--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In separating out, say, legal and moral…" description: "\"In separating out, say, legal and moral requirements, I tend to work with paradigms rather than strict divisions - eg, paradigmatically, legal requirem..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4cf/john-kleinig-23748_ethical_in-separating-out-say-legal-and-moral-re_2447634.jpg" --- # In separating out, say, legal and moral requirements, I… ![“In separating out, say, legal and moral requirements, I tend to work with paradigms rather than strict divisions - eg, paradigmatically, legal requirements are jurisdictionally bound whereas ethical requirements are aspirationally universal; ethical requirements focus especially on intentions…” quote by John Kleinig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4cf/john-kleinig-23748_ethical_in-separating-out-say-legal-and-moral-re_2447634.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4cf/john-kleinig-23748_ethical_in-separating-out-say-legal-and-moral-re_2447634.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4cf/john-kleinig-23748_ethical_in-separating-out-say-legal-and-moral-re_2447634.jpg) > “In separating out, say, legal and moral requirements, I tend to work with paradigms rather than strict divisions - eg, paradigmatically, legal requirements are jurisdictionally bound whereas ethical requirements are aspirationally universal; ethical requirements focus especially on intentions whereas legal requirements focus primarily on conduct; ethical requirements take priority over legal requirements; and so on.” [John Kleinig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kleinig/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The author contrasts legal rules, which are jurisdiction‑specific and enforce conduct, with ethical norms, which are universal, intention‑focused, and should guide law. **In simple terms:** Law governs actions; ethics guides intentions and higher standards. Key Takeaway Prioritize ethical intent over mere compliance. Themes law ethics jurisdiction intentions priority Mood thoughtful critical reflective Type analytical philosophical When to use this quote - policy drafting - corporate compliance - personal decision‑making - public administration Key Concepts jurisprudence moral philosophy normative hierarchy Questions to Reflect On - How do you resolve conflicts between law and personal ethics? - When should ethical considerations override legal requirements? A Different Perspective Ethical standards may conflict with legal obligations, creating dilemmas. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Focus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focus/) [Intention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intention/) [Moral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moral/) [Morality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/morality/) [Paradigm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paradigm/) [Paradigms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paradigms/) [Priorities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/priorities/) ## Related quotes > [Because we believe that somewhere in the nest of paradigms contained in the phrase "missional church" lies nothing less that the future viability of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-hirsch/because-we-believe-that-somewhere-in-the-nest-of-paradigms-contained/) [Alan Hirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-hirsch/) > [“I'm considering writing a self-help book and giving people 20 cents to read it. This way, I can be sure they all get new paradigms.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-lilly/i-m-considering-writing-a-self-help-book-and-giving-people-20-cents/) [Ryan Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-lilly/) > [Belief is another word for paradigm. It's a synonymous. Your belief of the way things are. Values are the way things should be, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/belief-is-another-word-for-paradigm-it-s-a-synonymous-your-belief-of/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [A paradigm is a powerful theoretical and methodological framework which defines the working lives of thousands of intelligent and disciplined minds. And paradigms do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-naughton/a-paradigm-is-a-powerful-theoretical-and-methodological-framework/) [John Naughton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-naughton/) > [Science today is locked into paradigms. Every avenue is blocked by beliefs that are wrong, and if you try to get anything published by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-hoyle/science-today-is-locked-into-paradigms-every-avenue-is-blocked-by/) [Fred Hoyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-hoyle/) > [“Let us, thusly, embrace the assumption that to each advocate of a respective paradigm within his respective bubble, the phenomenological gaps between himself and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashim-shanker/let-us-thusly-embrace-the-assumption-that-to-each-advocate-of-a/) [Ashim Shanker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashim-shanker/) > [Domains like Trade, Technology, Tourism, Talent and Tradition have the power to redefine existing paradigms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/domains-like-trade-technology-tourism-talent-and-tradition-have-the/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Independent will is our capacity to act. It gives us the power to transcend our paradigms, to swim upstream, to rewrite our scripts, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/independent-will-is-our-capacity-to-act-it-gives-us-the-power-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The more aware we are of our basic paradigms, maps, or assumptions, and the extent to which we have been influenced by our experience,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-more-aware-we-are-of-our-basic-paradigms-maps-or-assumptions-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Paradigms can be asked to show their worth, an some of them do not stand up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-blackburn/paradigms-can-be-asked-to-show-their-worth-an-some-of-them-do-not/) [Simon Blackburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-blackburn/) > [I am a little suspicious of industry paradigms. I feel like so many movies and TV shows feel so familiar because of over-reliance on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-ball/i-am-a-little-suspicious-of-industry-paradigms-i-feel-like-so-many/) [Alan Ball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-ball/) > [Question Your Paradigms, your perceptions of reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-n-robinson/question-your-paradigms-your-perceptions-of-reality/) Daniel N. Robinson > [We do have the ability to shift our paradigms - by shifting our belief systems, by working on ourselves, by looking very closely at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mariel-hemingway/we-do-have-the-ability-to-shift-our-paradigms-by-shifting-our-belief/) [Mariel Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mariel-hemingway/) > [We see the world, not as it is, but as we are -- or, as we are conditioned to see it. When we open…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/we-see-the-world-not-as-it-is-but-as-we-are-or-as-we-are-conditioned/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [“The term paradigm shift was introduced by Thomas Kuhn in his highly influential landmark book, The Structure of Scientific Revolutions. Kuhn shows how almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-r-covey/the-term-paradigm-shift-was-introduced-by-thomas-kuhn-in-his-highly/) [Stephen R. Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-r-covey/) ## More by John Kleinig > [I see loyalty - roughly perseverance in relational commitments despite the cost of such perseverance - as an important human value/virtue. Think of it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kleinig/i-see-loyalty-roughly-perseverance-in-relational-commitments-despite/) [John Kleinig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kleinig/) > [Police do not work at the immediate direction of the communities they serve, but through their institutional connections. Police departments may develop structures, modi…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kleinig/police-do-not-work-at-the-immediate-direction-of-the-communities-they/) [John Kleinig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kleinig/) > [What we have to ask is this: what can we morally expect of and allow to people whom we deploy to fulfill this or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kleinig/what-we-have-to-ask-is-this-what-can-we-morally-expect-of-and-allow/) [John Kleinig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kleinig/) > [Police have both extra constraints and extra permissions - on the one hand, they can't dodge involvement in social disorder as the rest of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kleinig/police-have-both-extra-constraints-and-extra-permissions-on-the-one/) [John Kleinig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kleinig/) > [I grew up in a home in which loyalty to family was central to my father's outlook. Adolescent changes to my outlook (which set…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kleinig/i-grew-up-in-a-home-in-which-loyalty-to-family-was-central-to-my/) [John Kleinig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kleinig/) > [I confess to being something of a philosophical butterfly. The world is full of so many interesting questions, and although my greatest passion is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kleinig/i-confess-to-being-something-of-a-philosophical-butterfly-the-world/) [John Kleinig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kleinig/) > [It is odd that a value/virtue that plays such a central role in dramatic literature has played such a small role in philosophical writing.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kleinig/it-is-odd-that-a-value-virtue-that-plays-such-a-central-role-in/) [John Kleinig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kleinig/) > [I see ethical considerations as having a certain priority in our interactions - passing judgment on our political and legal processes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kleinig/i-see-ethical-considerations-as-having-a-certain-priority-in-our/) [John Kleinig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kleinig/) > [Structurally I don't see a fundamental difference between what we may reasonably expect of police and doctors - though obviously the fact that doctors…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kleinig/structurally-i-don-t-see-a-fundamental-difference-between-what-we-may/) [John Kleinig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kleinig/) > [As a matter of ethics - our broader social life needs to be constrained by law and other devices - resolving at the societal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kleinig/as-a-matter-of-ethics-our-broader-social-life-needs-to-be-constrained/) [John Kleinig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kleinig/) > [Whistleblowing constitutes a nice test case for the evaluation of loyalty. Loyalty also appears at the intersection of many major philosophical debates: general ones…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kleinig/whistleblowing-constitutes-a-nice-test-case-for-the-evaluation-of/) [John Kleinig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kleinig/) > [The roles evolve over time: juries once made determinations about law; nowadays, they are supposedly limited to making factual determinations. A good move? All…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kleinig/the-roles-evolve-over-time-juries-once-made-determinations-about-law/) [John Kleinig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kleinig/) > [There will always be situations in which conflicts arise between individual and communal values - Catholic police officers deployed to enable women to enter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kleinig/there-will-always-be-situations-in-which-conflicts-arise-between/) [John Kleinig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kleinig/) > [I remember Stanley Benn remarking that one needed to be a certain age to engage with problems in political philosophy - I think he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kleinig/i-remember-stanley-benn-remarking-that-one-needed-to-be-a-certain-age/) [John Kleinig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kleinig/) > [Loyalty saves us from the self-advantaging compromising of important relations - such as friendship, marital and professional commitments, group memberships, and so on. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kleinig/loyalty-saves-us-from-the-self-advantaging-compromising-of-important/) [John Kleinig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kleinig/) [Explore all 25 John Kleinig quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kleinig/) ## More Ethical quotes > [The concept of humanity is an especially useful ideological instrument of imperialist expansion, and in its ethical-humanitarian form it is a specific vehicle of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-schmitt/the-concept-of-humanity-is-an-especially-useful-ideological/) [Carl Schmitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-schmitt/) > [My hope is that if people have the knowledge, and if they actually see where their food comes from and have access to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pollan/my-hope-is-that-if-people-have-the-knowledge-and-if-they-actually-see/) [Michael Pollan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pollan/) > [Design certainly has a cosmetic, aesthetic aim. It always aims at making things beautiful. But relevance is just as important. I often say, 'If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yves-behar/design-certainly-has-a-cosmetic-aesthetic-aim-it-always-aims-at/) [Yves Behar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yves-behar/) > [What our species needs, above all else, is a generally accepted ethical system that is compatible with the scientific knowledge we now possess.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/what-our-species-needs-above-all-else-is-a-generally-accepted-ethical/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Daily contact with some teachers is itself all-sided ethical education for the child without a spoken precept. Here, too, the real advantage of male…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-stanley-hall/daily-contact-with-some-teachers-is-itself-all-sided-ethical/) [G. Stanley Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-stanley-hall/) > [It is possible to believe in progress as a fact without believing in progress as an ethical principle; but in the catechism of many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norbert-wiener/it-is-possible-to-believe-in-progress-as-a-fact-without-believing-in/) [Norbert Wiener](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norbert-wiener/) > [Virtue is as little to be acquired by learning as genius; nay, the idea is barren, and is only to be employed as an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-schopenhauer/virtue-is-as-little-to-be-acquired-by-learning-as-genius-nay-the-idea/) [Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-schopenhauer/) > [I'm a fan of Hugh Kenner, Richard Ellman, Lionel Trilling and Frank Kermode. All these people have taught me how to read - but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-kitcher/i-m-a-fan-of-hugh-kenner-richard-ellman-lionel-trilling-and-frank/) [Philip Kitcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-kitcher/) > [Of course, corporations and governments have a right to something for their money. They pay the wages. But they don't have the ethical right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ralston-saul/of-course-corporations-and-governments-have-a-right-to-something-for/) [John Ralston Saul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ralston-saul/) > [It's silly to have as one's sole object in life just making money, accumulating wealth. I work because I enjoy what I'm doing, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-carson/it-s-silly-to-have-as-one-s-sole-object-in-life-just-making-money/) [Johnny Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-carson/) > [Everyone seems to assume that the unscrupulous parts of journalism will be the frivolous or jocular parts. This is against all ethical experience. Jokes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/everyone-seems-to-assume-that-the-unscrupulous-parts-of-journalism/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [“... Ethical cyberexplorers are responsible, yeah? We are friendly ghosts in the machine, not poltergeists or hooligans. We are a growing breed. Over sixty-five…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mitchell/ethical-cyberexplorers-are-responsible-yeah-we-are-friendly-ghosts-in/) [David Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mitchell/) > [Undeniably, character does count for our citizens, out communities, and our Nation, and this week we celebrate the importance of character in our individual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/undeniably-character-does-count-for-our-citizens-out-communities-and/) [William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/) > [“Where are the ethical concerns, that so many people called animal lovers invoke, when you steal the children of wild dog mothers and other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-nther-bloch/where-are-the-ethical-concerns-that-so-many-people-called-animal/) Günther Bloch > [In the light of absolute values (religious or ethical) man himself is judged to be limited or imperfect, while he can occasionally accomplish acts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-e-hulme/in-the-light-of-absolute-values-religious-or-ethical-man-himself-is/) [T. E. Hulme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-e-hulme/) Browse all 1,110 Ethical quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "In separating out, say, legal and moral requirements, I tend to work with paradigms rather than strict divisions - eg, paradigmatically, legal requirements are jurisdictionally bound whereas ethical requirements are aspirationally universal; ethical requirements focus especially on intentions whereas legal requirements focus primarily on conduct; ethical requirements take priority over legal requirements; and so on.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Kleinig" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kleinig/in-separating-out-say-legal-and-moral-requirements-i-tend-to-work/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ethical" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kleinig/in-separating-out-say-legal-and-moral-requirements-i-tend-to-work/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4cf/john-kleinig-23748_ethical_in-separating-out-say-legal-and-moral-re_2447634.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4cf/john-kleinig-23748_ethical_in-separating-out-say-legal-and-moral-re_2447634.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4cf/john-kleinig-23748_ethical_in-separating-out-say-legal-and-moral-re_2447634.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“In separating out, say, legal and moral requirements, I tend to work with paradigms rather than strict…” — John Kleinig", "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": "John Kleinig", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kleinig/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "In separating out, say, legal and...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kleinig/in-separating-out-say-legal-and-moral-requirements-i-tend-to-work/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kleinig/in-separating-out-say-legal-and-moral-requirements-i-tend-to-work/#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 } } ] } ```