Citizens Quote by Edward Snowden
“Individuals have international duties which transcend the national obligations of obedience. Therefore individual citizens have the duty to violate domestic laws to prevent crimes against peace and humanity from occurring.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: Public Statements on Civil Disobedience, 2013
Citizens must sometimes break unjust laws to stop larger harms to humanity.
In simple terms: Break unjust laws to stop greater harm.
Key Takeaway
Act against oppressive laws.
Themes
ethics
civil disobedience
human rights
Mood
defiant
urgent
reflective
Type
philosophical
political
When to use this quote
- protesting war crimes
- whistleblowing
- humanitarian interventions
Key Concepts
moral duty
political responsibility
Questions to Reflect On
- When is breaking a law justified?
- What are the limits of personal responsibility?
A Different Perspective
Violating law can lead to personal risk and legal consequences.
![“In an era when too many Americans are losing their jobs or working for less, trying to make ends meet, in close cases Judge [Samuel] Alito has ruled the vast majority of the time against the claims of the individual citizens. He has acted instead in favor of government, large corporations and…” quote by Edward Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f9c/edward-kennedy-3423_cases_in-an-era-when-too-many-americans-are-lo_3072772.jpg)
![“[Brazil] went to the UN and said, "We need new standards for this." We need to take a look at what they're calling "data sovereignty."” quote by Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/af7/edward-snowden-555_brazil_brazil-went-to-the-un-and-said-we-need-n_14906.jpg)
![“There was a real choice when [Barack Obama] became president. It was a very difficult choice - to say, "We're not going to hold senior officials to account with the same laws that every other citizen in the country is held to," or "This is a nation that believes in the rule of law."” quote by Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/104/edward-snowden-555_accounts_there-was-a-real-choice-when-barack-obam_27838.jpg)
