--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: How long soever it hath continued, if it…" description: "\"How long soever it hath continued, if it be against reason, it is of no force in law.\" — Edward Coke" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/56e/edward-coke-11376_against_how-long-soever-it-hath-continued-if-it_3092145.png" --- # How long soever it hath continued, if it be against… ![“How long soever it hath continued, if it be against reason, it is of no force in law.” quote by Edward Coke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/56e/edward-coke-11376_against_how-long-soever-it-hath-continued-if-it_3092145.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/56e/edward-coke-11376_against_how-long-soever-it-hath-continued-if-it_3092145.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/56e/edward-coke-11376_against_how-long-soever-it-hath-continued-if-it_3092145.png) > “How long soever it hath continued, if it be against reason, it is of no force in law.” [Edward Coke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-coke/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A law that contradicts reason lacks legitimacy and should not be enforced. **In simple terms:** Unreasonable laws have no power. Key Takeaway Question the rationality of rules. Themes law reason justice Mood critical thoughtful Type philosophical legal When to use this quote - court decisions - legislative drafting - civil rights advocacy Key Concepts legal theory natural law Questions to Reflect On - Is this law truly serving the public good? - How can we ensure laws remain rational? A Different Perspective Reason can be overridden by political power. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Against](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/against/) [Continued](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/continued/) [Continued Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/continued-reason-5321485/) [Force](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/force/) [Force Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/force-law-1966712/) [Hath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hath/) [How](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/how/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Laws](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laws/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Reason Force](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason-force-2672584/) ## Related quotes > [And, speaking generally, passion seems not to be amenable to reason, but only to force.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/and-speaking-generally-passion-seems-not-to-be-amenable-to-reason-but/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [We must be governed by the force of law, not by the law of force.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-sloane-coffin/we-must-be-governed-by-the-force-of-law-not-by-the-law-of-force/) [William Sloane Coffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-sloane-coffin/) > [“But that's always a certain way to recognise a facist: when he's more powerful he kills everything that's different from him, he uses only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrej-nikolaidis/but-that-s-always-a-certain-way-to-recognise-a-facist-when-he-s-more/) [Andrej Nikolaidis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrej-nikolaidis/) > [All terrorists must face the full force of the law.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amber-rudd/all-terrorists-must-face-the-full-force-of-the-law/) [Amber Rudd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amber-rudd/) > [Force is the law of animals, men are ruled by conviction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/force-is-the-law-of-animals-men-are-ruled-by-conviction/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [The mass believes that it has the right to impose and to give force of law to notions born in the café.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-ortega-y-gasset/the-mass-believes-that-it-has-the-right-to-impose-and-to-give-force/) [Jose Ortega y Gasset](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-ortega-y-gasset/) > [If anyone has engaged unlawful activity, they should be held to account with the full force of the law.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-soutphommasane/if-anyone-has-engaged-unlawful-activity-they-should-be-held-to/) [Tim Soutphommasane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-soutphommasane/) > [Criminal conduct by police officers, federal agents, and their confederates cannot be tolerated and will be met with the full force of the law.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loretta-lynch/criminal-conduct-by-police-officers-federal-agents-and-their/) [Loretta Lynch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loretta-lynch/) > [Only force rules. 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