--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: How could he uphold the law when that law…" description: "\"“How could he uphold the law when that law upheld injustice?”\" — Ian Bassingthwaighte" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cce/ian-bassingthwaighte-88809_injustice_how-could-he-uphold-the-law-when-that-la_563009.jpg" --- # How could he uphold the law when that law upheld injustice? ![“How could he uphold the law when that law upheld injustice?” quote by Ian Bassingthwaighte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cce/ian-bassingthwaighte-88809_injustice_how-could-he-uphold-the-law-when-that-la_563009.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cce/ian-bassingthwaighte-88809_injustice_how-could-he-uphold-the-law-when-that-la_563009.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cce/ian-bassingthwaighte-88809_injustice_how-could-he-uphold-the-law-when-that-la_563009.jpg) > ““How could he uphold the law when that law upheld injustice?”” [Ian Bassingthwaighte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-bassingthwaighte/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Upholding a law that enforces injustice creates moral conflict for its enforcers. **In simple terms:** Enforcing unjust law is ethically troubling. Key Takeaway Question laws that cause harm. Themes ethics justice law moral conflict authority Mood reflective conflicted serious Type Injustice:1 Justice:1 Law:1 Political:1 Upheld:1 Uphold Law:1 Law Upheld:1 Upheld Injustice:1 When to use this quote - courtroom decisions - policy advocacy - community activism Key Concepts political philosophy legal theory civil disobedience Questions to Reflect On - When is it justified to defy an unjust law? - What personal risks arise from opposing it? A Different Perspective Legal systems may resist change despite moral pressure. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Injustice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/injustice/) [Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Law Upheld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law-upheld-744835/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [Upheld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/upheld/) [Upheld Injustice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/upheld-injustice-4662941/) [Uphold Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/uphold-law-381010/) ## Related quotes > [The appearance of the law must be upheld - especially when it's being broken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boss-tweed/the-appearance-of-the-law-must-be-upheld-especially-when-it-s-being/) [Boss Tweed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boss-tweed/) > [We all want and need the rule of law to be upheld.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rohini-nilekani/we-all-want-and-need-the-rule-of-law-to-be-upheld/) [Rohini Nilekani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rohini-nilekani/) > [If the law is upheld only by government officials, then all law is at an end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-hoover/if-the-law-is-upheld-only-by-government-officials-then-all-law-is-at/) [Herbert Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-hoover/) > [We need a president who is willing to uphold the law.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/we-need-a-president-who-is-willing-to-uphold-the-law/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [“Many of us struggle financially, or we are poor, because we choose to uphold the law, our integrity, principles, values, and morals. Not because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/de-philosopher-dj-kyos/many-of-us-struggle-financially-or-we-are-poor-because-we-choose-to/) [De philosopher DJ Kyos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/de-philosopher-dj-kyos/) > [A functioning democracy cannot stand when its people do not trust their leaders to uphold the law.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raja-krishnamoorthi/a-functioning-democracy-cannot-stand-when-its-people-do-not-trust/) [Raja Krishnamoorthi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raja-krishnamoorthi/) > [Third, and finally, the educated citizen has an obligation to uphold the law. This is the obligation of every citizen in a free and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/third-and-finally-the-educated-citizen-has-an-obligation-to-uphold/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [I'm not going to change my religious practice to get one vote, but I know how to take an oath and uphold the law,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-kaine/i-m-not-going-to-change-my-religious-practice-to-get-one-vote-but-i/) [Tim Kaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-kaine/) > [The internal peace of every country depends upon the knowledge that force is available to uphold law.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-grey-1st-viscount-grey-of-fallodon/the-internal-peace-of-every-country-depends-upon-the-knowledge-that/) [Edward Grey, 1st Viscount Grey of Fallodon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-grey-1st-viscount-grey-of-fallodon/) > [My business is that of every other good citizen - to uphold the law.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/my-business-is-that-of-every-other-good-citizen-to-uphold-the-law/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [What's stronger-the need to uphold the law, or the motive to turn one's back on it?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/what-s-stronger-the-need-to-uphold-the-law-or-the-motive-to-turn-one/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [Being a woman of color, I can truthfully state that I don't feel safe around those who are sworn to honor and uphold the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/normani-kordei/being-a-woman-of-color-i-can-truthfully-state-that-i-don-t-feel-safe/) [Normani Kordei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/normani-kordei/) > [I would uphold the law if for no other reason but to protect myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-more/i-would-uphold-the-law-if-for-no-other-reason-but-to-protect-myself/) [Thomas More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-more/) > [But rules only work when everyone plays by them. What happens when someone doesn't, and the fallout bleeds right into his life? Whats stronger-…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/but-rules-only-work-when-everyone-plays-by-them-what-happens-when/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [When I was running for governor, I was attacked pretty strongly because of my position on the death penalty. But I looked the voters…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-kaine/when-i-was-running-for-governor-i-was-attacked-pretty-strongly/) [Tim Kaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-kaine/) ## More by Ian Bassingthwaighte > [“There is a funny joke that God plays on man. Have you laughed yet? I think it might be the funniest one of all.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-bassingthwaighte/there-is-a-funny-joke-that-god-plays-on-man-have-you-laughed-yet-i/) [Ian Bassingthwaighte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-bassingthwaighte/) [Explore all 2 Ian Bassingthwaighte quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-bassingthwaighte/) ## More Injustice quotes > [“Don't let cycles of violent crimes, uncontrollable, rising cases of bloody impunity, evil puppets in a crippled judiciary, marionettes in a corrupted legislative system…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelica-hopes/don-t-let-cycles-of-violent-crimes-uncontrollable-rising-cases-of/) [Angelica Hopes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelica-hopes/) > [There is no perfect justice, just as there is no absolute in ethics. But there is perfect injustice, and we know it when we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-dershowitz/there-is-no-perfect-justice-just-as-there-is-no-absolute-in-ethics/) [Alan Dershowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-dershowitz/) > [Progress is the injustice each generation commits with regard to its predecessors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emile-m-cioran/progress-is-the-injustice-each-generation-commits-with-regard-to-its/) [Emile M. Cioran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emile-m-cioran/) > [And I've never taken up a sport just because it was a social fad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dinah-shore/and-i-ve-never-taken-up-a-sport-just-because-it-was-a-social-fad/) [Dinah Shore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dinah-shore/) > [Nothing better protects a human being against the stupidity of prejudice, racism, religious or political sectarianism, and exclusivist nationalism than this truth that invariably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-vargas-llosa/nothing-better-protects-a-human-being-against-the-stupidity-of/) [Mario Vargas Llosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-vargas-llosa/) > [Life appears to me too short to be spent in nursing animosity, or registering wrongs. With this creed, revenge never worries my heart, degradation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/life-appears-to-me-too-short-to-be-spent-in-nursing-animosity-or/) [Charlotte Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [“Rather than being incensed by the nature of the bruise, maybe we should be inspired by the possibilities in the bruise.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/rather-than-being-incensed-by-the-nature-of-the-bruise-maybe-we/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [When we struggle for human rights, for freedom, for dignity, when we feel that it is a ministry of the church to concern itself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-we-struggle-for-human-rights-for-freedom-for-dignity-when-we/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I cannot accept being silent in the face of injustice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasmine-crockett/i-cannot-accept-being-silent-in-the-face-of-injustice/) [Jasmine Crockett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasmine-crockett/) > [A perpetually new and lively world, but a dangerous one, full of tragedy and injustice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-cary/a-perpetually-new-and-lively-world-but-a-dangerous-one-full-of/) [Joyce Cary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-cary/) > [I actually recommend as little actual counting as possible in a life partnership. But, when there's a sense of injustice brewing between you, some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-hax/i-actually-recommend-as-little-actual-counting-as-possible-in-a-life/) [Carolyn Hax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-hax/) > [I realize more and more how instinctively pessimistic I am of all human kindness -- since I am always so bowled over by it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dawn-powell/i-realize-more-and-more-how-instinctively-pessimistic-i-am-of-all/) [Dawn Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawn-powell/) > [Of all evils of war the greatest is the purely spiritual evil: the hatred, the injustice, the repudiation of truth, the artificial conflict.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/of-all-evils-of-war-the-greatest-is-the-purely-spiritual-evil-the/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [Unless a man gives himself entirely to the Cross, in a spirit of humility and self-abasement; unless he casts himself down to be trampled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-the-evangelist/unless-a-man-gives-himself-entirely-to-the-cross-in-a-spirit-of/) [Mark the Evangelist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-the-evangelist/) > [In my book I specifically discussed the structural nature of injustice and offered Nine Touchstones of Goddess ethics as an alternative to the Ten…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-p-christ/in-my-book-i-specifically-discussed-the-structural-nature-of/) [Carol P. Christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-p-christ/) [Browse all 2,138 Injustice quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/injustice/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“How could he uphold the law when that law upheld injustice?”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ian Bassingthwaighte" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-bassingthwaighte/how-could-he-uphold-the-law-when-that-law-upheld-injustice/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Injustice" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-bassingthwaighte/how-could-he-uphold-the-law-when-that-law-upheld-injustice/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cce/ian-bassingthwaighte-88809_injustice_how-could-he-uphold-the-law-when-that-la_563009.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cce/ian-bassingthwaighte-88809_injustice_how-could-he-uphold-the-law-when-that-la_563009.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cce/ian-bassingthwaighte-88809_injustice_how-could-he-uphold-the-law-when-that-la_563009.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“How could he uphold the law when that law upheld injustice?” — Ian Bassingthwaighte", "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": "Ian Bassingthwaighte", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-bassingthwaighte/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“How could he uphold the law...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-bassingthwaighte/how-could-he-uphold-the-law-when-that-law-upheld-injustice/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-bassingthwaighte/how-could-he-uphold-the-law-when-that-law-upheld-injustice/#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 } } ] } ```