--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The law doth never enforce a man to doe a…" description: "\"The law doth never enforce a man to doe a vaine thing.\" — Edward Coke" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d39/edward-coke-11376_doe_the-law-doth-never-enforce-a-man-to-doe_1994570.png" --- # The law doth never enforce a man to doe a vaine thing. ![“The law doth never enforce a man to doe a vaine thing.” quote by Edward Coke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d39/edward-coke-11376_doe_the-law-doth-never-enforce-a-man-to-doe_1994570.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d39/edward-coke-11376_doe_the-law-doth-never-enforce-a-man-to-doe_1994570.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d39/edward-coke-11376_doe_the-law-doth-never-enforce-a-man-to-doe_1994570.png) > “The law doth never enforce a man to doe a vaine thing.” [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. The law cannot compel a person to act against their will or to do something pointless. **In simple terms:** Law cannot force meaningless actions. Key Takeaway Recognize personal agency. Themes law agency individuality Mood reflective serious Type ethical philosophical When to use this quote - personal decisions - government mandates - ethical dilemmas Key Concepts legal philosophy free will Questions to Reflect On - Do you ever act against your own judgment? - How can you assert autonomy? A Different Perspective People may still feel pressured despite legal limits. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) ## Related quotes > [“A blanket could be used to lay down the law. Lay it down over there, on top of the bed, and I’ll come over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/a-blanket-could-be-used-to-lay-down-the-law-lay-it-down-over-there-on/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [I like to enforce myself in the run game. It's something I have control over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-evans/i-like-to-enforce-myself-in-the-run-game-it-s-something-i-have/) [Mike Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-evans/) > [Your purpose, then, plainly stated, is, that you will destroy the Government, unless you be allowed to construe and enforce the Constitution as you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-haven-putnam/your-purpose-then-plainly-stated-is-that-you-will-destroy-the/) [George Haven Putnam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-haven-putnam/) > [Why have a rule if you're not going to enforce it?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-ellis/why-have-a-rule-if-you-re-not-going-to-enforce-it/) [Jill Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-ellis/) > [President Ronald Reagan used to speak of the Soviet constitution, and he noted that it purported to grant wonderful rights of all sorts to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-roberts/president-ronald-reagan-used-to-speak-of-the-soviet-constitution-and/) [John Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-roberts/) > [The Supreme Court has made its decision, now let them enforce it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-jackson/the-supreme-court-has-made-its-decision-now-let-them-enforce-it/) [Andrew Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-jackson/) > [I've spent enough time in the business community to know there are certain regulators who are very constructive in their approach - those who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-gabrieli/i-ve-spent-enough-time-in-the-business-community-to-know-there-are/) [Chris Gabrieli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-gabrieli/) > [“It is the leader’s job to model and enforce the values and behaviors that make up the company culture. “Model” the behaviors is key.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-ramsay/it-is-the-leader-s-job-to-model-and-enforce-the-values-and-behaviors/) [Beth Ramsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-ramsay/) > [It was a privilege to serve as the assistant attorney general for civil rights, a role that allowed me to enforce the Civil Rights…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-perez/it-was-a-privilege-to-serve-as-the-assistant-attorney-general-for/) [Thomas Perez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-perez/) > [“Police not enforcing laws results in a high crime rate that is formally reported as a low crime rate in police statistics.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/police-not-enforcing-laws-results-in-a-high-crime-rate-that-is/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [The most powerful men were those who most effectively used the power of adult competence to enforce childish agreements.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-s-trow/the-most-powerful-men-were-those-who-most-effectively-used-the-power/) [George W. S. Trow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-s-trow/) > [What you cannot enforce, do not command.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/what-you-cannot-enforce-do-not-command/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [“enforce obedience thereto. The object, on either side, doth not justify the means; for the lives of men are too”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/enforce-obedience-thereto-the-object-on-either-side-doth-not-justify/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [Whenever we have had a need for a national security or public safety issue, Congress has always followed the recommendations of the White House,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-sensenbrenner/whenever-we-have-had-a-need-for-a-national-security-or-public-safety/) [Jim Sensenbrenner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-sensenbrenner/) > [I am not a proponent of the death penalty, but I will enforce the law as this Congress gives it to us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-holder/i-am-not-a-proponent-of-the-death-penalty-but-i-will-enforce-the-law/) [Eric Holder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-holder/) ## More by Edward Coke > [Force ought to follow justice and not to precede.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-coke/force-ought-to-follow-justice-and-not-to-precede/) [Edward Coke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-coke/) > [Corporations cannot commit treason, nor be outlawed, nor excommunicated, for they have no souls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-coke/corporations-cannot-commit-treason-nor-be-outlawed-nor-excommunicated/) [Edward Coke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-coke/) > [Everyone thirsteth after gaine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-coke/everyone-thirsteth-after-gaine/) [Edward Coke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-coke/) > [A corporation has no soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-coke/a-corporation-has-no-soul/) [Edward Coke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-coke/) > [The agreement of the parties cannot make that good which the law maketh void.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-coke/the-agreement-of-the-parties-cannot-make-that-good-which-the-law/) [Edward Coke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-coke/) > [He is not cheated who knows he is being cheated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-coke/he-is-not-cheated-who-knows-he-is-being-cheated/) [Edward Coke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-coke/) > [The house of every one is to him as his castle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-coke/the-house-of-every-one-is-to-him-as-his-castle/) [Edward Coke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-coke/) > [The King himself should be under no man, but under God and the Law.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-coke/the-king-himself-should-be-under-no-man-but-under-god-and-the-law/) [Edward Coke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-coke/) > [It is better, saith the law, to suffer a mischief that is peculiar to one, than an inconvenience that may prejudice many.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-coke/it-is-better-saith-the-law-to-suffer-a-mischief-that-is-peculiar-to/) [Edward Coke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-coke/) > [We have a saying in the House of Commons; that old ways are the safest and surest ways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-coke/we-have-a-saying-in-the-house-of-commons-that-old-ways-are-the-safest/) [Edward Coke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-coke/) > [Success in crime always invites to worse deeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-coke/success-in-crime-always-invites-to-worse-deeds/) [Edward Coke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-coke/) > [For when the law doth give any thing to one, it giveth impliedly whatsoever is necessary for the taking and enjoying of the same.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-coke/for-when-the-law-doth-give-any-thing-to-one-it-giveth-impliedly/) [Edward Coke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-coke/) > [Things are worth what they will fetch at a sale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-coke/things-are-worth-what-they-will-fetch-at-a-sale/) [Edward Coke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-coke/) > [The Common lawes of the Realme should by no means be delayed for the law is the surest sanctuary, that a man should take,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-coke/the-common-lawes-of-the-realme-should-by-no-means-be-delayed-for-the/) [Edward Coke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-coke/) > [The cause ceasing, the effect ceases also](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-coke/the-cause-ceasing-the-effect-ceases-also/) [Edward Coke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-coke/) [Explore all 60 Edward Coke quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-coke/) ## More Doe quotes > [So the fool, as distinct from the scoundrel, is completely self- satisfied; in fact, he can easily become dangerous, as it does not take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/so-the-fool-as-distinct-from-the-scoundrel-is-completely-self/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [I cannot forbid a person to marry several wives, for it does not contradict Scripture. MARTIN LUTHER, letter to Chancellor Gregory Brück, January 13,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-bruyere/i-cannot-forbid-a-person-to-marry-several-wives-for-it-does-not/) [Jean de la Bruyere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-bruyere/) > [For successful education there must always be a certain freshness in the knowledge dealt with. It must be either new in itself or invested…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-north-whitehead/for-successful-education-there-must-always-be-a-certain-freshness-in/) [Alfred North Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-north-whitehead/) > [The prophet who fails to present a bearable alternative and yet preaches doom is part of the trap that he postulates. Not only does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/the-prophet-who-fails-to-present-a-bearable-alternative-and-yet/) [Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/) > [Sometimes a sign or a quote is simply interesting by itself and does not require anything beyond being framed on a page.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-vincent-benet/sometimes-a-sign-or-a-quote-is-simply-interesting-by-itself-and-does/) [Stephen Vincent Benet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-vincent-benet/) > [A home is not a museum. It doesn't have to be furnished with Picasso paintings, or Sheraton suites, or Oriental rugs, or Chinese pottery.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-m-cain/a-home-is-not-a-museum-it-doesn-t-have-to-be-furnished-with-picasso/) [James M. Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-m-cain/) > [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/) [Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/) > [He's a fool that marries; but he's a greater fool that does not marry a fool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wycherley/he-s-a-fool-that-marries-but-he-s-a-greater-fool-that-does-not-marry/) [William Wycherley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wycherley/) > [Nothing old is ever reborn but neither does it totally disappear. And that which has once been born, will always reappear in a new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvar-aalto/nothing-old-is-ever-reborn-but-neither-does-it-totally-disappear-and/) [Alvar Aalto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvar-aalto/) > [One of the things the United States does well is building coalitions. What the U.S. knows is that if you don't have a coalition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shimon-peres/one-of-the-things-the-united-states-does-well-is-building-coalitions/) [Shimon Peres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shimon-peres/) > [Preaching to the choir actually arms the choir with arguments and elevates the choir's discourse. There's a reason the right does it and does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-savage/preaching-to-the-choir-actually-arms-the-choir-with-arguments-and/) [Dan Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-savage/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [ If the State does not acquire supremacy over \[vast private\] enterprises, it becomes their puppet, and they become the real State. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/if-the-state-does-not-acquire-supremacy-over-vast-private-enterprises/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [If Wall Street crashes, does Main Street follow? Not necessarily.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-bernanke/if-wall-street-crashes-does-main-street-follow-not-necessarily/) [Ben Bernanke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-bernanke/) > [It does not seem to me to be sufficiently recognized everywhere among the officials that the existence or non-existence of our people and Empire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-von-hindenburg/it-does-not-seem-to-me-to-be-sufficiently-recognized-everywhere-among/) [Paul von Hindenburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-von-hindenburg/) Browse all 25,574 Doe quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The law doth never enforce a man to doe a vaine thing.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Edward Coke" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-coke/the-law-doth-never-enforce-a-man-to-doe-a-vaine-thing/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Doe" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-coke/the-law-doth-never-enforce-a-man-to-doe-a-vaine-thing/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d39/edward-coke-11376_doe_the-law-doth-never-enforce-a-man-to-doe_1994570.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d39/edward-coke-11376_doe_the-law-doth-never-enforce-a-man-to-doe_1994570.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d39/edward-coke-11376_doe_the-law-doth-never-enforce-a-man-to-doe_1994570.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The law doth never enforce a man to doe a vaine thing.” — Edward Coke", "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": "Edward Coke", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-coke/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The law doth never enforce a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-coke/the-law-doth-never-enforce-a-man-to-doe-a-vaine-thing/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-coke/the-law-doth-never-enforce-a-man-to-doe-a-vaine-thing/#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 } } ] } ```