--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We [Americans] inherited British law…" description: "\"We [Americans] inherited British law, which is like the new \"reforms\" that are being made now, in the sense that people are permanently entrapped in de..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cbe/marilynne-robinson-602_american-history_we-americans-inherited-british-law-which_2630226.jpg" --- # We \[Americans\] inherited British law, which is like the… ![“We [Americans] inherited British law, which is like the new "reforms" that are being made now, in the sense that people are permanently entrapped in debt, if they once fall into bankruptcy. The reason that the law was changed in American history - the whole early period of the formation of the…” quote by Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cbe/marilynne-robinson-602_american-history_we-americans-inherited-british-law-which_2630226.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cbe/marilynne-robinson-602_american-history_we-americans-inherited-british-law-which_2630226.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cbe/marilynne-robinson-602_american-history_we-americans-inherited-british-law-which_2630226.jpg) > “We \[Americans\] inherited British law, which is like the new "reforms" that are being made now, in the sense that people are permanently entrapped in debt, if they once fall into bankruptcy. The reason that the law was changed in American history - the whole early period of the formation of the country was moving away from British law into a law that is generated here and that conforms to the sense of what is appropriate here.” [Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. American law evolved from British roots, yet debt traps persist, reflecting systemic challenges. **In simple terms:** Debt remains a systemic issue. Key Takeaway Address systemic debt. Themes law economics debt Mood analytical concerned Type historical critical When to use this quote - financial planning - policy reform - education - advocacy Key Concepts history public policy Questions to Reflect On - How does history shape current debt issues? - What personal actions can mitigate debt? A Different Perspective Legal reforms alone may not solve personal bankruptcy. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [American history](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-history/) [Bankruptcy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bankruptcy/) [British](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/british/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Moving away](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moving-away/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Reform](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reform/) ## Related quotes > [Such a prostitution of judicial power can never occur again under the shadow of the British law, for no jury within the wide circle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-howe/such-a-prostitution-of-judicial-power-can-never-occur-again-under-the/) [Joseph Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-howe/) > [“This is the reality of the west as we know it today - and it’s only going to get worst. As the Hadith itself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-sheindlin/this-is-the-reality-of-the-west-as-we-know-it-today-and-it-s-only/) J.K. Sheindlin > [“In 1770, a British law was proposed to Parliament granting grounds for annulment if a bride used cosmetics prior to her wedding day. —Marjorie…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-klassen/in-1770-a-british-law-was-proposed-to-parliament-granting-grounds-for/) [Julie Klassen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-klassen/) > [I work with so many levels of British law enforcement, I never know who is working for whom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-browder/i-work-with-so-many-levels-of-british-law-enforcement-i-never-know/) [Bill Browder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-browder/) > [“However, wretch as he was, he was still living under the shield of British law, and I have no doubt, Inspector, that you will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/however-wretch-as-he-was-he-was-still-living-under-the-shield-of/) [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/) > [I'm a recovering lawyer. The practice of law has changed. Every agreement is a fight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-edwards/i-m-a-recovering-lawyer-the-practice-of-law-has-changed-every/) [Elizabeth Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-edwards/) > [I wish there was some way to get the law changed. They can write anything about you after you're deceased and there's nothing you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-wagner/i-wish-there-was-some-way-to-get-the-law-changed-they-can-write/) [Robert Wagner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-wagner/) > [“My grandmother got approved right before the law changed, so naturally she got grandfathered in. In related news, but completely unrelated, I was adopted.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/my-grandmother-got-approved-right-before-the-law-changed-so-naturally/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [I believe abortion should be available to everyone, but the law should be changed. 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Under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, the law was changed in the United Kingdom to ensure that the production and supply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-donaldson/drugs-hard-under-the-misuse-of-drugs-act-1971-the-law-was-changed-in/) [william donaldson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-donaldson/) > [The Government has correctly recognised that this E.U. law cannot all be changed into domestic law at once.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominic-grieve/the-government-has-correctly-recognised-that-this-e-u-law-cannot-all/) [Dominic Grieve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominic-grieve/) > [Any law can be changed, obviously, at any time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-paulsen/any-law-can-be-changed-obviously-at-any-time/) [Erik Paulsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-paulsen/) > [“Don't violate the law, but don't reject an idea because it's illegal. You might be able to get the law changed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-violate-the-law-but-don-t-reject-an-idea-because-it-s-illegal/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There's not a moment that goes by where I don't think about dropping everything and moving away to train all day, every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-s-not-a-moment-that-goes-by-where-i-don-t-think-about-dropping/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [That's what all art's about - a sense of moving away from boundaries that you can't in real life. Like a dancer is always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-bush/that-s-what-all-art-s-about-a-sense-of-moving-away-from-boundaries/) [Kate Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-bush/) ## More by Marilynne Robinson > [“But I’ve developed a great reputation for wisdom by ordering more books than I ever had time to read, and reading more books, by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/but-i-ve-developed-a-great-reputation-for-wisdom-by-ordering-more/) [Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) > [For our purposes as human beings, the mind is the center of everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/for-our-purposes-as-human-beings-the-mind-is-the-center-of-everything/) [Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) > [“I think sometimes there might be an advantage in making people aware how worn and stale these old transgressions are. 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And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/faith-for-her-was-habit-and-family-loyalty-a-reverence-for-the-bible/) [Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) > [“Prayer is a discipline in truthfulness, in honesty.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/prayer-is-a-discipline-in-truthfulness-in-honesty/) [Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) > [“The full soul loatheth an honeycomb; but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.’ There are pleasures to be found where you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/the-full-soul-loatheth-an-honeycomb-but-to-the-hungry-soul-every/) [Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) > [I sometimes am discouraged by what seems to be a sort of conventional disparagement of humankind. I think often people feel that they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/i-sometimes-am-discouraged-by-what-seems-to-be-a-sort-of-conventional/) [Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) > [Now that I look back, it seems to me that in all that deep darkness a miracle was preparing. So I am right to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/now-that-i-look-back-it-seems-to-me-that-in-all-that-deep-darkness-a/) [Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) > [“My grandfather once told her if you couldn't read with cold feet, there wouldn't be a literate soul in the state of Maine.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/my-grandfather-once-told-her-if-you-couldn-t-read-with-cold-feet/) [Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) > [“Cranky old Leviticus gave us—gave Christ—not only “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself” but also the rather forgotten “Thou shalt love the stranger…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/cranky-old-leviticus-gave-us-gave-christ-not-only-thou-shalt-love-thy/) [Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) [Explore all 450 Marilynne Robinson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) ## More American history quotes > [Adam Clayton Powell's entire political career has to be looked at in the entire context of the American history and the history of, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/adam-clayton-powell-s-entire-political-career-has-to-be-looked-at-in/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [Don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-prescott/don-t-fire-until-you-see-the-whites-of-their-eyes/) [William H. Prescott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-prescott/) > [“In December of 2007 human bones including skulls, which have been radiocarbon dated back to between 1304 and 1424, were found in a museum…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/captain-hank-bracker-seawater-one/in-december-of-2007-human-bones-including-skulls-which-have-been/) Captain Hank Bracker, "Seawater One > [John Lane has long been recognized as one of the South's finest poets and memoirists. This debut establishes him as one of our finest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-rash/john-lane-has-long-been-recognized-as-one-of-the-south-s-finest-poets/) [Ron Rash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-rash/) > [No man-made structure in all of American history has been hated so much, by so many, for so long, with such good reason, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-abbey/no-man-made-structure-in-all-of-american-history-has-been-hated-so/) [Edward Abbey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-abbey/) > [The problem that we have is that most Americans don't even study American history, let alone Pinochet, Mussolini, Hitler, Stalin and all these guys.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-jones/the-problem-that-we-have-is-that-most-americans-don-t-even-study/) [Van Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-jones/) > [We must not falsely teach American history in our schools. We have a law requiring state textbook oversight to guard against frauds like Zinn,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-daniels/we-must-not-falsely-teach-american-history-in-our-schools-we-have-a/) [Mitch Daniels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-daniels/) > [The only thing we have to fear is fear itself-and possibly teh bogey man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-paulsen/the-only-thing-we-have-to-fear-is-fear-itself-and-possibly-teh-bogey/) [Pat Paulsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-paulsen/) > [“Thanks in part to the rapid mechanization of cotton production in the early 1940s, which ultimately threw millions of farm laborers out of work,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-t-patterson/thanks-in-part-to-the-rapid-mechanization-of-cotton-production-in-the/) [James T. Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-t-patterson/) > [“dark say: berthenia belle never forget the tongue hid name”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathleen-margaret/dark-say-berthenia-belle-never-forget-the-tongue-hid-name/) [Cathleen Margaret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathleen-margaret/) > [Throughout American history many of our social gains and much of our progress toward democracy were made possible by the active intervention of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-washington/throughout-american-history-many-of-our-social-gains-and-much-of-our/) [Harold Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-washington/) > [Modern Democrats aren't the first political party to abuse power - far from it. Obama isn'€™t the first president to abuse executive power -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-harsanyi/modern-democrats-aren-t-the-first-political-party-to-abuse-power-far/) [David Harsanyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-harsanyi/) > [Medicare and Social Security have created the healthiest and most financially secure generation of senior citizens in American history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-walsh/medicare-and-social-security-have-created-the-healthiest-and-most/) [Jim Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-walsh/) > [The school curriculum today, particularly American history, is a shame.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/the-school-curriculum-today-particularly-american-history-is-a-shame/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [“I used to walk out, at night, to the breakwater which divides the end of the harbor form the broad moor of the salt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-doty/i-used-to-walk-out-at-night-to-the-breakwater-which-divides-the-end/) [Mark Doty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-doty/) [Browse all 685 American history quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-history/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We [Americans] inherited British law, which is like the new \"reforms\" that are being made now, in the sense that people are permanently entrapped in debt, if they once fall into bankruptcy. 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