---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Laws fixed, certain, and uniform, are…"
description: "\"Laws fixed, certain, and uniform, are said to be the distinguishing traits of civilized from savage communities. In these last, seldom are any laws, un..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/acd/levi-woodbury-63441_any_laws-fixed-certain-and-uniform-are-said_2449336.jpg"
---

#  Laws fixed, certain, and uniform, are said to be the…

![“Laws fixed, certain, and uniform, are said to be the distinguishing traits of civilized from savage communities. In these last, seldom are any laws, unless it be the arbitrary and uncertain will of the strongest.” quote by Levi Woodbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/acd/levi-woodbury-63441_any_laws-fixed-certain-and-uniform-are-said_2449336.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/acd/levi-woodbury-63441_any_laws-fixed-certain-and-uniform-are-said_2449336.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/acd/levi-woodbury-63441_any_laws-fixed-certain-and-uniform-are-said_2449336.jpg)

> “Laws fixed, certain, and uniform, are said to be the distinguishing traits of civilized from savage communities. In these last, seldom are any laws, unless it be the arbitrary and uncertain will of the strongest.”

[Levi Woodbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/levi-woodbury/)

## About This Quote

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

Civilized societies claim fixed laws, but often the strongest impose arbitrary will.

**In simple terms:** Law claims order, yet power can override it.

Key Takeaway

Question the fairness of imposed authority.

Themes

law power civilization justice

Mood

critical reflective

Type

philosophical political

When to use this quote

- government
- community governance
- conflict resolution

Key Concepts

legal theory political philosophy

Questions to Reflect On

- Who decides what is just?
- How can societies ensure true fairness?

A Different Perspective

Laws may be manipulated by those in power.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Communities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communities/) [Distinguishing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/distinguishing/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Laws](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laws/) [Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/savage/) [Uniform](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/uniform/)

## Related quotes

> [Mankind, I hazard, wherever found, Civilized or Savage, cannot keep to any purpose for much length of time, except the purpose of destroying himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanette-winterson/mankind-i-hazard-wherever-found-civilized-or-savage-cannot-keep-to/)

[Jeanette Winterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanette-winterson/)

> [Our laws must be fixed to keep guns out of the hands of dangerous people. We have to keep speaking out for common-sense reforms.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-durbin/our-laws-must-be-fixed-to-keep-guns-out-of-the-hands-of-dangerous/)

[Dick Durbin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-durbin/)

> [Islam's laws are fixed and that is why Islam is stable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abu-bakar-bashir/islam-s-laws-are-fixed-and-that-is-why-islam-is-stable/)

[Abu Bakar Bashir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abu-bakar-bashir/)

> [I know that one of the distinguishing things was I looked like I could hold a gun, even though I'd never held one before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yvonne-strahovski/i-know-that-one-of-the-distinguishing-things-was-i-looked-like-i/)

[Yvonne Strahovski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yvonne-strahovski/)

> [Not everyone can come and post on Forbes; it's a very distinguishing factor for us. We vet the folks who come on board.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-perlis/not-everyone-can-come-and-post-on-forbes-it-s-a-very-distinguishing/)

[Michael Perlis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-perlis/)

> [We live in a culture that has a real hard time distinguishing fiction from reality. Even when they're told something is fiction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nic-pizzolatto/we-live-in-a-culture-that-has-a-real-hard-time-distinguishing-fiction/)

[Nic Pizzolatto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nic-pizzolatto/)

> [To the extent that we even understand string theory, it may imply a massive number of possible different universes with different laws of physics…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-m-krauss/to-the-extent-that-we-even-understand-string-theory-it-may-imply-a/)

[Lawrence M. Krauss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-m-krauss/)

> [Human rights, of course, must include the right to religious freedom, understood as the expression of a dimension that is at once individual and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/human-rights-of-course-must-include-the-right-to-religious-freedom/)

[Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/)

> [One of the distinguishing characteristics of the true work of art is that it is able to both contain and express different meanings -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-lucie-smith/one-of-the-distinguishing-characteristics-of-the-true-work-of-art-is/)

Edward Lucie-Smith

> [There is no common standard for education about diagnosis. Distinguishing between bipolar depression and major depressive disorder, for example, can be difficult, and mistakes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kay-redfield-jamison/there-is-no-common-standard-for-education-about-diagnosis/)

[Kay Redfield Jamison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kay-redfield-jamison/)

> [We have a media that presents every politician as being as bad as the next. There is no distinguishing between one good idea or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-blunkett/we-have-a-media-that-presents-every-politician-as-being-as-bad-as-the/)

[David Blunkett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-blunkett/)

> [I had trouble distinguishing art from life. I don't now, and I feel much better!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-fagen/i-had-trouble-distinguishing-art-from-life-i-don-t-now-and-i-feel/)

[Donald Fagen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-fagen/)

> [My distinguishing feature is the gap between my teeth. I had to wear a brace because my teeth used to stick out like guns…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-birkin/my-distinguishing-feature-is-the-gap-between-my-teeth-i-had-to-wear-a/)

[Jane Birkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-birkin/)

> [However it may be confounded or covered up or counterfeited, this elemental capacity to fight against injustice remains the distinguishing characteristic of human beings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rollo-may/however-it-may-be-confounded-or-covered-up-or-counterfeited-this/)

[Rollo May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rollo-may/)

> [“Discernment could be likened to distinguishing a light in the distance.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-bevere/discernment-could-be-likened-to-distinguishing-a-light-in-the-distance/)

[Lisa Bevere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-bevere/)

## More by Levi Woodbury

> [Juries must, of necessity, be governed, in reaching many results through inferences from other facts, by certain laws of nature and human reason. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/levi-woodbury/juries-must-of-necessity-be-governed-in-reaching-many-results-through/)

[Levi Woodbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/levi-woodbury/)

> [It is essential to the pure and peaceful administration of justice that all its officers keep carefully within the boundaries of their constitutional powers.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/levi-woodbury/it-is-essential-to-the-pure-and-peaceful-administration-of-justice/)

[Levi Woodbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/levi-woodbury/)

> [The very idea of the law in a constitutional republic involves the requisite that it be a rule, a guide, uniform, fixed and equal,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/levi-woodbury/the-very-idea-of-the-law-in-a-constitutional-republic-involves-the/)

[Levi Woodbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/levi-woodbury/)

> [Presumptions of guilt or innocence may sometimes be strengthened or weakened by the place of birth and kind of education and associates a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/levi-woodbury/presumptions-of-guilt-or-innocence-may-sometimes-be-strengthened-or/)

[Levi Woodbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/levi-woodbury/)

[Explore all 5 Levi Woodbury quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/levi-woodbury/)

## More Any quotes

> [Amongst the financial Twitterati, the term 'muppets' has come to describe any client used and abused by some financial predator. I've adopted the term…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-ritholtz/amongst-the-financial-twitterati-the-term-muppets-has-come-to/)

[Barry Ritholtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-ritholtz/)

> [At the very beginning, I was a page at Letterman, and I freelanced for any place that would let me write any word. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-schwartz/at-the-very-beginning-i-was-a-page-at-letterman-and-i-freelanced-for/)

[Ben Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-schwartz/)

> [Any incarnation of 'Batman' I am delighted to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-west/any-incarnation-of-batman-i-am-delighted-to-do/)

[Adam West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-west/)

> [If we accept being talked to any kind of a way, then we are telling ourselves we are not quite worth the best. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/if-we-accept-being-talked-to-any-kind-of-a-way-then-we-are-telling/)

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

> [A lot of people have been saying 'The 100' reminds them of 'Lord Of The Flies,' 'Lost' and 'Battlestar Galactica,' and all of those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-avgeropoulos/a-lot-of-people-have-been-saying-the-100-reminds-them-of-lord-of-the/)

[Marie Avgeropoulos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-avgeropoulos/)

> [I have never been in, nor have I had any strong particular desire to be in, what is termed a costume drama, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-freeman/i-have-never-been-in-nor-have-i-had-any-strong-particular-desire-to/)

[Martin Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-freeman/)

> [We were so poor as kids. I didn't even see a bathtub, running water, hot water, commode - we didn't have any of that.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-robertson/we-were-so-poor-as-kids-i-didn-t-even-see-a-bathtub-running-water-hot/)

[Phil Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-robertson/)

> [We earned any fans with the way we play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-white/we-earned-any-fans-with-the-way-we-play/)

[Jimmy White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-white/)

> [Hard work and a good education will take you further than any government program.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-schock/hard-work-and-a-good-education-will-take-you-further-than-any/)

[Aaron Schock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-schock/)

> [Anyone who's read my 'Terror in the Skies' series knows that I have not been writing with an eye toward approval from any government…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-jacobsen/anyone-who-s-read-my-terror-in-the-skies-series-knows-that-i-have-not/)

[Annie Jacobsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-jacobsen/)

> [The system in Germany is different, as you sign up with a company for two or three years, and you work exclusively with them;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wlaschiha/the-system-in-germany-is-different-as-you-sign-up-with-a-company-for/)

[Tom Wlaschiha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wlaschiha/)

> [I'm writing about real things. Real people. Real characters. You have to believe what I write about is true or you wouldn't pay any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/i-m-writing-about-real-things-real-people-real-characters-you-have-to/)

[Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/)

> [I haven't shut any doors, and I'm really open to anything, so I think it's just about the material and what is going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-panabaker/i-haven-t-shut-any-doors-and-i-m-really-open-to-anything-so-i-think/)

[Danielle Panabaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-panabaker/)

> [I never want to look back on any moment and say I could have done more. So I go all in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-haze/i-never-want-to-look-back-on-any-moment-and-say-i-could-have-done/)

[Scott Haze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-haze/)

> [I love the sea, but I avoid any sort of seaside resort that has skyscrapers or seaside entertainments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-blake/i-love-the-sea-but-i-avoid-any-sort-of-seaside-resort-that-has/)

[Quentin Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-blake/)

Browse all 6,938 Any quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Laws fixed, certain, and uniform, are said to be the distinguishing traits of civilized from savage communities. In these last, seldom are any laws, unless it be the arbitrary and uncertain will of the strongest.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Levi Woodbury"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/levi-woodbury/laws-fixed-certain-and-uniform-are-said-to-be-the-distinguishing/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Any"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/levi-woodbury/laws-fixed-certain-and-uniform-are-said-to-be-the-distinguishing/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/acd/levi-woodbury-63441_any_laws-fixed-certain-and-uniform-are-said_2449336.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/acd/levi-woodbury-63441_any_laws-fixed-certain-and-uniform-are-said_2449336.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/acd/levi-woodbury-63441_any_laws-fixed-certain-and-uniform-are-said_2449336.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Laws fixed, certain, and uniform, are said to be the distinguishing traits of civilized from savage…” — Levi Woodbury",
                "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": "Levi Woodbury",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/levi-woodbury/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Laws fixed, certain, and uniform, are...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/levi-woodbury/laws-fixed-certain-and-uniform-are-said-to-be-the-distinguishing/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/levi-woodbury/laws-fixed-certain-and-uniform-are-said-to-be-the-distinguishing/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
