--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Any rule, not existing in the nature of…" description: "\"Any rule, not existing in the nature of things, or that is not permanent, universal and inflexible in its application, is no law, according to any corr..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b44/lysander-spooner-3260_application_any-rule-not-existing-in-the-nature-of-t_2415252.png" --- # Any rule, not existing in the nature of things, or that is… ![“Any rule, not existing in the nature of things, or that is not permanent, universal and inflexible in its application, is no law, according to any correct definition of the term law.” quote by Lysander Spooner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b44/lysander-spooner-3260_application_any-rule-not-existing-in-the-nature-of-t_2415252.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b44/lysander-spooner-3260_application_any-rule-not-existing-in-the-nature-of-t_2415252.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b44/lysander-spooner-3260_application_any-rule-not-existing-in-the-nature-of-t_2415252.png) > “Any rule, not existing in the nature of things, or that is not permanent, universal and inflexible in its application, is no law, according to any correct definition of the term law.” [Lysander Spooner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lysander-spooner/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A rule lacking natural basis, permanence, universality, or rigidity is not truly a law. **In simple terms:** Rules must be natural, permanent, universal, and inflexible to be laws. Key Takeaway Ensure rules reflect enduring, universal principles. Themes law philosophy justice definition principles Mood critical analytical inquisitive Type theoretical philosophical educational When to use this quote - legislative drafting - constitutional design - policy making - academic teaching - judicial interpretation Key Concepts natural law legal theory definition universality permanence Questions to Reflect On - What criteria should define a true law? - How do cultural norms become legal rules? A Different Perspective Human societies often accept conventions as law despite lacking permanence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) ## Related quotes > [Doing a thing by law, or according to law, is only carrying the law into execution. And punishing a man by, or according to,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lysander-spooner/doing-a-thing-by-law-or-according-to-law-is-only-carrying-the-law/) [Lysander Spooner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lysander-spooner/) > [I studied one term of law and then came to realize I had a little better fastball and curve than I did a vocabulary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-lyons/i-studied-one-term-of-law-and-then-came-to-realize-i-had-a-little/) Ted Lyons > [As long as we have to administer the law we must do so according to the law as it is. 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