--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Our government... teaches the whole…" description: "\"Our government... teaches the whole people by its example. If the government becomes the lawbreaker, it breeds contempt for law; it invites every man t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/90f/louis-d-brandeis-5049_anarchy_our-government-teaches-the-whole-people_2161204.jpg" --- # Our government... teaches the whole people by its example… ![“Our government... teaches the whole people by its example. If the government becomes the lawbreaker, it breeds contempt for law; it invites every man to become a law unto himself; it invites anarchy.” quote by Louis D. Brandeis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/90f/louis-d-brandeis-5049_anarchy_our-government-teaches-the-whole-people_2161204.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/90f/louis-d-brandeis-5049_anarchy_our-government-teaches-the-whole-people_2161204.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/90f/louis-d-brandeis-5049_anarchy_our-government-teaches-the-whole-people_2161204.jpg) > “Our government... teaches the whole people by its example. If the government becomes the lawbreaker, it breeds contempt for law; it invites every man to become a law unto himself; it invites anarchy.” [Louis D. Brandeis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-d-brandeis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. When leaders break laws, they erode public respect and invite disorder. **In simple terms:** Law‑breaking leaders cause loss of respect. Key Takeaway Demand integrity from authority. Themes leadership law societal trust Mood concerned critical Type political ethical When to use this quote - personal conduct - government policy Key Concepts social contract anarchic risk Questions to Reflect On - How does personal behavior influence societal norms? - What can citizens do to uphold lawfulness? A Different Perspective Even small violations can undermine the rule of law. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Anarchy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anarchy/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) ## Related quotes > [Our government is the potent, the omnipresent teacher. For good or for ill it teaches the whole people by example. Crime is contagious. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-d-brandeis/our-government-is-the-potent-the-omnipresent-teacher-for-good-or-for/) [Louis D. Brandeis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-d-brandeis/) > [Crime is contagious…if the government becomes a lawbreaker, it breeds contempt for the law.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-d-brandeis/crime-is-contagious-if-the-government-becomes-a-lawbreaker-it-breeds/) [Louis D. Brandeis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-d-brandeis/) > [“differently. Carrying on with a meaningless project delays this painful realization and keeps up appearances. The Concorde is a prime example of a government…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rolf-dobelli/differently-carrying-on-with-a-meaningless-project-delays-this/) [Rolf Dobelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rolf-dobelli/) > [The best government is that which teaches us to govern ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/the-best-government-is-that-which-teaches-us-to-govern-ourselves/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Which is the best government? That which teaches us to govern ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/which-is-the-best-government-that-which-teaches-us-to-govern-ourselves/) [Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [“A critic is a legless man who teaches other people to run”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/channing-pollock/a-critic-is-a-legless-man-who-teaches-other-people-to-run/) [Channing Pollock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/channing-pollock/) > [I only wish I could find an institute that teaches people how to listen. Business people need to listen at least as much as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-iacocca/i-only-wish-i-could-find-an-institute-that-teaches-people-how-to/) [Lee Iacocca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-iacocca/) > [“It's hard at times, but it makes a kid strong in ways that most people can't understand. Teaches them that even though people are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/it-s-hard-at-times-but-it-makes-a-kid-strong-in-ways-that-most-people-2/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [What matters is what you do. And this runs counter to what a lot of the culture teaches people about putting feelings first. By…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-greitens/what-matters-is-what-you-do-and-this-runs-counter-to-what-a-lot-of/) [Eric Greitens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-greitens/) > [Death is astute as a master. It's a process that teaches people aspects of themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-lelio/death-is-astute-as-a-master-it-s-a-process-that-teaches-people/) [Sebastian Lelio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-lelio/) > [We lead first by example! Everything we say or do sends a message, sets a tone, or teaches people what to do or what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-lead-first-by-example-everything-we-say-or-do-sends-a-message-sets/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Science makes people reach selflessly for truth and objectivity; it teaches people to accept reality, with wonder and admiration, not to mention the deep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lise-meitner/science-makes-people-reach-selflessly-for-truth-and-objectivity-it/) [Lise Meitner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lise-meitner/) > [Our government is the potent, the omnipresent teacher. For good or ill it teaches the whole people by its example.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-mcveigh/our-government-is-the-potent-the-omnipresent-teacher-for-good-or-ill/) [Timothy McVeigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-mcveigh/) > [The camera is an instrument that teaches people how to see without a camera.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothea-lange/the-camera-is-an-instrument-that-teaches-people-how-to-see-without-a/) [Dorothea Lange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothea-lange/) > [Education teaches people how to think, while propaganda teaches people what to think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-c-brown/education-teaches-people-how-to-think-while-propaganda-teaches-people/) [James A.C. Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-c-brown/) ## More by Louis D. Brandeis > [Men feared witches and burned women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-d-brandeis/men-feared-witches-and-burned-women/) [Louis D. Brandeis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-d-brandeis/) > [The goose that lays golden eggs has been considered a most valuable possession. But even more profitable is the privilege of taking the golden…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-d-brandeis/the-goose-that-lays-golden-eggs-has-been-considered-a-most-valuable/) [Louis D. Brandeis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-d-brandeis/) > [Fear of serious injury cannot alone justify suppression of free speech and assembly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-d-brandeis/fear-of-serious-injury-cannot-alone-justify-suppression-of-free/) [Louis D. Brandeis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-d-brandeis/) > [We gain nothing by trading the tyranny of capital for the tyranny of labor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-d-brandeis/we-gain-nothing-by-trading-the-tyranny-of-capital-for-the-tyranny-of/) [Louis D. Brandeis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-d-brandeis/) > [Experience should teach us to be most on our guard to protect liberty when the Government's purposes are beneficent. Men born to freedom are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-d-brandeis/experience-should-teach-us-to-be-most-on-our-guard-to-protect-liberty/) [Louis D. Brandeis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-d-brandeis/) > [Our government is the potent, the omnipresent teacher. For good or for ill it teaches the whole people by example. Crime is contagious. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-d-brandeis/our-government-is-the-potent-the-omnipresent-teacher-for-good-or-for/) [Louis D. Brandeis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-d-brandeis/) > [What are the American ideals? They are the development of the individual for his own and the common good; the development of the individual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-d-brandeis/what-are-the-american-ideals-they-are-the-development-of-the/) [Louis D. Brandeis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-d-brandeis/) > [Most of the things worth doing in the world had been declared impossible before they were done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-d-brandeis/most-of-the-things-worth-doing-in-the-world-had-been-declared/) [Louis D. Brandeis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-d-brandeis/) > [What I have desired to do is to make the people of Boston realize that the most important office, and the one which all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-d-brandeis/what-i-have-desired-to-do-is-to-make-the-people-of-boston-realize/) [Louis D. Brandeis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-d-brandeis/) > [If we desire respect for the law, we must first make the law respectable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-d-brandeis/if-we-desire-respect-for-the-law-we-must-first-make-the-law/) [Louis D. Brandeis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-d-brandeis/) > [Fear of serious injury alone cannot justify oppression of free speech and assembly. Men feared witches and burnt women. It is the function of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-d-brandeis/fear-of-serious-injury-alone-cannot-justify-oppression-of-free-speech/) [Louis D. Brandeis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-d-brandeis/) > [I abhor averages. I like the individual case. A man may have six meals one day and none the next, making an average of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-d-brandeis/i-abhor-averages-i-like-the-individual-case-a-man-may-have-six-meals/) [Louis D. Brandeis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-d-brandeis/) > [Organisation can never be a substitute for initiative and for judgement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-d-brandeis/organisation-can-never-be-a-substitute-for-initiative-and-for/) [Louis D. Brandeis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-d-brandeis/) > [Let no American imagine that Zionism is inconsistent with patriotism. Multiple loyalties are objectionable only if they are inconsistent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-d-brandeis/let-no-american-imagine-that-zionism-is-inconsistent-with-patriotism/) [Louis D. Brandeis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-d-brandeis/) > [“The protection guaranteed by the Amendments is much broader in scope. The makers of our Constitution undertook to secure conditions favorable to the pursuit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-d-brandeis/the-protection-guaranteed-by-the-amendments-is-much-broader-in-scope/) [Louis D. Brandeis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-d-brandeis/) [Explore all 104 Louis D. Brandeis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-d-brandeis/) ## More Anarchy quotes > [I'm in a business where there's complete anarchy. You can't control it - you can only react to it. The control that people traditionally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-sorrell/i-m-in-a-business-where-there-s-complete-anarchy-you-can-t-control-it/) [Martin Sorrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-sorrell/) > [The "health, education, and welfare" section of government is another boondoggle. First we manufacture indigent and superfluous people by legal monopolies in land, money…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurance-labadie/the-health-education-and-welfare-section-of-government-is-another/) [Laurance Labadie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurance-labadie/) > [The law is the collective organization of the individual's right to lawful defense of his life, liberty and property. When it is used for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederic-bastiat/the-law-is-the-collective-organization-of-the-individual-s-right-to/) [Frederic Bastiat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederic-bastiat/) > [So far I'm still standing on 'Sons of Anarchy' but all the rest of the people on the show have me in their crosshairs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-pileggi/so-far-i-m-still-standing-on-sons-of-anarchy-but-all-the-rest-of-the/) Mitch Pileggi > [“Anarchy Evolution: Faith, Science and Bad Religion in a World Without God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-graffin/anarchy-evolution-faith-science-and-bad-religion-in-a-world-without/) [Greg Graffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-graffin/) > [Perhaps it is this theory of all work and no play that has made the Marxist such a very dull boy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-read/perhaps-it-is-this-theory-of-all-work-and-no-play-that-has-made-the/) [Herbert Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-read/) > [Anarchy is the stepping stone to absolute power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/anarchy-is-the-stepping-stone-to-absolute-power/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [In morals as in politics anarchy is not for the weak.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-mccarthy/in-morals-as-in-politics-anarchy-is-not-for-the-weak/) [Mary McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-mccarthy/) > [I think that if you run a big company, you've got to, four or five times a year, just say, 'Hey team, look, here's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-immelt/i-think-that-if-you-run-a-big-company-you-ve-got-to-four-or-five/) [Jeffrey R. Immelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-immelt/) > [Where you have no religion, you are sure to have no government, for as religion disappears, anarchy takes place and fixes a compleat Hell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-morgan/where-you-have-no-religion-you-are-sure-to-have-no-government-for-as/) [Daniel Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-morgan/) > [What a comfort it is to feel that amid the chaos and anarchy which sweep the surface, God is holding fast the foundations on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-b-meyer/what-a-comfort-it-is-to-feel-that-amid-the-chaos-and-anarchy-which/) [F.B. Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-b-meyer/) > [“An anarchist government somehow creates an impression in the hearts of citizens that no one cares.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/an-anarchist-government-somehow-creates-an-impression-in-the-hearts/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [Would you like to do something good for the future of the human race; well, start killing some of its powerful members.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-c-brown/would-you-like-to-do-something-good-for-the-future-of-the-human-race/) [William C. Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-c-brown/) > [“twenty-three years of RFRAs to produce anarchy,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-corvino/twenty-three-years-of-rfras-to-produce-anarchy/) [John Corvino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-corvino/) > [Freedom is that faculty that enlarges the usefulness of all other faculties.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immanuel-kant/freedom-is-that-faculty-that-enlarges-the-usefulness-of-all-other/) [Immanuel Kant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immanuel-kant/) [Browse all 795 Anarchy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anarchy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Our government... teaches the whole people by its example. If the government becomes the lawbreaker, it breeds contempt for law; it invites every man to become a law unto himself; it invites anarchy.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Louis D. 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