--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Respect for the rule of law is not…" description: "\"Respect for the rule of law is not optional; it's fundamental.\" — Frans Timmermans" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce4/frans-timmermans-9984_law_respect-for-the-rule-of-law-is-not-optio_1186249.jpg" --- # Respect for the rule of law is not optional; it's… ![“Respect for the rule of law is not optional; it's fundamental.” quote by Frans Timmermans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce4/frans-timmermans-9984_law_respect-for-the-rule-of-law-is-not-optio_1186249.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce4/frans-timmermans-9984_law_respect-for-the-rule-of-law-is-not-optio_1186249.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce4/frans-timmermans-9984_law_respect-for-the-rule-of-law-is-not-optio_1186249.jpg) > “Respect for the rule of law is not optional; it's fundamental.” [Frans Timmermans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frans-timmermans/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The rule of law is essential and non‑negotiable; it underpins a fair and just society and cannot be treated as optional. **In simple terms:** Law is essential, not optional. Key Takeaway Uphold the rule of law always. Themes justice governance human rights Mood serious determined Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - government policy - judicial reform - public administration Key Concepts legal certainty democratic stability civil society Questions to Reflect On - How can societies protect legal foundations? - What happens when law is ignored? A Different Perspective Enforcing the rule of law can be politically challenging and uneven across regions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fundamental](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fundamental/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Law Optional](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law-optional-3500015/) [Laws](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laws/) [Respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect/) [Respect Rule](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect-rule-1781440/) [Rule](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rule/) [Rule Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rule-law/) [Rule of law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rule-of-law/) ## Related quotes > [The rule of law means that law and justice are upheld by an independent judiciary. The judgments of the European Court of Justice have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-claude-juncker/the-rule-of-law-means-that-law-and-justice-are-upheld-by-an/) [Jean-Claude Juncker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-claude-juncker/) > [Certain other societies may respect the rule of force--we respect the rule of law.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/certain-other-societies-may-respect-the-rule-of-force-we-respect-the/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [At least Romney and McCain, they respect the rule of law. At least Romney and McCain, they understand their limitations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/at-least-romney-and-mccain-they-respect-the-rule-of-law-at-least/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [At the end of the day, we must respect the rule of law in respective jurisdictions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-lam/at-the-end-of-the-day-we-must-respect-the-rule-of-law-in-respective/) [Carrie Lam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-lam/) > [Rule Number One: Always respect rule Number 1.7 --Rule Number 1.7: Never lie your hand on a woman!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tee-shepard/rule-number-one-always-respect-rule-number-1-7-rule-number-1-7-never/) [Tee Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tee-shepard/) > [No, I think that we've got a basic discrepancy here between the rule of law versus the rule of man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-moore/no-i-think-that-we-ve-got-a-basic-discrepancy-here-between-the-rule/) [Roy Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-moore/) > [You have to be willing to stand up for what you believe in, and the rule of law is one of those things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/travis-kalanick/you-have-to-be-willing-to-stand-up-for-what-you-believe-in-and-the/) [Travis Kalanick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/travis-kalanick/) > [Rule of law, access to justice, and financial transparency happen by design, not accident.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winnie-byanyima/rule-of-law-access-to-justice-and-financial-transparency-happen-by/) [Winnie Byanyima](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winnie-byanyima/) > [We rely on the rule of law. I think we've lost touch with that concept in Washington.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luther-strange/we-rely-on-the-rule-of-law-i-think-we-ve-lost-touch-with-that-concept/) [Luther Strange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luther-strange/) > [No matter who you are or what you intend to do, you should not exceed the boundaries of the rule of law.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/li-keqiang/no-matter-who-you-are-or-what-you-intend-to-do-you-should-not-exceed/) [Li Keqiang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/li-keqiang/) > [We're all subject to the rule of law.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yoav-gallant/we-re-all-subject-to-the-rule-of-law/) [Yoav Gallant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yoav-gallant/) > [Sanctuary city policies disrespect the rule of law in this country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-hyde-smith/sanctuary-city-policies-disrespect-the-rule-of-law-in-this-country/) [Cindy Hyde-Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-hyde-smith/) > [The rule of law is a republic. The rule of one person is a monarchy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-zeldin/the-rule-of-law-is-a-republic-the-rule-of-one-person-is-a-monarchy/) [Lee Zeldin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-zeldin/) > [Rule of law is based on probable cause.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-swalwell/rule-of-law-is-based-on-probable-cause/) [Eric Swalwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-swalwell/) > [Any new legal measures, or cooperative arrangements between government and companies meant to keep people from organizing violence or criminal actions, must not be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-mackinnon/any-new-legal-measures-or-cooperative-arrangements-between-government/) [Rebecca MacKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-mackinnon/) ## More by Frans Timmermans > [The argument that won the Brexit campaign is the one that said take back control... which is another way of saying we want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frans-timmermans/the-argument-that-won-the-brexit-campaign-is-the-one-that-said-take/) [Frans Timmermans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frans-timmermans/) > [If nationalism makes us poor, weak, and morally insecure, how can it claim to be patriotic? I maintain that nationalists are unpatriotic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frans-timmermans/if-nationalism-makes-us-poor-weak-and-morally-insecure-how-can-it/) [Frans Timmermans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frans-timmermans/) > [The Netherlands believes in a vigorous Europe with a commission that is independent and robust.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frans-timmermans/the-netherlands-believes-in-a-vigorous-europe-with-a-commission-that/) [Frans Timmermans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frans-timmermans/) > [Protectionism has never been an answer, will never be an answer. We need trade. We need trade agreements worldwide.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frans-timmermans/protectionism-has-never-been-an-answer-will-never-be-an-answer-we/) [Frans Timmermans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frans-timmermans/) > [Let's be clear: a nationalist is not a patriot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frans-timmermans/let-s-be-clear-a-nationalist-is-not-a-patriot/) [Frans Timmermans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frans-timmermans/) > [It is a duty for any government to uphold the rule of law, and this sometimes requires the proportionate use of force.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frans-timmermans/it-is-a-duty-for-any-government-to-uphold-the-rule-of-law-and-this/) [Frans Timmermans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frans-timmermans/) > [Since when is politics consistent?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frans-timmermans/since-when-is-politics-consistent/) [Frans Timmermans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frans-timmermans/) > [This is the game of those who deny climate change or who deny the need for sustainability. They say, 'They are going to take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frans-timmermans/this-is-the-game-of-those-who-deny-climate-change-or-who-deny-the/) [Frans Timmermans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frans-timmermans/) > [How many millions of straws do we use every day across Europe? I would have people not use plastic straws any more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frans-timmermans/how-many-millions-of-straws-do-we-use-every-day-across-europe-i-would/) [Frans Timmermans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frans-timmermans/) > [What is the issue that has brought the European Union to the brink? The issue of migration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frans-timmermans/what-is-the-issue-that-has-brought-the-european-union-to-the-brink/) [Frans Timmermans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frans-timmermans/) > [For all its shortcomings, European co-operation and integration has created an understanding of shared destiny. We no longer point guns at each other; we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frans-timmermans/for-all-its-shortcomings-european-co-operation-and-integration-has/) [Frans Timmermans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frans-timmermans/) > [I want Europe to go forward, not backward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frans-timmermans/i-want-europe-to-go-forward-not-backward/) [Frans Timmermans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frans-timmermans/) > [Nationalism makes us weak because its eternal seeking of enemies, its disdain of others, its need to feel superior makes cooperation with other nations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frans-timmermans/nationalism-makes-us-weak-because-its-eternal-seeking-of-enemies-its/) [Frans Timmermans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frans-timmermans/) > [I think we have a political and moral duty to do everything within our power to maintain the Good Friday Agreement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frans-timmermans/i-think-we-have-a-political-and-moral-duty-to-do-everything-within/) [Frans Timmermans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frans-timmermans/) > [Plastic waste is undeniably a big issue, and Europeans need to act together to tackle this problem because plastic waste ends up in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frans-timmermans/plastic-waste-is-undeniably-a-big-issue-and-europeans-need-to-act/) [Frans Timmermans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frans-timmermans/) [Explore all 68 Frans Timmermans quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frans-timmermans/) ## More Fundamental quotes > [It's important for American soldiers to be culturally sensitive when deployed in foreign countries. But it's just as important for the U.S. never to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-bauer/it-s-important-for-american-soldiers-to-be-culturally-sensitive-when/) [Gary Bauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-bauer/) > [This idea that once you get into politics... you are now signed up for lifelong duty being in elective office, makes a fundamental error…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-gonzalez/this-idea-that-once-you-get-into-politics-you-are-now-signed-up-for/) [Matt Gonzalez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-gonzalez/) > [“As muito feias que me perdoem Mas beleza é fundamental.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vin-cius-de-moraes/as-muito-feias-que-me-perdoem-mas-beleza-fundamental/) [Vinícius de Moraes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vin-cius-de-moraes/) > [“Principles are guidelines for human conduct that are proven to have enduring, permanent value. They’re fundamental.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-r-covey/principles-are-guidelines-for-human-conduct-that-are-proven-to-have/) [Stephen R. Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-r-covey/) > [In some way, my fundamental feeling about music is that it's impossible to put a price tag on it. Human beings made music before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-palmer/in-some-way-my-fundamental-feeling-about-music-is-that-it-s/) [Amanda Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-palmer/) > [The fact that it wasn't tells me that we've got a much more fundamental problem of understanding what went wrong, and we've got to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-kay/the-fact-that-it-wasn-t-tells-me-that-we-ve-got-a-much-more/) [David Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-kay/) > [The war being fought in Afghanistan and Iraq is bringing about a fundamental change to the environment that has given rise and power to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-l-thomas/the-war-being-fought-in-afghanistan-and-iraq-is-bringing-about-a/) [Craig L. Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-l-thomas/) > [I keep on saying, being moderate is fundamental to Islam.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/najib-razak/i-keep-on-saying-being-moderate-is-fundamental-to-islam/) [Najib Razak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/najib-razak/) > [The reason that war is such a fascinating subject for writers is because it's a revealer. Put a bunch of people in an adrenaline-fuelled,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sloane-crosley/the-reason-that-war-is-such-a-fascinating-subject-for-writers-is/) [Sloane Crosley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sloane-crosley/) > [Attention is the fundamental instrument we use for learning, thinking, communicating, deciding, yet neither parents nor schools spend any time helping young people learn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-rheingold/attention-is-the-fundamental-instrument-we-use-for-learning-thinking/) [Howard Rheingold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-rheingold/) > [Charity must become a fundamental state of mind and heart that guides us in all we do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-b-wirthlin/charity-must-become-a-fundamental-state-of-mind-and-heart-that-guides/) [Joseph B. Wirthlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-b-wirthlin/) > [Memory is the primary and fundamental power, without which there could be no other intellectual operation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/memory-is-the-primary-and-fundamental-power-without-which-there-could/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [People who want to express themselves need to be given an opportunity. For me, it's a very fundamental premise: you break the law, you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-buckhorn/people-who-want-to-express-themselves-need-to-be-given-an-opportunity/) [Bob Buckhorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-buckhorn/) > [Courage is the most fundamental of all virtues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-anders/courage-is-the-most-fundamental-of-all-virtues/) [Max Anders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-anders/) > [ \[Quantity is the fundamental feature of things,\] the 'primarium accidens substantiae,' ...prior to the other categories. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johannes-kepler/quantity-is-the-fundamental-feature-of-things-the-primarium-accidens/) [Johannes Kepler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johannes-kepler/) [Browse all 392 Fundamental quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fundamental/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Respect for the rule of law is not optional; it's fundamental.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Frans Timmermans" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frans-timmermans/respect-for-the-rule-of-law-is-not-optional-it-s-fundamental/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Fundamental" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frans-timmermans/respect-for-the-rule-of-law-is-not-optional-it-s-fundamental/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce4/frans-timmermans-9984_law_respect-for-the-rule-of-law-is-not-optio_1186249.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce4/frans-timmermans-9984_law_respect-for-the-rule-of-law-is-not-optio_1186249.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce4/frans-timmermans-9984_law_respect-for-the-rule-of-law-is-not-optio_1186249.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Respect for the rule of law is not optional; it's fundamental.” — Frans Timmermans", "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": "Frans Timmermans", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frans-timmermans/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Respect for the rule of law...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frans-timmermans/respect-for-the-rule-of-law-is-not-optional-it-s-fundamental/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frans-timmermans/respect-for-the-rule-of-law-is-not-optional-it-s-fundamental/#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 } } ] } ```