---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Laws are made for one purpose only (...)…"
description: "\"“Laws are made for one purpose only (...) to hold us in check when our desires grow immoderate. As long as our desires are moderate we have no need of ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4eb/j-m-coetzee-2457_law_laws-are-made-for-one-purpose-only-to-ho_2016456.png"
---

#  Laws are made for one purpose only (...) to hold us in…

![“Laws are made for one purpose only (...) to hold us in check when our desires grow immoderate. As long as our desires are moderate we have no need of laws.” quote by J.M. Coetzee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4eb/j-m-coetzee-2457_law_laws-are-made-for-one-purpose-only-to-ho_2016456.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4eb/j-m-coetzee-2457_law_laws-are-made-for-one-purpose-only-to-ho_2016456.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4eb/j-m-coetzee-2457_law_laws-are-made-for-one-purpose-only-to-ho_2016456.png)

> ““Laws are made for one purpose only (...) to hold us in check when our desires grow immoderate. As long as our desires are moderate we have no need of laws.””

[J.M. Coetzee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-coetzee/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Laws serve to restrain excessive desires; when desires are modest, laws become unnecessary.

**In simple terms:** Laws curb excess; modesty needs no law.

Key Takeaway

Cultivate moderation to reduce reliance on regulation.

Themes

law desire moderation

Mood

thoughtful philosophical

Type

reflective inspirational

When to use this quote

- personal behavior
- legislative design
- community norms

Key Concepts

ethical restraint social contract

Questions to Reflect On

- Can societies thrive without laws?
- What drives desire beyond moderation?

A Different Perspective

Human nature often exceeds moderate desires, making laws still needed.

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[Desires Moderate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desires-moderate-3628090/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Laws](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laws/) [Laws Purpose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laws-purpose-2768357/) [Moderate Need](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moderate-need-3628091/) [Need Laws](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/need-laws-495237/) [Purpose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purpose/)

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