Authority Quote by Denis Diderot
“Anyone who takes it upon himself, on his private authority, to break a bad law, thereby authorizes everyone else to break the good ones.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: Reflections on Law and Authority, 1765
Individual defiance of unjust laws legitimizes broader civil disobedience.
In simple terms: Breaking bad laws justifies breaking good ones.
Key Takeaway
Question authority when laws are unjust.
Themes
law
authority
civil disobedience
ethics
Mood
reflective
serious
Type
ethical
political
When to use this quote
- political activism
- legal reform
- community organizing
Key Concepts
social contract
moral philosophy
Questions to Reflect On
- When is breaking a law justified?
- How to differentiate bad from good laws?
A Different Perspective
May lead to chaos if misapplied.
![“The rationale which accompanies that imposition of male authority euphemistically referred to as 'the battle of the sexes' bears a certain resemblance to the formulas of nations at war, where any heinousness is justified on the grounds that the enemy is either an inferior [part of the] species or…” quote by Kate Millett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/895/kate-millett-7301_accompany_the-rationale-which-accompanies-that-imp_8896.jpg)