-would-not-prevent-each-man-from-living-according-to-his/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/democritus/the-laws-would-not-prevent-each-man-from-living-according-to-his/#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 } } ] } ```