--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Doing a thing by law, or according to…" description: "\"Doing a thing by law, or according to law, is only carrying the law into execution. And punishing a man by, or according to, the sentence or judgment o..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ba/lysander-spooner-3260_carrying_doing-a-thing-by-law-or-according-to-law_2434699.png" --- # Doing a thing by law, or according to law, is only… ![“Doing a thing by law, or according to law, is only carrying the law into execution. And punishing a man by, or according to, the sentence or judgment of his peers, is only carrying that sentence or judgment into execution.” quote by Lysander Spooner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ba/lysander-spooner-3260_carrying_doing-a-thing-by-law-or-according-to-law_2434699.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ba/lysander-spooner-3260_carrying_doing-a-thing-by-law-or-according-to-law_2434699.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ba/lysander-spooner-3260_carrying_doing-a-thing-by-law-or-according-to-law_2434699.png) > “Doing a thing by law, or according to law, is only carrying the law into execution. And punishing a man by, or according to, the sentence or judgment of his peers, is only carrying that sentence or judgment into execution.” [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. Executing law or judgment merely applies existing rules without moral judgment. **In simple terms:** Law is applied mechanically. Key Takeaway Consider the moral impact of legal actions. Themes law justice morality execution Mood serious reflective Type philosophical legal When to use this quote - court sentencing - law enforcement - policy implementation Key Concepts Legalism ethical theory authority Questions to Reflect On - Is following law always just? - When should discretion override strict rules? A Different Perspective Law alone may ignore fairness or context. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Execution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/execution/) [Judgment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judgment/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) ## Related quotes > [As long as we have to administer the law we must do so according to the law as it is. We are not here…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/as-long-as-we-have-to-administer-the-law-we-must-do-so-according-to/) [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) > [Any rule, not existing in the nature of things, or that is not permanent, universal and inflexible in its application, is no law, according…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lysander-spooner/any-rule-not-existing-in-the-nature-of-things-or-that-is-not/) [Lysander Spooner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lysander-spooner/) > [“Here one comes upon an all-important English trait: the respect for constituitionalism and legality, the belief in 'the law' as something above the state…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/here-one-comes-upon-an-all-important-english-trait-the-respect-for/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [The older I get the more I trust in the law according to which the rose and the lily bloom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/the-older-i-get-the-more-i-trust-in-the-law-according-to-which-the/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Deaths, births, and marriages, considering how much they are separately dependent on the freedom of the human will, should seem to be subject to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immanuel-kant/deaths-births-and-marriages-considering-how-much-they-are-separately/) [Immanuel Kant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immanuel-kant/) > [It is the aim of the modern school, not to treat every position according to one general law, but according to the principle inherent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-reti/it-is-the-aim-of-the-modern-school-not-to-treat-every-position/) [Richard Reti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-reti/) > [We want a better future for the Palestinian population, for anyone who behaves according to the law.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yoav-gallant/we-want-a-better-future-for-the-palestinian-population-for-anyone-who/) [Yoav Gallant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yoav-gallant/) > [According to the law of nature it is only fair that no one should become richer through damages and injuries suffered by another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/according-to-the-law-of-nature-it-is-only-fair-that-no-one-should/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [“A week ago," Ishmael said, "when we were talking about laws, you said that there's only one kind of law about how people should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-quinn/a-week-ago-ishmael-said-when-we-were-talking-about-laws-you-said-that/) [Daniel Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-quinn/) > [“A creature, as a creature, must acknowledge the Creator's will as its supreme law; for as it cannot exist without him, so it must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-boston/a-creature-as-a-creature-must-acknowledge-the-creator-s-will-as-its/) [Thomas Boston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-boston/) > [There is nothing which Nature so clearly reveals, and upon which science so strongly insists, as the universal reign of law, absolute, universal, invariable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-leconte/there-is-nothing-which-nature-so-clearly-reveals-and-upon-which/) Joseph LeConte > [“Everything happens according to Law; that nothing ever "merely happens"; that there is no such thing as Chance; that while there are various planes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/three-initiates/everything-happens-according-to-law-that-nothing-ever-merely-happens/) [Three Initiates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/three-initiates/) > [If an earnest person has roused himself, if he is not forgetful, if his deeds are pure, if he acts with consideration, if he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-muller/if-an-earnest-person-has-roused-himself-if-he-is-not-forgetful-if-his/) [Max Muller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-muller/) > [What narrow innocence it is for one to be good only according to the law.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/what-narrow-innocence-it-is-for-one-to-be-good-only-according-to-the/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [If we live according to the law "an eye for an eye...," we will never escape from the spiral of evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/if-we-live-according-to-the-law-an-eye-for-an-eye-we-will-never/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) ## More by Lysander Spooner > [Slavery, if it can be legalized at all, can be legalized only by positive legislation. Natural law gives it no aid. Custom imparts to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lysander-spooner/slavery-if-it-can-be-legalized-at-all-can-be-legalized-only-by/) [Lysander Spooner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lysander-spooner/) > [The greatest of all crimes are the wars that are carried on by governments, to plunder, enslave, and destroy mankind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lysander-spooner/the-greatest-of-all-crimes-are-the-wars-that-are-carried-on-by/) [Lysander Spooner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lysander-spooner/) > [Those who deny the right of a jury to protect an individual in resisting an unjust law of the government, deny him all defence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lysander-spooner/those-who-deny-the-right-of-a-jury-to-protect-an-individual-in/) [Lysander Spooner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lysander-spooner/) > [I was put into jail as I was going to the shoemaker's to get a shoe which was mended. When I was let out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lysander-spooner/i-was-put-into-jail-as-i-was-going-to-the-shoemaker-s-to-get-a-shoe/) [Lysander Spooner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lysander-spooner/) > [The single despot stands out in the face of all men, and says: I am the State: My will is law: I am your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lysander-spooner/the-single-despot-stands-out-in-the-face-of-all-men-and-says-i-am-the/) [Lysander Spooner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lysander-spooner/) > [The Rothschilds, and that class of money-lenders of whom they are the representatives and agents - men who never think of lending a shilling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lysander-spooner/the-rothschilds-and-that-class-of-money-lenders-of-whom-they-are-the/) [Lysander Spooner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lysander-spooner/) > [Who are ever taxed? Individuals only. Who have property that can be taxed? Individuals only. Who can give their consent to be taxed? Individuals…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lysander-spooner/who-are-ever-taxed-individuals-only-who-have-property-that-can-be/) [Lysander Spooner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lysander-spooner/) > [There can be no criminal intent in resisting injustice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lysander-spooner/there-can-be-no-criminal-intent-in-resisting-injustice/) [Lysander Spooner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lysander-spooner/) > [Practically and commercially speaking, a dollar is not necessarily a specific thing, made of silver, or gold, or any other single metal, or substance.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lysander-spooner/practically-and-commercially-speaking-a-dollar-is-not-necessarily-a/) [Lysander Spooner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lysander-spooner/) > [If the jury have no right to judge of the justice of a law of the government, they plainly can do nothing to protect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lysander-spooner/if-the-jury-have-no-right-to-judge-of-the-justice-of-a-law-of-the/) [Lysander Spooner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lysander-spooner/) > [If it be said that the consent of the strongest party in a nation, is all that is necessary to justify the establishment of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lysander-spooner/if-it-be-said-that-the-consent-of-the-strongest-party-in-a-nation-is/) [Lysander Spooner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lysander-spooner/) > [In reality there is no such thing as an inflation of prices, relatively to gold. There is such a thing as a depreciated paper…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lysander-spooner/in-reality-there-is-no-such-thing-as-an-inflation-of-prices/) [Lysander Spooner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lysander-spooner/) > [And there is no difference, in principle - but only in degree - between political and chattel slavery. The former, no less than the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lysander-spooner/and-there-is-no-difference-in-principle-but-only-in-degree-between/) [Lysander Spooner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lysander-spooner/) > [The Constitution has no inherent authority or obligation. It has no authority or obligation at all, unless as a contract between man and man.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lysander-spooner/the-constitution-has-no-inherent-authority-or-obligation-it-has-no/) [Lysander Spooner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lysander-spooner/) > [These so-called governments are in reality only great bands of robbers and murderers, organized, disciplined, and constantly on the alert.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lysander-spooner/these-so-called-governments-are-in-reality-only-great-bands-of/) [Lysander Spooner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lysander-spooner/) [Explore all 135 Lysander Spooner quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lysander-spooner/) ## More Carrying quotes > [I had to get to the point where I just had to embrace carrying the torch for the traditional girls out there. I love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamera-mowry/i-had-to-get-to-the-point-where-i-just-had-to-embrace-carrying-the/) [Tamera Mowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamera-mowry/) > [I've always found a cure for the blues is wandering into something unknown, and resting there, before coming back to whatever weight you were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-sawyer/i-ve-always-found-a-cure-for-the-blues-is-wandering-into-something/) [Diane Sawyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-sawyer/) > [I compare the troubles which we have to undergo in the course of the year to a great bundle of sticks, far too large…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-newton/i-compare-the-troubles-which-we-have-to-undergo-in-the-course-of-the/) [John Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-newton/) > [I don't believe in carrying a weapon. If somebody wants to shoot me, he'll have to bring his own gun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kinky-friedman/i-don-t-believe-in-carrying-a-weapon-if-somebody-wants-to-shoot-me-he/) [Kinky Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kinky-friedman/) > [“I was taught never to make a threat unless you are prepared to carry it out and I am not a fan of carrying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-thorne/i-was-taught-never-to-make-a-threat-unless-you-are-prepared-to-carry/) [David Thorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-thorne/) > [I started carrying blank books like this one around, which I would fill with all the things I couldn't say...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-safran-foer/i-started-carrying-blank-books-like-this-one-around-which-i-would/) [Jonathan Safran Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-safran-foer/) > [I think we need to be very wary of systems where it's the public that is carrying the burden of doing cleanup.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lina-khan/i-think-we-need-to-be-very-wary-of-systems-where-it-s-the-public-that/) [Lina Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lina-khan/) > [I certainly feel I'm carrying the flag for Britain. I feel an honour in that but, at the same time, knowing my roots are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-froome/i-certainly-feel-i-m-carrying-the-flag-for-britain-i-feel-an-honour/) [Chris Froome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-froome/) > [She said PICK UP WHAT'S YOURS & GET OUT! So I picked her up & started walking & She said, WHY ARE YOU CARRYING…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/she-said-pick-up-what-s-yours-get-out-so-i-picked-her-up-started/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [“It would be much too difficult for anyone to get in and out of this area, especially if they were carrying questionable loads of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-lindsay/it-would-be-much-too-difficult-for-anyone-to-get-in-and-out-of-this/) [Jeff Lindsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-lindsay/) > [It's my strength for holding on, every minute that I have to be gone. I'll have everything I'll ever need, I'm carrying your love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce/it-s-my-strength-for-holding-on-every-minute-that-i-have-to-be-gone-i/) [Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce/) > [To be on the world stage carrying our flag and representing the U.S. Paralympic Team is a huge honor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-schultz/to-be-on-the-world-stage-carrying-our-flag-and-representing-the-u-s/) [Mike Schultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-schultz/) > [I have no problem putting on a kit, carrying a big sniper rifle, and running a few thousand meters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-kennedy/i-have-no-problem-putting-on-a-kit-carrying-a-big-sniper-rifle-and/) [Tim Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-kennedy/) > [You stand out in the crowd only because you have these many, many carrying you on their shoulders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/you-stand-out-in-the-crowd-only-because-you-have-these-many-many/) [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) > [President Obama has a good sense not just of the economic requisites for financial crisis firefighting but also how you build political support for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lael-brainard/president-obama-has-a-good-sense-not-just-of-the-economic-requisites/) [Lael Brainard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lael-brainard/) Browse all 302 Carrying quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Doing a thing by law, or according to law, is only carrying the law into execution. 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