--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We have to be a nation of laws." description: "\"We have to be a nation of laws.\" — Kris Kobach" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/293/kris-kobach-12194_law_we-have-to-be-a-nation-of-laws-1431210_1431210.jpg" --- # We have to be a nation of laws. ![“We have to be a nation of laws.” quote by Kris Kobach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/293/kris-kobach-12194_law_we-have-to-be-a-nation-of-laws-1431210_1431210.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/293/kris-kobach-12194_law_we-have-to-be-a-nation-of-laws-1431210_1431210.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/293/kris-kobach-12194_law_we-have-to-be-a-nation-of-laws-1431210_1431210.jpg) > “We have to be a nation of laws.” [Kris Kobach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kris-kobach/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A society must be governed by consistent legal rules rather than arbitrary decisions. **In simple terms:** Laws should guide a nation. Key Takeaway Uphold rule of law. Themes law governance justice Mood serious formal Type political legal When to use this quote - legislative drafting - courtroom arguments - public debates - policy implementation Key Concepts rule of law social contract Questions to Reflect On - What mechanisms ensure laws are applied equitably? - How do we balance law with moral judgment? A Different Perspective Laws alone cannot ensure fairness without just enforcement. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Laws](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laws/) [Nation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nation/) [Nation Laws](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nation-laws-727494/) ## Related quotes > [We are a nation of laws and a nation of immigrants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-inglis/we-are-a-nation-of-laws-and-a-nation-of-immigrants/) [Bob Inglis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-inglis/) > [We are still a nation of laws. You just have to check with Barack Obama every day to see what they are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/we-are-still-a-nation-of-laws-you-just-have-to-check-with-barack/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [We, unlike Nazi Germany or Mussolini's Italy, have never stopped being a nation of laws, not of men. But witness how men with motives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-byrd/we-unlike-nazi-germany-or-mussolini-s-italy-have-never-stopped-being/) [Robert Byrd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-byrd/) > [We are a nation of laws, not department-wide memos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-gaetz/we-are-a-nation-of-laws-not-department-wide-memos/) [Matt Gaetz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-gaetz/) > [A nation,” he heard himself say, “consists of its laws. A nation does not consist of its situation at a given time. If an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-gibson/a-nation-he-heard-himself-say-consists-of-its-laws-a-nation-does-not/) [William Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-gibson/) > [I am a citizen of the most beautiful nation on earth, a nation whose laws are harsh yet simple, a nation that never cheats,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-moitessier/i-am-a-citizen-of-the-most-beautiful-nation-on-earth-a-nation-whose/) [Bernard Moitessier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-moitessier/) > [If a state, or nation, has laws it will not enforce for political reasons, it mocks both the law and politics, to say nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-thomas/if-a-state-or-nation-has-laws-it-will-not-enforce-for-political/) [Cal Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-thomas/) > [The fundamental basis of this nation’s laws was given to Moses on the Mount…If we don’t have a proper fundamental moral background, we will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/the-fundamental-basis-of-this-nation-s-laws-was-given-to-moses-on-the/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [Let those who will write the nation's laws, if I can write its textbooks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-samuelson/let-those-who-will-write-the-nation-s-laws-if-i-can-write-its/) [Paul Samuelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-samuelson/) > [If America is a nation of laws as we proclaim, then our immigration laws are part of the package.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-nugent/if-america-is-a-nation-of-laws-as-we-proclaim-then-our-immigration/) [Ted Nugent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-nugent/) > [We have asylum laws that provide humanitarian relief. Those who qualify under those laws are entitled to the relief that we extend. Those who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-mayorkas/we-have-asylum-laws-that-provide-humanitarian-relief-those-who/) [Alejandro Mayorkas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-mayorkas/) > [I don't care who writes a nation's laws-or crafts its advanced treaties-if I can write its economics textbooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-samuelson/i-don-t-care-who-writes-a-nation-s-laws-or-crafts-its-advanced/) [Paul Samuelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-samuelson/) > [We are a nation of laws. And nobody can ignore our Constitution. No one's above the law. And that includes the president of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-yang/we-are-a-nation-of-laws-and-nobody-can-ignore-our-constitution-no-one/) [John Yang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-yang/) > [We're a nation of laws, but the good thing about America, is that laws reside in the people and people can change the laws.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/we-re-a-nation-of-laws-but-the-good-thing-about-america-is-that-laws/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [We are a nation of laws, not a nation that ignores laws if it benefits the Democrat Party.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-nugent/we-are-a-nation-of-laws-not-a-nation-that-ignores-laws-if-it-benefits/) [Ted Nugent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-nugent/) ## More by Kris Kobach > [If Republicans vote in big numbers, we win a statewide election. It's just that simple.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kris-kobach/if-republicans-vote-in-big-numbers-we-win-a-statewide-election-it-s/) [Kris Kobach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kris-kobach/) > [It's not rocket science. It's not super high technology to construct border barriers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kris-kobach/it-s-not-rocket-science-it-s-not-super-high-technology-to-construct/) [Kris Kobach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kris-kobach/) > [Drones don't stop people from coming across the border, they merely tell you that someone is coming across the border.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kris-kobach/drones-don-t-stop-people-from-coming-across-the-border-they-merely/) [Kris Kobach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kris-kobach/) > [Without question, Alabama's House Bill 56 is the most comprehensive anti-illegal-immigration state law ever drafted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kris-kobach/without-question-alabama-s-house-bill-56-is-the-most-comprehensive/) [Kris Kobach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kris-kobach/) > [No one doubts that Donald Trump is willing to walk away from a deal if it's a bad one. No one doubts that he's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kris-kobach/no-one-doubts-that-donald-trump-is-willing-to-walk-away-from-a-deal/) [Kris Kobach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kris-kobach/) > [A commission presenting evidence doesn't do a Jedi mind trick and make state legislators in some state suddenly pass a bill.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kris-kobach/a-commission-presenting-evidence-doesn-t-do-a-jedi-mind-trick-and/) [Kris Kobach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kris-kobach/) > [Quite often the federal government purchases things at prices higher than individuals in the private marketplace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kris-kobach/quite-often-the-federal-government-purchases-things-at-prices-higher/) [Kris Kobach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kris-kobach/) > [Voter fraud happens on both sides of the aisle. And if nothing else, I'm glad Democrats are acknowledging that it exists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kris-kobach/voter-fraud-happens-on-both-sides-of-the-aisle-and-if-nothing-else-i/) [Kris Kobach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kris-kobach/) > [Instead of turning loose these bogus asylum applicants onto the American streets never to be seen again, let's put them into mobile homes. Let's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kris-kobach/instead-of-turning-loose-these-bogus-asylum-applicants-onto-the/) [Kris Kobach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kris-kobach/) > [The numbers of terrorists that we have caught coming - we actually don't catch them coming across the border. We usually catch them in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kris-kobach/the-numbers-of-terrorists-that-we-have-caught-coming-we-actually-don/) [Kris Kobach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kris-kobach/) > [One of the things about New York City is obviously it's a very liberal place but there are plenty of conservatives that don't feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kris-kobach/one-of-the-things-about-new-york-city-is-obviously-it-s-a-very/) [Kris Kobach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kris-kobach/) > [We have the ability to shut down the flow of remittances to Mexico from illegal aliens working in the United States.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kris-kobach/we-have-the-ability-to-shut-down-the-flow-of-remittances-to-mexico/) [Kris Kobach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kris-kobach/) > [Because, when it comes to restoring the rule of law, I can't change my mind and I won't change the subject.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kris-kobach/because-when-it-comes-to-restoring-the-rule-of-law-i-can-t-change-my/) [Kris Kobach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kris-kobach/) > [I have been very aggressively campaigning on Kansas needs to cut its taxes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kris-kobach/i-have-been-very-aggressively-campaigning-on-kansas-needs-to-cut-its/) [Kris Kobach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kris-kobach/) > [It's always enjoyable talking with someone who has a very well-functioning, reasoning mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kris-kobach/it-s-always-enjoyable-talking-with-someone-who-has-a-very-well/) [Kris Kobach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kris-kobach/) [Explore all 56 Kris Kobach quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kris-kobach/) ## More Law quotes > [ That country \[Carthage\] was rapidly sinking into the state of barbarism from whence it had been raised by the Phoenician colonies and Roman laws;… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/that-country-carthage-was-rapidly-sinking-into-the-state-of-barbarism/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [It's easier to change a law than an age-old mentality. Deep down, many prejudices, many hostilities, many fears persist. But if we take a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dacia-maraini/it-s-easier-to-change-a-law-than-an-age-old-mentality-deep-down-many/) [Dacia Maraini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dacia-maraini/) > [America is a democracy and has no Hitler, but I am afraid for her future; there are hard times ahead for the American people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/america-is-a-democracy-and-has-no-hitler-but-i-am-afraid-for-her/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [ \[Islam\] Leaves no room of human legislation in an Islamic state, because herein all legislative functions vest in God and the only function left… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abul-a-la-maududi/islam-leaves-no-room-of-human-legislation-in-an-islamic-state-because/) [Abul A'la Maududi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abul-a-la-maududi/) > [The law is like apparel, which alters with the time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dodderidge/the-law-is-like-apparel-which-alters-with-the-time/) [John Dodderidge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dodderidge/) > [I am convinced that we will never build a democratic state based on rule of law if we do not at the same time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaclav-havel/i-am-convinced-that-we-will-never-build-a-democratic-state-based-on/) [Vaclav Havel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaclav-havel/) > [It must be assumed and established as a principle, that the right of private property must be regarded as sacred. Wherefore, the law ought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-leo-xiii/it-must-be-assumed-and-established-as-a-principle-that-the-right-of/) [Pope Leo XIII](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-leo-xiii/) > [Dictatorship is rule based directly upon force and unrestricted by any laws. The revolutionary dictatorship of the proletariat is rule won and maintained by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-lenin/dictatorship-is-rule-based-directly-upon-force-and-unrestricted-by/) [Vladimir Lenin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-lenin/) > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [ Next came the Patent laws. These began in England in 1624; and, in this country, with the adoption of our constitution. Before then \[these?\],… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/next-came-the-patent-laws-these-began-in-england-in-1624-and-in-this/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Laws undertake to punish only overt acts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/laws-undertake-to-punish-only-overt-acts/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A man has a right to use a saw, an axe, a plane, separately; may he not combine their uses on the same piece…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/a-man-has-a-right-to-use-a-saw-an-axe-a-plane-separately-may-he-not/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [In relations between the rich and the strong, between the rich and the poor, between the master and the servant, it's liberty that grinds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-relations-between-the-rich-and-the-strong-between-the-rich-and-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The laws of every country must be analogous to some common principle.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/the-laws-of-every-country-must-be-analogous-to-some-common-principle/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) [Browse all 16,973 Law quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We have to be a nation of laws.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Kris Kobach" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kris-kobach/we-have-to-be-a-nation-of-laws/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Law" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kris-kobach/we-have-to-be-a-nation-of-laws/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/293/kris-kobach-12194_law_we-have-to-be-a-nation-of-laws-1431210_1431210.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/293/kris-kobach-12194_law_we-have-to-be-a-nation-of-laws-1431210_1431210.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/293/kris-kobach-12194_law_we-have-to-be-a-nation-of-laws-1431210_1431210.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We have to be a nation of laws.” — Kris Kobach", "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": "Kris Kobach", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kris-kobach/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "We have to be a nation...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kris-kobach/we-have-to-be-a-nation-of-laws/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kris-kobach/we-have-to-be-a-nation-of-laws/#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 } } ] } ```