--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To execute laws is a royal office; to…" description: "\"To execute laws is a royal office; to execute orders is not to be a king. However, a political executive magistracy, though merely such, is a great tru..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dba/edmund-burke-400_execution_to-execute-laws-is-a-royal-office-to-exe_326325.jpg" --- # To execute laws is a royal office; to execute orders is… ![“To execute laws is a royal office; to execute orders is not to be a king. However, a political executive magistracy, though merely such, is a great trust.” quote by Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dba/edmund-burke-400_execution_to-execute-laws-is-a-royal-office-to-exe_326325.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dba/edmund-burke-400_execution_to-execute-laws-is-a-royal-office-to-exe_326325.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dba/edmund-burke-400_execution_to-execute-laws-is-a-royal-office-to-exe_326325.jpg) > “To execute laws is a royal office; to execute orders is not to be a king. However, a political executive magistracy, though merely such, is a great trust.” [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A ruler's duty is to enforce law, not merely follow orders; the role demands trust and responsibility. **In simple terms:** Kings enforce law, not just orders. Key Takeaway Respect the trust of office. Themes leadership responsibility trust Mood serious reflective Type political philosophical When to use this quote - government - business - military leadership Key Concepts political theory ethics Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance authority with accountability? - What responsibilities come with trust? A Different Perspective Power without legitimacy can erode authority. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Execute Laws](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/execute-laws-3064985/) [Execute Orders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/execute-orders-234825/) [Execution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/execution/) [Executive Magistracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/executive-magistracy-3064986/) [Executives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/executives/) [Kings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kings/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Magistracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/magistracy-235485/) [Office](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/office/) [Order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/order/) [Orders King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/orders-king-3064987/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Public trust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/public-trust/) [Royal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/royal/) [Trust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trust/) ## Related quotes > [It is absolutely necessary... for me to have persons that can think for me, as well as execute orders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/it-is-absolutely-necessary-for-me-to-have-persons-that-can-think-for/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [The president of the United States, on Inauguration Day, takes an oath to faithfully execute the laws. Those are the laws that are passed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-sensenbrenner/the-president-of-the-united-states-on-inauguration-day-takes-an-oath/) [Jim Sensenbrenner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-sensenbrenner/) > [It is the function of the President, representing the executive principle, to execute the laws.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garet-garrett/it-is-the-function-of-the-president-representing-the-executive/) [Garet Garrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garet-garrett/) > [Public officers are the servants and agents of the people, to execute the laws which the people have made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grover-cleveland/public-officers-are-the-servants-and-agents-of-the-people-to-execute/) [Grover Cleveland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grover-cleveland/) > [A military force, at the command of Congress, can execute no laws, but such as the people perceive to be just and constitutional; for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-webster/a-military-force-at-the-command-of-congress-can-execute-no-laws-but/) [Noah Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-webster/) > [In all tyrannical governments the supreme magistracy, or the right both of making and of enforcing the laws, is vested in one and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-blackstone/in-all-tyrannical-governments-the-supreme-magistracy-or-the-right/) [William Blackstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-blackstone/) > [The confidence with which a Sovereign is invested, is solid only when it is sanctioned by the suffrages of the people, who clothed him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/the-confidence-with-which-a-sovereign-is-invested-is-solid-only-when/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [Hereditary succession to the magistracy is absurd, as it tends to make a property of it; it is incompatible with the sovereignty of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/hereditary-succession-to-the-magistracy-is-absurd-as-it-tends-to-make/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [No person is more convinced than I am of the necessity of giving great splendour and energy to the great hereditary magistracy exercised by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marquis-de-lafayette/no-person-is-more-convinced-than-i-am-of-the-necessity-of-giving/) [Marquis de Lafayette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marquis-de-lafayette/) > [“In any real democracy, magistracy isn’t a benefit—it’s a burdensome responsibility that can’t fairly be imposed on one individual rather than another”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rousseau-jean-jacques/in-any-real-democracy-magistracy-isn-t-a-benefit-it-s-a-burdensome/) [Rousseau Jean-Jacques](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rousseau-jean-jacques/) > [An elective despotism was not the government we fought for, but one which should not only be founded on true free principles, but in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/an-elective-despotism-was-not-the-government-we-fought-for-but-one/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [All persons possessing any portion of power ought to be strongly and awfully impressed with an idea that they act in trust, and that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/all-persons-possessing-any-portion-of-power-ought-to-be-strongly-and/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [Too many companies want their brands to reflect some idealised, perfected image of themselves. As a consequence, their brands acquire no texture, no character…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/too-many-companies-want-their-brands-to-reflect-some-idealised/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [The real cost of corruption in government, whether it is local, state, or federal, is a loss of the public trust.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-quigley/the-real-cost-of-corruption-in-government-whether-it-is-local-state/) [Mike Quigley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-quigley/) > [A free society depends upon a high degree of mutual trust. The public will not give that trust to officials who are not seen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archibald-cox/a-free-society-depends-upon-a-high-degree-of-mutual-trust-the-public/) [Archibald Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archibald-cox/) ## More by Edmund Burke > [It is the interest of the commercial world that wealth should be found everywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/it-is-the-interest-of-the-commercial-world-that-wealth-should-be/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [“Many of the greatest tyrants on the records of history have begun their reigns in the fairest manner. But the truth is, this unnatural…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/many-of-the-greatest-tyrants-on-the-records-of-history-have-begun/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [In this choice of inheritance we have given to our frame of polity the image of a relation in blood; binding up the constitution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/in-this-choice-of-inheritance-we-have-given-to-our-frame-of-polity/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [“Wise men will apply their remedies to vices, not to names; to the causes of evil which are permanent, not to the occasional organs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/wise-men-will-apply-their-remedies-to-vices-not-to-names-to-the/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [“A man full of warm, speculative benevolence may wish his society otherwise constituted than he finds it; but a good patriot, and a true…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/a-man-full-of-warm-speculative-benevolence-may-wish-his-society/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [My vigour relents. I pardon something to the spirit of liberty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/my-vigour-relents-i-pardon-something-to-the-spirit-of-liberty/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [A speculative despair is unpardonable where it our duty to act.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/a-speculative-despair-is-unpardonable-where-it-our-duty-to-act/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [The great must submit to the dominion of prudence and of virtue, or none will long submit to the dominion of thegreat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/the-great-must-submit-to-the-dominion-of-prudence-and-of-virtue-or/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [Those who have been once intoxicated with power, and have derived any kind of emolument from it, even though but for one year, never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/those-who-have-been-once-intoxicated-with-power-and-have-derived-any/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [What is it we all seek for in an election? To answer its real purposes, you must first possess the means of knowing the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/what-is-it-we-all-seek-for-in-an-election-to-answer-its-real-purposes/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [Society is indeed a contract. It is a partnership in all science; a partnership in all art; a partnership in every virtue, and in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/society-is-indeed-a-contract-it-is-a-partnership-in-all-science-a/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [You can never plan the future by the past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/you-can-never-plan-the-future-by-the-past/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [The great inlet by which a colour for oppression has entered into the world is by one man's pretending to determine concerning the happiness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/the-great-inlet-by-which-a-colour-for-oppression-has-entered-into-the/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [By the disposition of a stupendous wisdom, moulding together the great mysterious incorporation of the human race, the whole, at one time, is never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/by-the-disposition-of-a-stupendous-wisdom-moulding-together-the-great/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [Religion, to have any force upon men's understandings,--indeed, to exist at all,--must be supposed paramount to law, and independent for its substance upon any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/religion-to-have-any-force-upon-men-s-understandings-indeed-to-exist/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) [Explore all 595 Edmund Burke quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) ## More Execution quotes > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [The purpose of this book is to supply, in the form suitable for laymen, guidance in the adoption and execution of an investment policy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-graham/the-purpose-of-this-book-is-to-supply-in-the-form-suitable-for-laymen/) [Benjamin Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-graham/) > [For the execution of the voyage to the Indies, I did not make use of intelligence, mathematics or maps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-columbus/for-the-execution-of-the-voyage-to-the-indies-i-did-not-make-use-of/) [Christopher Columbus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-columbus/) > [“But young men have not only this frivolous ambition of being thought masters of execution, inciting them on the one hand, but also their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/but-young-men-have-not-only-this-frivolous-ambition-of-being-thought/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Ideas are easy. Execution is everything. It takes a team to win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-doerr/ideas-are-easy-execution-is-everything-it-takes-a-team-to-win/) [John Doerr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-doerr/) > [The execution was set for the 29th of March, at nine in the morning. This delay was due to a desire on the part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/the-execution-was-set-for-the-29th-of-march-at-nine-in-the-morning/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [Cooking brings me so much joy. I love everything, down to the execution of the plate to picking out fresh ingredients at the market.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-budig/cooking-brings-me-so-much-joy-i-love-everything-down-to-the-execution/) [Kathryn Budig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-budig/) > [When you shoot someone who is fleeing, it's not self-defense. It's an execution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-you-shoot-someone-who-is-fleeing-it-s-not-self-defense-it-s-an/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Art is beauty, the perpetual invention of detail, the choice of words, the exquisite care of execution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theophile-gautier/art-is-beauty-the-perpetual-invention-of-detail-the-choice-of-words/) [Theophile Gautier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theophile-gautier/) > [The pursuit of peace resembles the building of a great cathedral. It is the work of a generation. In concept it requires a mater-architect;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hubert-h-humphrey/the-pursuit-of-peace-resembles-the-building-of-a-great-cathedral-it/) [Hubert H. Humphrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hubert-h-humphrey/) > [If there were no executioners, there would be no executions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleksandr-solzhenitsyn/if-there-were-no-executioners-there-would-be-no-executions/) [Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleksandr-solzhenitsyn/) > [It is far more difficult to be simple than to be complicated; far more difficult to sacrifice skill and easy execution in the proper…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/it-is-far-more-difficult-to-be-simple-than-to-be-complicated-far-more/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [Basketball, like all sports, is predicated on the execution of fundamentals. The coach is a teacher. 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