--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is not desirable to cultivate a…" description: "\"It is not desirable to cultivate a respect for law, so much as a respect for right.\" — Henry David Thoreau" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/36d/henry-david-thoreau-20_law_it-is-not-desirable-to-cultivate-a-respe_2469887.jpg" --- # It is not desirable to cultivate a respect for law, so… ![“It is not desirable to cultivate a respect for law, so much as a respect for right.” quote by Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/36d/henry-david-thoreau-20_law_it-is-not-desirable-to-cultivate-a-respe_2469887.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/36d/henry-david-thoreau-20_law_it-is-not-desirable-to-cultivate-a-respe_2469887.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/36d/henry-david-thoreau-20_law_it-is-not-desirable-to-cultivate-a-respe_2469887.jpg) > “It is not desirable to cultivate a respect for law, so much as a respect for right.” [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Respect for moral right outweighs legal obedience. **In simple terms:** Moral right supersedes law. Key Takeaway Prioritize justice over compliance. Themes ethics law morality Mood thoughtful serious Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - activism - legal reform - personal decision making Key Concepts civil disobedience philosophical principles Questions to Reflect On - When is breaking the law justified? - How do you balance personal conscience with societal rules? A Different Perspective Legal consequences may be severe despite moral justification. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cultivate Respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cultivate-respect-747948/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Law and lawyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law-and-lawyers/) [Law Respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law-respect-747947/) [Respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect/) [Respect Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect-law/) [Respect Right](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect-right-278623/) ## Related quotes > [It is not desirable to cultivate a respect for the law, so much as for the right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/it-is-not-desirable-to-cultivate-a-respect-for-the-law-so-much-as-for/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“I think that we should be men first and subjects afterward. It is not desirable to cultivate a respect for the law, so much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-think-that-we-should-be-men-first-and-subjects-afterward-it-is-not/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Gravity is a law. 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