--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We should have learnt by now that laws…" description: "\"We should have learnt by now that laws and court decisions can only point the way. They can establish criteria of right and wrong. And they can provide..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f6/hubert-h-humphrey-3388_bases_we-should-have-learnt-by-now-that-laws-a_1574303.jpg" --- # We should have learnt by now that laws and court decisions… ![“We should have learnt by now that laws and court decisions can only point the way. They can establish criteria of right and wrong. And they can provide a basis for rooting out the evils of bigotry and racism. But they cannot wipe away centuries of oppression and injustice - however much we might…” quote by Hubert H. Humphrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f6/hubert-h-humphrey-3388_bases_we-should-have-learnt-by-now-that-laws-a_1574303.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f6/hubert-h-humphrey-3388_bases_we-should-have-learnt-by-now-that-laws-a_1574303.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f6/hubert-h-humphrey-3388_bases_we-should-have-learnt-by-now-that-laws-a_1574303.jpg) > “We should have learnt by now that laws and court decisions can only point the way. They can establish criteria of right and wrong. And they can provide a basis for rooting out the evils of bigotry and racism. But they cannot wipe away centuries of oppression and injustice - however much we might desire it.” [Hubert H. Humphrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hubert-h-humphrey/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Laws shape morality but cannot erase deep-rooted oppression; systemic change needs more than legislation. **In simple terms:** Legal frameworks guide but cannot fully heal historic injustice. Key Takeaway Combine law with cultural transformation. Themes justice law racism oppression systemic change Mood determined somber Type political philosophical When to use this quote - Civil rights activism - educational reforms - community dialogues Key Concepts Legal theory Social reform Historical trauma Questions to Reflect On - What non‑legal actions can dismantle entrenched bias? - How can institutions foster genuine reconciliation? A Different Perspective Legal fixes may be insufficient without societal shifts. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bases](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bases/) [Bigotry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bigotry/) [Bigotry Racism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bigotry-racism-1078715/) [Centuries Oppression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/centuries-oppression-5933117/) [Century](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/century/) [Court](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/court/) [Court decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/court-decision/) [Criteria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criteria/) [Decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision/) [Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) [Ears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ears/) [Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) [Evils Bigotry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evils-bigotry-5933116/) [Injustice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/injustice/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Might](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/might/) [Oppression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oppression/) [Oppression Injustice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oppression-injustice-581415/) [Racism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/racism/) [Right and wrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-and-wrong/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Should have](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should-have/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Wipe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wipe/) ## Related quotes > [Ironically, there is a history of black/Irish communion here in the states; Irish and African American brothers and sisters have often found common cause…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-eric-dyson/ironically-there-is-a-history-of-black-irish-communion-here-in-the/) [Michael Eric Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-eric-dyson/) > [Never mind that from the 1600s until the late twentieth century the population the United States was 85% white, 12% black, and there have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/never-mind-that-from-the-1600s-until-the-late-twentieth-century-the/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [Even if we're facing bigotry or racism, we can still be successful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ibtihaj-muhammad/even-if-we-re-facing-bigotry-or-racism-we-can-still-be-successful/) [Ibtihaj Muhammad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ibtihaj-muhammad/) > [I would not be standing here today if my skin were white or my religion were Presbyterian. I am here today only because my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-myung-moon/i-would-not-be-standing-here-today-if-my-skin-were-white-or-my/) [Sun Myung Moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-myung-moon/) > [ Dr. \[Martin Luther\] King led a very historic march here in Washington, D.C. It was a march for jobs and freedom. It was a… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-brazile/dr-martin-luther-king-led-a-very-historic-march-here-in-washington-d/) [Donna Brazile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-brazile/) > [ “Initially, the purveyors of racism need no more than the silent acquiescence of the public ... \[I\]t is never too soon to confront bigotry… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-j-massaquoi/initially-the-purveyors-of-racism-need-no-more-than-the-silent/) [Hans J. Massaquoi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-j-massaquoi/) > [We must remember that any oppression, any injustice, any hatred, is a wedge designed to attack our civilization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/we-must-remember-that-any-oppression-any-injustice-any-hatred-is-a/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [The lower strata are suffering all kinds of oppression and the injustice that is inflicted upon them has many faces and many facets. Well-to-do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akbar-ganji/the-lower-strata-are-suffering-all-kinds-of-oppression-and-the/) [Akbar Ganji](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akbar-ganji/) > [“Do not waste your anger, you may just be the candidate to deliver a people from oppression or injustice.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/do-not-waste-your-anger-you-may-just-be-the-candidate-to-deliver-a/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [Peace does not mean just to stop wars, but also to stop oppression and injustice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tawakkol-karman/peace-does-not-mean-just-to-stop-wars-but-also-to-stop-oppression-and/) [Tawakkol Karman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tawakkol-karman/) > [I will never apologize for standing up against oppression and injustice in Israel or anywhere else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilhan-omar/i-will-never-apologize-for-standing-up-against-oppression-and/) [Ilhan Omar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilhan-omar/) > [“What social justice requires, King assumes, cannot be discerned in the abstract from the safe distance of a policy analyst or an academic theorist.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-d-marshall/what-social-justice-requires-king-assumes-cannot-be-discerned-in-the/) [Christopher D. Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-d-marshall/) > [Close investigation will show that the primary cause of oppression and injustice, of unrighteousness, irregularity and disorder, is the people's lack of religious faith…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abdu-l-bah/close-investigation-will-show-that-the-primary-cause-of-oppression/) [Abdu'l-Bahá](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abdu-l-bah/) > [Victims of oppression & injustice don't need our spasm of passion…they need our legs & lungs of endurance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-haugen/victims-of-oppression-injustice-don-t-need-our-spasm-of-passion-they/) [Gary Haugen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-haugen/) > [Up until the late unpleasantness of the Civil war, then, the right of secession was more or less taken for granted in many quarters,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/up-until-the-late-unpleasantness-of-the-civil-war-then-the-right-of/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) ## More by Hubert H. Humphrey > [Life's unfairness is not irrevocable; we can help balance the scales for others, if not always for ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hubert-h-humphrey/life-s-unfairness-is-not-irrevocable-we-can-help-balance-the-scales/) [Hubert H. Humphrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hubert-h-humphrey/) > [The pursuit of peace resembles the building of a great cathedral. It is the work of a generation. In concept it requires a mater-architect;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hubert-h-humphrey/the-pursuit-of-peace-resembles-the-building-of-a-great-cathedral-it/) [Hubert H. Humphrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hubert-h-humphrey/) > [In real life, unlike in Shakespeare, the sweetness of the rose depends upon the name it bears. Things are not only what they are.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hubert-h-humphrey/in-real-life-unlike-in-shakespeare-the-sweetness-of-the-rose-depends/) [Hubert H. Humphrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hubert-h-humphrey/) > [Until racial justice and freedom is a reality in this land, our union will remain profoundly imperfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hubert-h-humphrey/until-racial-justice-and-freedom-is-a-reality-in-this-land-our-union/) [Hubert H. Humphrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hubert-h-humphrey/) > [Foreign policy is really domestic policy with its hat on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hubert-h-humphrey/foreign-policy-is-really-domestic-policy-with-its-hat-on/) [Hubert H. Humphrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hubert-h-humphrey/) > [The gap between the rich and the poor is the most dangerous threat to world peace we have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hubert-h-humphrey/the-gap-between-the-rich-and-the-poor-is-the-most-dangerous-threat-to/) [Hubert H. Humphrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hubert-h-humphrey/) > [Anyone who thinks that the vice-president can take a position independent of the president of his administration simply has no knowledge of politics or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hubert-h-humphrey/anyone-who-thinks-that-the-vice-president-can-take-a-position/) [Hubert H. Humphrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hubert-h-humphrey/) > [You cannot go around and keep score. If you keep score on the good things and the bad things, you'll find out that you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hubert-h-humphrey/you-cannot-go-around-and-keep-score-if-you-keep-score-on-the-good/) [Hubert H. Humphrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hubert-h-humphrey/) > [There is no such thing as an acceptable level of unemployment, because hunger is not acceptable, poverty is not acceptable, poor health is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hubert-h-humphrey/there-is-no-such-thing-as-an-acceptable-level-of-unemployment-because/) [Hubert H. Humphrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hubert-h-humphrey/) > [National isolation breeds national neurosis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hubert-h-humphrey/national-isolation-breeds-national-neurosis/) [Hubert H. Humphrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hubert-h-humphrey/) > [Profit and morality are a hard combination to beat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hubert-h-humphrey/profit-and-morality-are-a-hard-combination-to-beat/) [Hubert H. Humphrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hubert-h-humphrey/) > [There are not enough jails, not enough police, not enough courts to enforce a law not supported by the people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hubert-h-humphrey/there-are-not-enough-jails-not-enough-police-not-enough-courts-to/) [Hubert H. Humphrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hubert-h-humphrey/) > [You can always debate about what you should have done. The question is what are you going to do?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hubert-h-humphrey/you-can-always-debate-about-what-you-should-have-done-the-question-is/) [Hubert H. Humphrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hubert-h-humphrey/) > [Behind every successful man is a proud wife and a surprised mother-in-law.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hubert-h-humphrey/behind-every-successful-man-is-a-proud-wife-and-a-surprised-mother-in/) [Hubert H. Humphrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hubert-h-humphrey/) > [I believe that each of us can make a difference. That what is wrong can be made right. That people possess the basic wisdom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hubert-h-humphrey/i-believe-that-each-of-us-can-make-a-difference-that-what-is-wrong/) [Hubert H. Humphrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hubert-h-humphrey/) [Explore all 132 Hubert H. Humphrey quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hubert-h-humphrey/) ## More Bases quotes > [Self-respect and a clear conscience are powerful components of integrity and are the basis for enriching your relationships with others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/self-respect-and-a-clear-conscience-are-powerful-components-of/) [Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/) > [If my campaign is not in the debate, we will not be talking about how we really fix this problem of endless and expanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/if-my-campaign-is-not-in-the-debate-we-will-not-be-talking-about-how/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [I don't want to go into space because of war. I think we would if it was triggered. If China said they want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/i-don-t-want-to-go-into-space-because-of-war-i-think-we-would-if-it/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [The United States cannot and should not discriminate on the basis of religion. The free exercise of religion is at the very heart of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-pence/the-united-states-cannot-and-should-not-discriminate-on-the-basis-of/) [Mike Pence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-pence/) > [According to the best research, less than 3% of Americans have written goals, and less than 1% review and rewrite their goals on a daily basis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/according-to-the-best-research-less-than-3-of-americans-have-written/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [When the Lord Jesus Christ became my surety . . . He went to Calvary's cross, and all my guilt was charged against Him.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-allen-ironside/when-the-lord-jesus-christ-became-my-surety-he-went-to-calvary-s/) [Henry Allen Ironside](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-allen-ironside/) > [I'm in a business where there's complete anarchy. You can't control it - you can only react to it. The control that people traditionally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-sorrell/i-m-in-a-business-where-there-s-complete-anarchy-you-can-t-control-it/) [Martin Sorrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-sorrell/) > [This tendency to avoid problems and the emotional suffering inherent in them is the primary basis of all human mental illness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-r-swindoll/this-tendency-to-avoid-problems-and-the-emotional-suffering-inherent/) [Charles R. Swindoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-r-swindoll/) > [There are dangers in consensus: it could be an attempt to satisfy people holding no particular views about anything. ... No great party can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-thatcher/there-are-dangers-in-consensus-it-could-be-an-attempt-to-satisfy/) [Margaret Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-thatcher/) > [There's no way to have a peace agreement unless the mediator or negotiator looks at both sides from an equal basis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/there-s-no-way-to-have-a-peace-agreement-unless-the-mediator-or/) [Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/) > [Coercion is the basis of every law in the universe,--human or divine. A law is not law without coercion behind it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/coercion-is-the-basis-of-every-law-in-the-universe-human-or-divine-a/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [Each Act of Parliament intended to address harassment and discrimination has faced objections on the basis of 'you'll never be able to prove...' and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-field/each-act-of-parliament-intended-to-address-harassment-and/) [Tim Field](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-field/) > [If you want good behavior, don't pay on a commission basis. Our judges aren't paid so much a case. We keep them pretty well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/if-you-want-good-behavior-don-t-pay-on-a-commission-basis-our-judges/) [Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/) > [My favorite thing about being a mom is just what a better person it makes you on a daily basis,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-barrymore/my-favorite-thing-about-being-a-mom-is-just-what-a-better-person-it/) [Drew Barrymore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-barrymore/) > [We have committed ourselves to pursue joint policies, but then national governments say, "We aren't bound by that." That is a dramatic situation, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-schulz/we-have-committed-ourselves-to-pursue-joint-policies-but-then/) [Martin Schulz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-schulz/) [Browse all 2,701 Bases quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bases/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We should have learnt by now that laws and court decisions can only point the way. They can establish criteria of right and wrong. And they can provide a basis for rooting out the evils of bigotry and racism. But they cannot wipe away centuries of oppression and injustice - however much we might desire it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Hubert H. Humphrey" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hubert-h-humphrey/we-should-have-learnt-by-now-that-laws-and-court-decisions-can-only/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bases" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hubert-h-humphrey/we-should-have-learnt-by-now-that-laws-and-court-decisions-can-only/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f6/hubert-h-humphrey-3388_bases_we-should-have-learnt-by-now-that-laws-a_1574303.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f6/hubert-h-humphrey-3388_bases_we-should-have-learnt-by-now-that-laws-a_1574303.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f6/hubert-h-humphrey-3388_bases_we-should-have-learnt-by-now-that-laws-a_1574303.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We should have learnt by now that laws and court decisions can only point the way. They can establish…” — Hubert H. Humphrey", "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": "Hubert H. Humphrey", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hubert-h-humphrey/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "We should have learnt by now...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hubert-h-humphrey/we-should-have-learnt-by-now-that-laws-and-court-decisions-can-only/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hubert-h-humphrey/we-should-have-learnt-by-now-that-laws-and-court-decisions-can-only/#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 } } ] } ```