--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Laws, enforced by the sword, control…" description: "\"“Laws, enforced by the sword, control behavior but cannot change hearts.”\" — Gregory A. Boyd" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a3/gregory-a-boyd-9424_enforced_laws-enforced-by-the-sword-control-behav_2838459.jpg" --- # Laws, enforced by the sword, control behavior but cannot… ![“Laws, enforced by the sword, control behavior but cannot change hearts.” quote by Gregory A. Boyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a3/gregory-a-boyd-9424_enforced_laws-enforced-by-the-sword-control-behav_2838459.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a3/gregory-a-boyd-9424_enforced_laws-enforced-by-the-sword-control-behav_2838459.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a3/gregory-a-boyd-9424_enforced_laws-enforced-by-the-sword-control-behav_2838459.jpg) > ““Laws, enforced by the sword, control behavior but cannot change hearts.”” [Gregory A. Boyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-a-boyd/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Law enforces behavior externally, but true change requires heart transformation. **In simple terms:** Laws control actions, not hearts. Key Takeaway Cultivate inner change. Themes morality justice spirituality Mood hopeful inspirational Type theological philosophical When to use this quote - policy reform - personal growth - community leadership Key Concepts legal authority ethical persuasion inner conviction Questions to Reflect On - Can law inspire heart change? - What nurtures inner transformation? A Different Perspective Legal systems alone can't shift beliefs. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Enforced](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enforced/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Habits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habits/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Laws](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laws/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) ## Related quotes > [Nothing is more destructive of respect for the government and the law of the land than passing laws which cannot be enforced.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/nothing-is-more-destructive-of-respect-for-the-government-and-the-law/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [Prostitution requires for its diminution not only laws, well enforced, to abolish the traffic in womanhood; not only better social protection against harpies who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-garlin-spencer/prostitution-requires-for-its-diminution-not-only-laws-well-enforced/) [Anna Garlin Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-garlin-spencer/) > [The overall similarity is probably in the mentality of law enforcement officers. There's a sense of wanting to really uphold a sense of morality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-mckenzie/the-overall-similarity-is-probably-in-the-mentality-of-law/) Benjamin McKenzie > [The laws can't be enforced against the man who is the laws' master.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benvenuto-cellini/the-laws-can-t-be-enforced-against-the-man-who-is-the-laws-master/) [Benvenuto Cellini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benvenuto-cellini/) > [The prestige of government has undoubtedly been lowered considerably by the prohibition law. For nothing is more destructive of respect for the government and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/the-prestige-of-government-has-undoubtedly-been-lowered-considerably-2/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [Laws are to be enforced justly but firmly, with an iron hand. 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He's there to represent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-leahy/remember-the-attorney-general-is-not-a-member-of-the-president-s/) [Patrick Leahy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-leahy/) > [Every state and the federal government have laws that protect people from acts of violence, and those laws should be enforced. What I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsey-graham/every-state-and-the-federal-government-have-laws-that-protect-people/) [Lindsey Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsey-graham/) ## More by Gregory A. Boyd > [“Consider these questions: Did Jesus ever suggest by word of example that we should aspire to acquire, let alone take over, the power of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-a-boyd/consider-these-questions-did-jesus-ever-suggest-by-word-of-example/) [Gregory A. Boyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-a-boyd/) > [Jesus came to establish the kingdom of God as a radical alternative to all versions of the kingdom of the world, whether they declare…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-a-boyd/jesus-came-to-establish-the-kingdom-of-god-as-a-radical-alternative/) [Gregory A. Boyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-a-boyd/) > [“God took on our humanity, our sin, and the just punishment that sin deserves, dying a God-forsaken, hellish death on the cross, because only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-a-boyd/god-took-on-our-humanity-our-sin-and-the-just-punishment-that-sin/) [Gregory A. Boyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-a-boyd/) > [The holiness of the kingdom of God must be preserved. If Jesus refused to acknowledge and fight for Israel as God's favored nation- even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-a-boyd/the-holiness-of-the-kingdom-of-god-must-be-preserved-if-jesus-refused/) [Gregory A. Boyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-a-boyd/) > [“Coming under others has a power to do what laws and bullets and bombs can never do—namely, bring about transformation in an enemy’s heart.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-a-boyd/coming-under-others-has-a-power-to-do-what-laws-and-bullets-and-bombs/) [Gregory A. Boyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-a-boyd/) > [“Jesus’ life and ministry consistently reveal the humble character of a servant. Though he rightfully owned the entire cosmos, he, by choice, had no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-a-boyd/jesus-life-and-ministry-consistently-reveal-the-humble-character-of-a/) [Gregory A. Boyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-a-boyd/) > [“Why would these people do this for us?” This is the question the church ought to be continually raising in people’s minds by its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-a-boyd/why-would-these-people-do-this-for-us-this-is-the-question-the-church/) [Gregory A. Boyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-a-boyd/) > [“The question that wins the world is not, how can we get our “morally superior” way enforced in the world? The question that wins…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-a-boyd/the-question-that-wins-the-world-is-not-how-can-we-get-our-morally/) [Gregory A. Boyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-a-boyd/) > [Accommodation is a central aspect of the cross-centered interpretation of violent portraits of God that I'm advocating. Like everything else in Cross Vision, this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-a-boyd/accommodation-is-a-central-aspect-of-the-cross-centered/) [Gregory A. Boyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-a-boyd/) > [Second, if you disbelieve in the reality of good and evil spirit agents, you fundamentally change the narrative of Scripture. The motif of spiritual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-a-boyd/second-if-you-disbelieve-in-the-reality-of-good-and-evil-spirit/) [Gregory A. Boyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-a-boyd/) > [“many people have trouble passionately loving and living for God because they have a mental picture of him that inspires anything but passion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-a-boyd/many-people-have-trouble-passionately-loving-and-living-for-god/) [Gregory A. Boyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-a-boyd/) > [“I believe a significant segment of American evangelicalism is guilty of nationalistic and political idolatry. To a frightful degree, I think, evangelicals fuse the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-a-boyd/i-believe-a-significant-segment-of-american-evangelicalism-is-guilty/) [Gregory A. Boyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-a-boyd/) > [Our central job is not to solve the world’s problems. Our job is to draw our entire life from Christ and manifest that life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-a-boyd/our-central-job-is-not-to-solve-the-world-s-problems-our-job-is-to/) [Gregory A. Boyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-a-boyd/) > [“So too, since Christ has in principle defeated the fallen "gods" (principalities and powers) who have for ages inspired injustice, cruelty and apathy toward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-a-boyd/so-too-since-christ-has-in-principle-defeated-the-fallen-gods/) [Gregory A. Boyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-a-boyd/) > [“the reason God now calls kingdom people to remain separate from the ways of the kingdom-of-the-world is not to isolate them from their culture…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-a-boyd/the-reason-god-now-calls-kingdom-people-to-remain-separate-from-the/) [Gregory A. Boyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-a-boyd/) [Explore all 73 Gregory A. Boyd quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-a-boyd/) ## More Enforced quotes > [Quite simply, federal laws already on the books aimed at stopping the flow of illegal immigration must be enforced. Furthermore, states must be given…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-west/quite-simply-federal-laws-already-on-the-books-aimed-at-stopping-the/) [Allen West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-west/) > [State constitutions typically provide that the state first has to service its debt, then make it pension payments, and then pay for services. What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-fama/state-constitutions-typically-provide-that-the-state-first-has-to/) [Eugene Fama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-fama/) > [Many civil rights came about, not when they were passed into law, but because the federal government did what it should and saw them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-mccaskill/many-civil-rights-came-about-not-when-they-were-passed-into-law-but/) [Claire McCaskill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-mccaskill/) > [“The terrain enforced its own rhythms.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-herbert/the-terrain-enforced-its-own-rhythms/) [Frank Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-herbert/) > [ \[Obamacare\] has to be enforced because nobody wants it. This is the nature of progressive government they don't care if it's not good for… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-gutfeld/obamacare-has-to-be-enforced-because-nobody-wants-it-this-is-the/) [Greg Gutfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-gutfeld/) > [While the West has enjoyed overwhelming global power, its moral preachings have been legitimised, and in effect enforced, by that power. But as that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-jacques/while-the-west-has-enjoyed-overwhelming-global-power-its-moral/) [Martin Jacques](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-jacques/) > [“USA corporations are legally regulated by laws which their managers know are rarely enforced. This criminal activity is what the USA government calls: Deregulation.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/usa-corporations-are-legally-regulated-by-laws-which-their-managers/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [Laws that do not embody public opinion can never be enforced.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/laws-that-do-not-embody-public-opinion-can-never-be-enforced/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [Whatever is enforced by command is more imputed to him who exacts than to him who performs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/whatever-is-enforced-by-command-is-more-imputed-to-him-who-exacts/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [Better no law than law not enforced](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danish-proverb/better-no-law-than-law-not-enforced/) Danish Proverb > [If we want corporations to act differently, we have to force them to do so through laws that are fully enforced and through penalties…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/if-we-want-corporations-to-act-differently-we-have-to-force-them-to/) [Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/) > [Mankind are apt to be strongly prejudiced in favor of whatever is countenanced by antiquity, enforced by authority, and recommended by custom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hall/mankind-are-apt-to-be-strongly-prejudiced-in-favor-of-whatever-is/) [Robert Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hall/) > [“Enforced love is not love. All it can lead to is a "sham" relationship without any genuine communication, a pretense of warmth and cordiality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-miller/enforced-love-is-not-love-all-it-can-lead-to-is-a-sham-relationship/) [Alice Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-miller/) > [There's something about being afraid, about being small, about enforced humility that draws me to climbing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-krakauer/there-s-something-about-being-afraid-about-being-small-about-enforced/) [Jon Krakauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-krakauer/) > [The Magna Carta was the first class-based charter, enforced on the monarchy by the rising class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-standing/the-magna-carta-was-the-first-class-based-charter-enforced-on-the/) [Guy Standing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-standing/) [Browse all 34 Enforced quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enforced/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Laws, enforced by the sword, control behavior but cannot change hearts.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Gregory A. 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