Arrested Quote by Hunter S. Thompson
“Goddammit. Yeah, I have. First, there's a huge difference between being arrested and being guilty. Second, see, the law changes and I don't. How I stand vis-à-vis the law at any given moment depends on the law. The law can change from state to state, from nation to nation, from city to city. I guess I have to go by a higher law. How's that? Yeah, I consider myself a road man for the lords of karma.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Rolling Stone, 1971
Law varies by jurisdiction; personal conscience may demand a higher moral standard than statutes.
In simple terms: Law changes, but personal ethics stay constant.
Key Takeaway
Follow a higher moral law when statutes conflict with conscience.
Themes
law
morality
conscience
individualism
Mood
rebellious
reflective
Type
philosophical
provocative
When to use this quote
- protest
- legal defense
- public speaking
- writing
Key Concepts
legal relativism
ethical absolutism
civil disobedience
Questions to Reflect On
- When should one obey unjust laws?
- What defines a “higher law”?
A Different Perspective
Legal consequences can be severe; personal risk may be high.
