Affair Quote by James Fitzjames Stephen
“To try to regulate the internal affairs of a family, the relations of love or friendship, or many other things of the same sort, by law or by the coercion of public opinion, is like trying to pull an eyelash out of a man's eye with a pair of tongs. They may put out the eye, but they will never get hold of the eyelash”
About This Quote
Source Book: Liberty, Equality, Fraternity by James Fitzjames Stephen, 1882
Regulating personal relationships through law or public pressure is futile and can cause harm.
In simple terms: Law cannot control love or family ties effectively.
Key Takeaway
Respect personal autonomy.
Themes
privacy
law
family
Mood
cautious
reflective
Type
philosophical
critical
When to use this quote
- family disputes
- friendship dynamics
- public morality campaigns
Key Concepts
individual liberty
state overreach
social norms
Questions to Reflect On
- Should the state intervene in private matters?
- What are the limits of public opinion?
A Different Perspective
Legal attempts may backfire, causing resentment.
![“[A]s it is impossible that any man endowed with rational faculties, and being in a state of freedom, should willingly agree, without some motive of love or friendship, absolutely to sacrifice his own interest to that of another; it becomes necessary to impose upon him, to persuade him, that his…” quote by Henry Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/825/henry-fielding-1358_freedom_a-s-it-is-impossible-that-any-man-endowe_2361465.jpg)
![“The result of cutting [political power] up into little bits is simply that the man who can sweep the greatest number into one heap will govern the rest... In a pure democracy the ruling men will be the wirepullers and their friends; but they will no more be on an equality with the voters than…” quote by James Fitzjames Stephen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/798/james-fitzjames-stephen-29299_bits_the-result-of-cutting-political-power-up_2424141.jpg)
