Absence Quote by John Russell, 1st Earl Russell
![“Among the defects of the bill [Lord Derby's] which are numerous, one provision is conspicuous by its presence and another by its absence.” quote by John Russell, 1st Earl Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f14/john-russell-1st-earl-russell_absence_among-the-defects-of-the-bill-lord-derby_624109.jpg)
“Among the defects of the bill [Lord Derby's] which are numerous, one provision is conspicuous by its presence and another by its absence.”
About This Quote
Source Parliamentary Debate, House of Lords, 1850
Legislation often has visible flaws and hidden gaps, affecting its effectiveness.
In simple terms: Bills have obvious and hidden problems.
Key Takeaway
Scrutinize laws carefully.
Themes
law
policy
governance
critical analysis
Mood
analytical
critical
Type
legislative
philosophical
When to use this quote
- drafting bills
- policy review
- public advocacy
Key Concepts
political science
law
ethics
Questions to Reflect On
- Which provision seems most critical to improve?
- How can absent address both visible and hidden issues?
A Different Perspective
Overemphasis on flaws may stall progress.
![“[Necessity is] the sum of all things, which being now existent, conduce and concur to the production of that action hereafter, whereof if any one thing now were wanting, the effect could not be produced. This concourse of causes, whereof every one is determined to be such as it is by a like…” quote by Thomas Hobbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/a3e/thomas-hobbes-1127_action_necessity-is-the-sum-of-all-things-which_904190.jpg)
