North korean Quote by Hyeonseo Lee
““In her world, the law was upside down. People had to break the law to live. The prohibition on drug-dealing, a serious crime in most countries, is not viewed in the same way – as protective of society – by North Koreans. It is viewed as a risk, like unauthorized parking. If you can get away with it, where’s the harm?””
About This Quote
Source Memoir: The Girl with Seven Names, Hyeonseo Lee, 2015
In North Korea, laws are applied arbitrarily, making illegal acts like drug dealing seem harmless if unnoticed.
In simple terms: Law is arbitrary; breaking it can seem harmless.
Key Takeaway
Question authority and seek truth.
Themes
law
justice
authoritarianism
survival
morality
Mood
critical
reflective
Type
analytical
political
When to use this quote
- daily life under regime
- activism
- journalism
- policy analysis
Key Concepts
social control
legal relativism
human rights
Questions to Reflect On
- How does arbitrary law affect personal ethics?
- When is breaking a law justified?
A Different Perspective
Legal systems may lack consistency, leading to moral ambiguity.
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