--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Not in opinion but in nature is law…" description: "\"Not in opinion but in nature is law founded.\" — Marcus Tullius Cicero" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8fc/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_inspirational_not-in-opinion-but-in-nature-is-law-foun_1189155.jpg" --- # Not in opinion but in nature is law founded. ![“Not in opinion but in nature is law founded.” quote by Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8fc/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_inspirational_not-in-opinion-but-in-nature-is-law-foun_1189155.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8fc/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_inspirational_not-in-opinion-but-in-nature-is-law-foun_1189155.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8fc/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_inspirational_not-in-opinion-but-in-nature-is-law-foun_1189155.jpg) > “Not in opinion but in nature is law founded.” [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True law is derived from nature, not from personal opinions. **In simple terms:** Law comes from nature, not opinion. Key Takeaway Seek principles grounded in reality. Themes philosophy law ethics Mood thoughtful analytical Type philosophical reflective When to use this quote - legal theory - political discourse - education - policy making Key Concepts natural law objectivity Questions to Reflect On - How do we discern natural law from personal bias? - Can nature be a universal legal foundation? A Different Perspective Nature may be interpreted differently across cultures. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Founded](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/founded/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Law Founded](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law-founded-3521432/) [Laws](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laws/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Nature Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-law-1485748/) [Opinion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opinion/) [Opinion Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opinion-nature-3521433/) ## Related quotes > [The absolute good is not a matter of opinion but of nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/the-absolute-good-is-not-a-matter-of-opinion-but-of-nature/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [“...no one can think more highly of the understanding of women than I do. In my opinion, nature has given them so much that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/no-one-can-think-more-highly-of-the-understanding-of-women-than-i-do/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) > [There exists a law, not written down anywhere but inborn in our hearts; a law which comes to us not by training or custom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/there-exists-a-law-not-written-down-anywhere-but-inborn-in-our-hearts/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [It is nature's law that rivers wind, trees grow wood, and, given the opportunity, women work iniquity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buddha-sutta-pitaka/it-is-nature-s-law-that-rivers-wind-trees-grow-wood-and-given-the/) [Buddha Sutta-Pitaka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buddha-sutta-pitaka/) > [Do not talk to me of goodness, of abstract justice, of nature law. Necessity is the highest law, public welfare is the highest justice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/do-not-talk-to-me-of-goodness-of-abstract-justice-of-nature-law/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [Good and wise men, in all ages, have embraced a very dissimilar theory. They have supposed that the deity, from the relations we stand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/good-and-wise-men-in-all-ages-have-embraced-a-very-dissimilar-theory/) [Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/) > [Isn’t that weird, we’ve made nature against the law. That’s how un-natural we’ve become.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/isn-t-that-weird-we-ve-made-nature-against-the-law-that-s-how-un/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > ["All men are born equal and free" is not Nature's law in the literal sense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/all-men-are-born-equal-and-free-is-not-nature-s-law-in-the-literal/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Rights are considered to have their source not in nature, but in law.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-edward-merriam/rights-are-considered-to-have-their-source-not-in-nature-but-in-law/) [Charles Edward Merriam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-edward-merriam/) > [The man who does not know the nature of the Law, cannot know the nature of sin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bunyan/the-man-who-does-not-know-the-nature-of-the-law-cannot-know-the/) [John Bunyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bunyan/) > [Why is marijuana against the law? It grows naturally upon our planet. Doesn’t the idea of making nature against the law seem to you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/why-is-marijuana-against-the-law-it-grows-naturally-upon-our-planet/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [Nature's law, That man was made to mourn. Man's inhumanity to man Makes countless thousands mourn! O Death, the poor man's dearest friend, The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-burns/nature-s-law-that-man-was-made-to-mourn-man-s-inhumanity-to-man-makes/) [Robert Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-burns/) > [The doctrines thus delivered we call the revealed or divine law, and they are to be found only in the holy scriptures.. are found…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-blackstone/the-doctrines-thus-delivered-we-call-the-revealed-or-divine-law-and/) [William Blackstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-blackstone/) > [Upon these two foundations, the law of nature and the law of revelation, depend all human laws.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-blackstone/upon-these-two-foundations-the-law-of-nature-and-the-law-of/) [William Blackstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-blackstone/) > [Such is the condition of organic nature! whose first law might be expressed in the words 'Eat or be eaten!' and which would seem…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erasmus-darwin/such-is-the-condition-of-organic-nature-whose-first-law-might-be/) [Erasmus Darwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erasmus-darwin/) ## More by Marcus Tullius Cicero > [Laughing, laughing, laughing, laughing! It is the jester! A voice from the Void, to cheer poor Cicero! I accept your gift, dearest Night Mother.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/laughing-laughing-laughing-laughing-it-is-the-jester-a-voice-from-the/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [This is a proof of a well-trained mind, to rejoice in what is good and to grieve at the opposite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/this-is-a-proof-of-a-well-trained-mind-to-rejoice-in-what-is-good-and/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Let art, then, imitate nature, find what she desires, and follow as she directs. For in invention nature is never last, education never first;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/let-art-then-imitate-nature-find-what-she-desires-and-follow-as-she/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [“Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/gratitude-is-not-only-the-greatest-of-virtues-but-the-parent-of-all/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Things sacred should not only be touched with the hands, but unviolated in thought. \[Lat., Res sacros non modo manibus attingi, sed ne cogitatione…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/things-sacred-should-not-only-be-touched-with-the-hands-but/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Grief is not in the nature of things, but in opinion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/grief-is-not-in-the-nature-of-things-but-in-opinion/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Physicians, when the cause of disease is discovered, consider that the cure is discovered.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/physicians-when-the-cause-of-disease-is-discovered-consider-that-the/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Nihil est incertius vulgo, nihil obscurius voluntate hominum, nihil fallacius ratione tota comitiorum. (Nothing is more unpredictable than the mob, nothing more obscure than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/nihil-est-incertius-vulgo-nihil-obscurius-voluntate-hominum-nihil/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [The foundations of justice are that on one shall suffer wrong; then, that the public good be promoted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/the-foundations-of-justice-are-that-on-one-shall-suffer-wrong-then/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [“The life of the dead is set in the memory of the living.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/the-life-of-the-dead-is-set-in-the-memory-of-the-living/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Pardon is granted to necessity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/pardon-is-granted-to-necessity/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Friendship embraces innumerable ends; turn where you will it is ever at your side; no barrier shuts it out; it is never untimely and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/friendship-embraces-innumerable-ends-turn-where-you-will-it-is-ever/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [History is the witness of the times, the light of truth, the life of memory, the teacher of life, the messenger of antiquity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/history-is-the-witness-of-the-times-the-light-of-truth-the-life-of/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [The Jews belong to a dark and repulsive force. One knows how numerous this clique is, how they stick together and what power they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/the-jews-belong-to-a-dark-and-repulsive-force-one-knows-how-numerous/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Nature has planted in our minds an insatiable longing to see the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/nature-has-planted-in-our-minds-an-insatiable-longing-to-see-the-truth/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) [Explore all 1,068 Marcus Tullius Cicero quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) ## More Founded quotes > ['SoulPancake' is a website that I founded with a couple of friends, and it is for exploring life's big questions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainn-wilson/soulpancake-is-a-website-that-i-founded-with-a-couple-of-friends-and/) [Rainn Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainn-wilson/) > [Ours is the only country deliberately founded on a good idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gunther/ours-is-the-only-country-deliberately-founded-on-a-good-idea/) [John Gunther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gunther/) > [The United States is in no way founded upon the Christian religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/the-united-states-is-in-no-way-founded-upon-the-christian-religion/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [Kerri and I met at theatre camp when were 16 years old, which is pretty lame. The rest of us met when we founded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-lennon/kerri-and-i-met-at-theatre-camp-when-were-16-years-old-which-is/) [Thomas Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-lennon/) > [When you are an entrepreneur, you have founded your own firm, it is so easy to find that you exist - you are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-piketty/when-you-are-an-entrepreneur-you-have-founded-your-own-firm-it-is-so/) [Thomas Piketty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-piketty/) > [I founded Minted in 2007 with the desire to use 'crowd-sourcing' to bring designs from the best emerging and independent designers in the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mariam-naficy/i-founded-minted-in-2007-with-the-desire-to-use-crowd-sourcing-to/) [Mariam Naficy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mariam-naficy/) > [At a lot of companies founded on principles, the notion of making money is almost antithetical to the ethos of the place. From the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mackey/at-a-lot-of-companies-founded-on-principles-the-notion-of-making/) [John Mackey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mackey/) > [Yes, the small village that we live in, in Virginia, is a very interesting place, in terms of its Civil War history, because it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-brooks/yes-the-small-village-that-we-live-in-in-virginia-is-a-very/) [Geraldine Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-brooks/) > [I'm not founded on the notion that any press is good press.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jani-lane/i-m-not-founded-on-the-notion-that-any-press-is-good-press/) [Jani Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jani-lane/) > [I founded the American Red Cross.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clara-barton/i-founded-the-american-red-cross/) [Clara Barton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clara-barton/) > [“This country was founded by slave owners who wanted to be free.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/this-country-was-founded-by-slave-owners-who-wanted-to-be-free/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [After all it was my father who founded the Burmese army and I do have a sense of warmth towards the Burmese army.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aung-san-suu-kyi/after-all-it-was-my-father-who-founded-the-burmese-army-and-i-do-have/) [Aung San Suu Kyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aung-san-suu-kyi/) > [The Alzheimer's Association in the United States, founded by Jerome Stone, they found me because they had heard rumours that my mom was diagnosed.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasmin-aga-khan/the-alzheimer-s-association-in-the-united-states-founded-by-jerome/) [Yasmin Aga Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasmin-aga-khan/) > [When cities were first founded, an old Egyptian scribe tells us, the mission of the founder was to 'put gods in their shrines.' 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America is a creation of thought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dinesh-d-souza/other-countries-have-been-founded-by-accidents-of-force-america-is-a/) [Dinesh D'Souza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dinesh-d-souza/) [Browse all 138 Founded quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/founded/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Not in opinion but in nature is law founded.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Marcus Tullius Cicero" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/not-in-opinion-but-in-nature-is-law-founded/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Founded" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/not-in-opinion-but-in-nature-is-law-founded/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8fc/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_inspirational_not-in-opinion-but-in-nature-is-law-foun_1189155.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8fc/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_inspirational_not-in-opinion-but-in-nature-is-law-foun_1189155.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8fc/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_inspirational_not-in-opinion-but-in-nature-is-law-foun_1189155.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Not in opinion but in nature is law founded.” — Marcus Tullius Cicero", "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": "Marcus Tullius Cicero", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Not in opinion but in nature...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/not-in-opinion-but-in-nature-is-law-founded/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/not-in-opinion-but-in-nature-is-law-founded/#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 } } ] } ```