--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: the law itself may be inconsistent with…" description: "\"“the law itself may be inconsistent with substantive justice—it may be inconsistent with what you or I believe is right. The idea that we have a legal ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae5/joel-p-trachtman-62608_dreams_the-law-itself-may-be-inconsistent-with_1961719.jpg" --- # the law itself may be inconsistent with substantive… ![“the law itself may be inconsistent with substantive justice—it may be inconsistent with what you or I believe is right. The idea that we have a legal system rather than a system that simply says, “Do what is right in each circumstance,” represents a recognition that we must compromise about what…” quote by Joel P. Trachtman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae5/joel-p-trachtman-62608_dreams_the-law-itself-may-be-inconsistent-with_1961719.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae5/joel-p-trachtman-62608_dreams_the-law-itself-may-be-inconsistent-with_1961719.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae5/joel-p-trachtman-62608_dreams_the-law-itself-may-be-inconsistent-with_1961719.jpg) > ““the law itself may be inconsistent with substantive justice—it may be inconsistent with what you or I believe is right. The idea that we have a legal system rather than a system that simply says, “Do what is right in each circumstance,” represents a recognition that we must compromise about what we think may be right in order to live in a society with others who have varying visions of what is right.”” [Joel P. Trachtman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-p-trachtman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Legal systems must balance consistent rules with individual notions of right, requiring compromise among diverse moral visions. **In simple terms:** Law vs. personal morality; compromise needed Key Takeaway Seek balance between rule‑law and ethical judgment. Themes justice law ethics Mood thoughtful critical Type philosophical political When to use this quote - court decisions - policy making - community mediation Key Concepts Legal theory moral philosophy Questions to Reflect On - How can societies reconcile differing moral views? - What limits should law have in moral judgments? A Different Perspective Compromise may dilute moral clarity and lead to inconsistent outcomes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Legal system](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/legal-system/) ## Related quotes > [The strength of the claims of formal justice, of obedience to system, clearly depend upon the substantive justice of institutions and the possibilities of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-rawls/the-strength-of-the-claims-of-formal-justice-of-obedience-to-system/) [John Rawls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-rawls/) > [“Although a legal system is rooted in the values of its society, it also has an independent dynamic, with principles, language, and rules of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-p-trachtman/although-a-legal-system-is-rooted-in-the-values-of-its-society-it/) [Joel P. Trachtman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-p-trachtman/) > [There have been some gains made in terms of more equality for women in the workplace and in the way the legal system deals…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-chapman/there-have-been-some-gains-made-in-terms-of-more-equality-for-women/) [Tracy Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-chapman/) > [Torture is such a slippery slope; as soon as you allow a society or any legal system to do that, almost instantly you get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iain-banks/torture-is-such-a-slippery-slope-as-soon-as-you-allow-a-society-or/) [Iain Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iain-banks/) > [None of us like the concept of law because none of us like the restraints it puts on us. But when we understand that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/none-of-us-like-the-concept-of-law-because-none-of-us-like-the/) [Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/) > [“And that’s the terrible myth of organized society. That everything that’s done through the established system is legal. And that word has a powerful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-m-kunstler/and-that-s-the-terrible-myth-of-organized-society-that-everything/) William M. Kunstler > [“The fundamental basis by which the court’s decision might be made is, in itself, imperfect and subject to contradictions. There is very little consideration…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashim-shanker/the-fundamental-basis-by-which-the-court-s-decision-might-be-made-is/) [Ashim Shanker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashim-shanker/) > [A primary motivation for introducing no-fault divorce was, in fact, to reduce perjury in the legal system.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-coontz/a-primary-motivation-for-introducing-no-fault-divorce-was-in-fact-to/) [Stephanie Coontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-coontz/) > [“Police not enforcing laws results in a high crime rate that is formally reported as a low crime rate in police statistics.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/police-not-enforcing-laws-results-in-a-high-crime-rate-that-is/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [Justice Lewis Powell spoke for all of us when he said: Equal justice under law is perhaps the most inspiring idea of our society.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-kennedy/justice-lewis-powell-spoke-for-all-of-us-when-he-said-equal-justice/) [Edward Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-kennedy/) > [I think the reality is that copyright law has for a very long time been a tiny little part of American jurisprudence, far removed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-lessig/i-think-the-reality-is-that-copyright-law-has-for-a-very-long-time/) [Lawrence Lessig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-lessig/) > [Our legal system, including the police, is anti-Dalit and anti-poor. The death penalty laws' wrathful majesty, in blood-shot equality, deals the fatal blow on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/v-r-krishna-iyer/our-legal-system-including-the-police-is-anti-dalit-and-anti-poor-the/) V. R. Krishna Iyer > [“They have secret weapons that break the heart of innocents, elevate stress levels, shoot down to make it look guilt. They can burn from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-karvouni/they-have-secret-weapons-that-break-the-heart-of-innocents-elevate/) [Maria Karvouni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-karvouni/) > [The legal system in Afghanistan is very immature and porous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsey-graham/the-legal-system-in-afghanistan-is-very-immature-and-porous/) [Lindsey Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsey-graham/) > [I see the main problem of my life, and indeed anybody's life, as the balancing of competitive freedoms ... a sense of mutual obligations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-west/i-see-the-main-problem-of-my-life-and-indeed-anybody-s-life-as-the/) [Rebecca West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-west/) ## More by Joel P. Trachtman > [“not just words, but words that carry the force of the state.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-p-trachtman/not-just-words-but-words-that-carry-the-force-of-the-state/) [Joel P. Trachtman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-p-trachtman/) > [“The art of reasoned persuasion is an iterative, recursive heuristic, meaning that we must go back and forth between the facts and the rules…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-p-trachtman/the-art-of-reasoned-persuasion-is-an-iterative-recursive-heuristic/) [Joel P. Trachtman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-p-trachtman/) > [“Law, like taxes in the words of the great judge Oliver Wendell Holmes, is the price of civilization.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-p-trachtman/law-like-taxes-in-the-words-of-the-great-judge-oliver-wendell-holmes/) [Joel P. Trachtman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-p-trachtman/) > [“Although a legal system is rooted in the values of its society, it also has an independent dynamic, with principles, language, and rules of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-p-trachtman/although-a-legal-system-is-rooted-in-the-values-of-its-society-it/) [Joel P. Trachtman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-p-trachtman/) [Explore all 5 Joel P. Trachtman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-p-trachtman/) ## More Dreams quotes > [“Cine a ucis stelele? Cine a surpat drumul spre viitor al celor din morminte?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ionel-teodoreanu/cine-a-ucis-stelele-cine-a-surpat-drumul-spre-viitor-al-celor-din/) [Ionel Teodoreanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ionel-teodoreanu/) > [“Once we become sensitive to dreams, we discover that every dynamic in a dream is manifesting itself in some way in our practical lives”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-johnson/once-we-become-sensitive-to-dreams-we-discover-that-every-dynamic-in/) [Robert A. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-johnson/) > [“Now you’re wet. You’re so wet you’re leaking down your ass. You’re soaking my pillow. I don’t think I’m ever washing it. I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-stoker/now-you-re-wet-you-re-so-wet-you-re-leaking-down-your-ass-you-re/) [Susan Stoker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-stoker/) > [“Not that it matters, when you dream, there's no outside or in. Your mind is an unimaginable bloom. A willow catkin as big as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-shapero/not-that-it-matters-when-you-dream-there-s-no-outside-or-in-your-mind/) [Rich Shapero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-shapero/) > [Sometimes we wish for the feel but we never understand that we have to give a lot to get the feel !](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reynolds/sometimes-we-wish-for-the-feel-but-we-never-understand-that-we-have/) [Robert Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reynolds/) > [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [It’s so important to create in your own voice, to hold onto what makes you unique, and have faith in your vision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lasseter/it-s-so-important-to-create-in-your-own-voice-to-hold-onto-what-makes/) [John Lasseter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lasseter/) > [“As dreams are the healing songs from the wilderness of our unconscious - So wild animals, wild plants, wild landscapes are the healing dreams…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-pendell/as-dreams-are-the-healing-songs-from-the-wilderness-of-our/) [Dale Pendell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-pendell/) > [Alone in a world, With millions of souls Walking in circles Trapped in their dreams unhealthy, unclean walking in circles, now do not disturb…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chester-bennington/alone-in-a-world-with-millions-of-souls-walking-in-circles-trapped-in/) [Chester Bennington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chester-bennington/) > [“Doing the work to transform your dreams into reality is like walking across the earth. It can be that hard, and it can take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dragos-bratasanu/doing-the-work-to-transform-your-dreams-into-reality-is-like-walking/) [Dragos Bratasanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dragos-bratasanu/) > [As far as Im concerned, I didnt dream - ever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-sturgeon/as-far-as-im-concerned-i-didnt-dream-ever/) [Theodore Sturgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-sturgeon/) > [I guess, it's a father's dream for his daughter to be known around the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liza-soberano/i-guess-it-s-a-father-s-dream-for-his-daughter-to-be-known-around-the/) [Liza Soberano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liza-soberano/) > [I am just enjoying the dream of being Milan coach at the age of 40.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennaro-gattuso/i-am-just-enjoying-the-dream-of-being-milan-coach-at-the-age-of-40/) [Gennaro Gattuso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennaro-gattuso/) > [Sometimes life seems like a dream, especially when I look down and see that I forgot to put on my pants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-handey/sometimes-life-seems-like-a-dream-especially-when-i-look-down-and-see/) [Jack Handey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-handey/) > [“I had a dream. I had an awesome dream.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-had-a-dream-i-had-an-awesome-dream/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 40,599 Dreams quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“the law itself may be inconsistent with substantive justice—it may be inconsistent with what you or I believe is right. The idea that we have a legal system rather than a system that simply says, “Do what is right in each circumstance,” represents a recognition that we must compromise about what we think may be right in order to live in a society with others who have varying visions of what is right.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Joel P. Trachtman" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-p-trachtman/the-law-itself-may-be-inconsistent-with-substantive-justice-it-may-be/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Dreams" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-p-trachtman/the-law-itself-may-be-inconsistent-with-substantive-justice-it-may-be/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae5/joel-p-trachtman-62608_dreams_the-law-itself-may-be-inconsistent-with_1961719.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae5/joel-p-trachtman-62608_dreams_the-law-itself-may-be-inconsistent-with_1961719.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae5/joel-p-trachtman-62608_dreams_the-law-itself-may-be-inconsistent-with_1961719.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“the law itself may be inconsistent with substantive justice—it may be inconsistent with what you or I…” — Joel P. Trachtman", "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": "Joel P. Trachtman", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-p-trachtman/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“the law itself may be inconsistent...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-p-trachtman/the-law-itself-may-be-inconsistent-with-substantive-justice-it-may-be/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-p-trachtman/the-law-itself-may-be-inconsistent-with-substantive-justice-it-may-be/#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 } } ] } ```