---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I follow the rules, whatever they are…"
description: "\"I follow the rules, whatever they are, with respect to ethical obligations. And it's important in my view to do so.\" — Ketanji Brown Jackson"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9b/ketanji-brown-jackson-6300_character_i-follow-the-rules-whatever-they-are-wit_1583505.jpg"
---

#  I follow the rules, whatever they are, with respect to…

![“I follow the rules, whatever they are, with respect to ethical obligations. And it's important in my view to do so.” quote by Ketanji Brown Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9b/ketanji-brown-jackson-6300_character_i-follow-the-rules-whatever-they-are-wit_1583505.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9b/ketanji-brown-jackson-6300_character_i-follow-the-rules-whatever-they-are-wit_1583505.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9b/ketanji-brown-jackson-6300_character_i-follow-the-rules-whatever-they-are-wit_1583505.jpg)

> “I follow the rules, whatever they are, with respect to ethical obligations. And it's important in my view to do so.”

[Ketanji Brown Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ketanji-brown-jackson/)

## About This Quote

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

She emphasizes strict adherence to ethical duties regardless of the specific rules involved.

**In simple terms:** Follow ethical duties no matter the rules.

Key Takeaway

Uphold ethical standards consistently.

Themes

ethics law responsibility

Mood

determined principled

Type

legal judicial

When to use this quote

- court decisions
- public service
- legal practice
- policy making

Key Concepts

duty integrity principles

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you prioritize duties when rules clash?
- What guides your ethical choices?

A Different Perspective

Ethical dilemmas may arise when rules conflict.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Obligations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obligations/) [Respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect/) [Responsibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responsibility/) [Rules](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rules/)

## Related quotes

> [“You will need all of those skills to move forward, affirming this earth, our ethical obligations to live among those who are invariably different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-butler/you-will-need-all-of-those-skills-to-move-forward-affirming-this/)

[Judith Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-butler/)

> [Where there is not community, trust, respect, ethical behavior are difficult for the young to learn and for the old to maintain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-k-greenleaf/where-there-is-not-community-trust-respect-ethical-behavior-are/)

[Robert K. Greenleaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-k-greenleaf/)

> [The great discovery of the nineteenth century, that we are of one blood with the lower animals, has created new ethical obligations which have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ralph-inge/the-great-discovery-of-the-nineteenth-century-that-we-are-of-one/)

[William Ralph Inge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ralph-inge/)

> [I undertake that, in the exercise of my functions of that office I will have regard to any guidance with respect to ethical standards…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-livingstone/i-undertake-that-in-the-exercise-of-my-functions-of-that-office-i/)

[Ken Livingstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-livingstone/)

> [For 350 years we have been taught that reading maketh a full man, conference a ready man and writing an exact man. Football's place…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/red-smith/for-350-years-we-have-been-taught-that-reading-maketh-a-full-man/)

[Red Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-smith/)

> [Nobody does remakes for the sake of it. As for me, I have not hard and fast rules with respect to remakes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-charan/nobody-does-remakes-for-the-sake-of-it-as-for-me-i-have-not-hard-and/)

[Ram Charan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-charan/)

> [“He had a few simple rules: respect your elders, take care of your body, finish what you start, and solve your own problems.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-douglas/he-had-a-few-simple-rules-respect-your-elders-take-care-of-your-body/)

[Penelope Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-douglas/)

> [As a lawyer I did various IPOs and I know the power of our listing rules and the respect that has around the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicky-morgan/as-a-lawyer-i-did-various-ipos-and-i-know-the-power-of-our-listing/)

[Nicky Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicky-morgan/)

> [As far as the game of marbles is concerned, there is therefore no contradiction between the egocentric practice of games and the mystical respect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-piaget/as-far-as-the-game-of-marbles-is-concerned-there-is-therefore-no/)

[Jean Piaget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-piaget/)

> [ “\[Ivan: \] ”... you haven't let the lack of half-marks stop you. Or the rules. Or respect for reality, as afar as I can… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-mcmaster-bujold/ivan-you-haven-t-let-the-lack-of-half-marks-stop-you-or-the-rules-or/)

[Lois McMaster Bujold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-mcmaster-bujold/)

> [“few simple rules: respect your elders, take care of your body, finish what you start, and solve your own problems.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-douglas/few-simple-rules-respect-your-elders-take-care-of-your-body-finish/)

[Penelope Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-douglas/)

> [And also I assert our interest in respecting all our obligations and implementing all our commitments. And will save no effort whatever to protect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahmoud-abbas/and-also-i-assert-our-interest-in-respecting-all-our-obligations-and/)

[Mahmoud Abbas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahmoud-abbas/)

> [We thought that, perhaps," said I, hesitating, "it is right to begin with the obligations of home, sir; and that, perhaps, while those are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/we-thought-that-perhaps-said-i-hesitating-it-is-right-to-begin-with/)

[Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/)

> [Ordinary citizens are obliged and, if need be, compelled by force to meet their commitments. But let higher obligations of an international order be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-albert-gobat/ordinary-citizens-are-obliged-and-if-need-be-compelled-by-force-to/)

[Charles Albert Gobat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-albert-gobat/)

> [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 Ketanji Brown Jackson

> [You never know what cases are going to become significant and the Supreme Court is part of that story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ketanji-brown-jackson/you-never-know-what-cases-are-going-to-become-significant-and-the/)

[Ketanji Brown Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ketanji-brown-jackson/)

> [My mother had been adamant that I learn how to swim properly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ketanji-brown-jackson/my-mother-had-been-adamant-that-i-learn-how-to-swim-properly/)

[Ketanji Brown Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ketanji-brown-jackson/)

> [As someone who has had family members on patrol and in the line of fire, I care deeply about public safety.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ketanji-brown-jackson/as-someone-who-has-had-family-members-on-patrol-and-in-the-line-of/)

[Ketanji Brown Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ketanji-brown-jackson/)

> [I believe that the Constitution is an enduring document.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ketanji-brown-jackson/i-believe-that-the-constitution-is-an-enduring-document/)

[Ketanji Brown Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ketanji-brown-jackson/)

> [Presidents are not kings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ketanji-brown-jackson/presidents-are-not-kings/)

[Ketanji Brown Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ketanji-brown-jackson/)

> [My very earliest memories are of watching my father study - he had his stack of law books on the kitchen table while I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ketanji-brown-jackson/my-very-earliest-memories-are-of-watching-my-father-study-he-had-his/)

[Ketanji Brown Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ketanji-brown-jackson/)

> [That's what you do as a federal public defender. You are standing up for the constitutional value of representation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ketanji-brown-jackson/that-s-what-you-do-as-a-federal-public-defender-you-are-standing-up/)

[Ketanji Brown Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ketanji-brown-jackson/)

> [I'm a mom and a real person and a wife and doing the best that I can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ketanji-brown-jackson/i-m-a-mom-and-a-real-person-and-a-wife-and-doing-the-best-that-i-can/)

[Ketanji Brown Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ketanji-brown-jackson/)

> [I evaluate the facts, and I interpret and apply the law to the facts of the case before me without fear or favor, consistent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ketanji-brown-jackson/i-evaluate-the-facts-and-i-interpret-and-apply-the-law-to-the-facts/)

[Ketanji Brown Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ketanji-brown-jackson/)

> [Federal public defenders don't get to pick their clients. They have to represent whoever comes in. And it's a service.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ketanji-brown-jackson/federal-public-defenders-don-t-get-to-pick-their-clients-they-have-to/)

[Ketanji Brown Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ketanji-brown-jackson/)

> [If we're going to continue to move forward as a nation, we can't allow concern about discomfort to displace knowledge, truth, or history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ketanji-brown-jackson/if-we-re-going-to-continue-to-move-forward-as-a-nation-we-can-t-allow/)

[Ketanji Brown Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ketanji-brown-jackson/)

> [I know that my role as a judge is a limited one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ketanji-brown-jackson/i-know-that-my-role-as-a-judge-is-a-limited-one/)

[Ketanji Brown Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ketanji-brown-jackson/)

> [I know my judicial role is further constrained by careful adherence to precedent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ketanji-brown-jackson/i-know-my-judicial-role-is-further-constrained-by-careful-adherence/)

[Ketanji Brown Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ketanji-brown-jackson/)

> [I'm a human being and I have an opinion on a lot of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ketanji-brown-jackson/i-m-a-human-being-and-i-have-an-opinion-on-a-lot-of-things/)

[Ketanji Brown Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ketanji-brown-jackson/)

> [Over time I learned to zip shut any bags I might be carrying before I walked into a shop, and to always keep my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ketanji-brown-jackson/over-time-i-learned-to-zip-shut-any-bags-i-might-be-carrying-before-i/)

[Ketanji Brown Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ketanji-brown-jackson/)

[Explore all 99 Ketanji Brown Jackson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ketanji-brown-jackson/)

## More Character quotes

> [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/)

[Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/)

> [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/)

[Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/)

> [Social responsibility above the level of family, or at most of tribe, requires imagination-- devotion, loyalty, all the higher virtues -- which a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/social-responsibility-above-the-level-of-family-or-at-most-of-tribe/)

[Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/)

> [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/)

[Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/)

> [I'm often moved by the circumstances around some of my characters, but I don't think I've actually cried watching myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-winslet/i-m-often-moved-by-the-circumstances-around-some-of-my-characters-but/)

[Kate Winslet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-winslet/)

> [When you're on a daytime drama you get one page, you better damn well know your character. You better know what she would do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hudgins/when-you-re-on-a-daytime-drama-you-get-one-page-you-better-damn-well/)

David Hudgins

> [It can sometimes make people fold into themselves and kind of run away, but I think in this case these characters are being forced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-deschanel/it-can-sometimes-make-people-fold-into-themselves-and-kind-of-run/)

[Emily Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-deschanel/)

> [If you are well-mannered towards those whose views are similar to yours, you may be said to exhibit a fairly good character. But, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-well-mannered-towards-those-whose-views-are-similar-to/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/)

[Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/)

> [In the fight between biology and morality, biology has commonly won in the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/semir-zeki/in-the-fight-between-biology-and-morality-biology-has-commonly-won-in/)

[Semir Zeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/semir-zeki/)

> [Your looks don't make you pretty, it's the person inside who makes you pretty!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-chan/your-looks-don-t-make-you-pretty-it-s-the-person-inside-who-makes-you/)

[Aaron Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-chan/)

> [I'm not a huge social media kind of guy, so I don't really know, I don't really ever get... at least in real life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-stroma/i-m-not-a-huge-social-media-kind-of-guy-so-i-don-t-really-know-i-don/)

[Freddie Stroma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-stroma/)

> [If you stood me in a costume next to a computer graphic of the same-looking character, I think there would be a difference. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warwick-davis/if-you-stood-me-in-a-costume-next-to-a-computer-graphic-of-the-same/)

[Warwick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warwick-davis/)

> [Courage: the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can't practice any other virtue consistently](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/courage-the-most-important-of-all-the-virtues-because-without-courage/)

[Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/)

> [I'm a character actor - always have been, always will be - and historically, character actors don't come into their own until later in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-potts/i-m-a-character-actor-always-have-been-always-will-be-and/)

[Annie Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-potts/)

[Browse all 32,707 Character quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I follow the rules, whatever they are, with respect to ethical obligations. And it's important in my view to do so.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Ketanji Brown Jackson"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ketanji-brown-jackson/i-follow-the-rules-whatever-they-are-with-respect-to-ethical/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Character"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ketanji-brown-jackson/i-follow-the-rules-whatever-they-are-with-respect-to-ethical/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9b/ketanji-brown-jackson-6300_character_i-follow-the-rules-whatever-they-are-wit_1583505.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9b/ketanji-brown-jackson-6300_character_i-follow-the-rules-whatever-they-are-wit_1583505.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9b/ketanji-brown-jackson-6300_character_i-follow-the-rules-whatever-they-are-wit_1583505.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I follow the rules, whatever they are, with respect to ethical obligations. And it's important in my view to…” — Ketanji Brown Jackson",
                "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": "Ketanji Brown Jackson",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ketanji-brown-jackson/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I follow the rules, whatever they...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ketanji-brown-jackson/i-follow-the-rules-whatever-they-are-with-respect-to-ethical/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ketanji-brown-jackson/i-follow-the-rules-whatever-they-are-with-respect-to-ethical/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```