--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I studied law before I became a…" description: "\"I studied law before I became a filmmaker, and I actually have a great belief in the justice system and the rule of law. I think it's the thing that se..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b0/nick-broomfield-46859_accountability_i-studied-law-before-i-became-a-filmmake_167299.jpg" --- # I studied law before I became a filmmaker, and I actually… ![“I studied law before I became a filmmaker, and I actually have a great belief in the justice system and the rule of law. I think it's the thing that separates us from animals. I really believe in the rule of law because it's an attempt to bring rational accountability to human behavior, which has…” quote by Nick Broomfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b0/nick-broomfield-46859_accountability_i-studied-law-before-i-became-a-filmmake_167299.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b0/nick-broomfield-46859_accountability_i-studied-law-before-i-became-a-filmmake_167299.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b0/nick-broomfield-46859_accountability_i-studied-law-before-i-became-a-filmmake_167299.jpg) > “I studied law before I became a filmmaker, and I actually have a great belief in the justice system and the rule of law. I think it's the thing that separates us from animals. I really believe in the rule of law because it's an attempt to bring rational accountability to human behavior, which has a great capability of becoming irrational.” [Nick Broomfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-broomfield/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The rule of law provides rational accountability, distinguishing human societies from animal instinct and curbing irrational behavior. **In simple terms:** Law creates rational accountability separating us from animals. Key Takeaway Uphold law to manage irrationality. Themes justice law humanity rationality Mood reflective serious Type philosophical analytical When to use this quote - government policy - courtrooms - corporate governance - public administration Key Concepts accountability civilization social order Questions to Reflect On - How does law shape moral behavior? - Can law fully control human irrationality? A Different Perspective Law alone cannot prevent all irrational actions; cultural norms also matter. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accountability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accountability/) [Animal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animal/) [Behavior](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/behavior/) [Belief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Filmmaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/filmmaker/) [Human behavior](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-behavior/) [Irrational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/irrational/) [Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/) [Justice system](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice-system/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Rule of law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rule-of-law/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [Mexico is now a country where we have justice and a rule of law that didn't exist here in past years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josefina-vazquez-mota/mexico-is-now-a-country-where-we-have-justice-and-a-rule-of-law-that/) [Josefina Vazquez Mota](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josefina-vazquez-mota/) > [We rely on the rule of law. I think we've lost touch with that concept in Washington.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luther-strange/we-rely-on-the-rule-of-law-i-think-we-ve-lost-touch-with-that-concept/) [Luther Strange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luther-strange/) > [“If loss makes you doubt your belief in justice, then you never truly believed in justice at all.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-simone/if-loss-makes-you-doubt-your-belief-in-justice-then-you-never-truly/) [Gail Simone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-simone/) > [It is the evil in man that makes democracy necessary, and man's belief in justice that makes democracy possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reinhold-niebuhr/it-is-the-evil-in-man-that-makes-democracy-necessary-and-man-s-belief/) [Reinhold Niebuhr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reinhold-niebuhr/) > [Limitation is not a matter of justice. It is a rule of public policy which has its origin in history and its justification in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-denning-baron-denning/limitation-is-not-a-matter-of-justice-it-is-a-rule-of-public-policy/) [Alfred Denning, Baron Denning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-denning-baron-denning/) > [Expedience, not justice, is the rule of contemporary American law.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abbie-hoffman/expedience-not-justice-is-the-rule-of-contemporary-american-law/) [Abbie Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abbie-hoffman/) > [We need to believe I think in justice. We need to run our lives as if justice existed... If we abandon a belief that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mccall-smith/we-need-to-believe-i-think-in-justice-we-need-to-run-our-lives-as-if/) [Alexander McCall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mccall-smith/) > [Use justice to rule a country. Use surprise to wage war. Use non-action to govern the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/use-justice-to-rule-a-country-use-surprise-to-wage-war-use-non-action/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [Our daily deeds as ordinary South Africans must produce an actual South African reality that will reinforce humanity's belief in justice, strenthen its confidence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/our-daily-deeds-as-ordinary-south-africans-must-produce-an-actual/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [Americans have grown a great deal more realistic about lawyers and the law. I think that's all for the good. A lot of people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-turow/americans-have-grown-a-great-deal-more-realistic-about-lawyers-and/) [Scott Turow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-turow/) > [An allusion has been made to the Homestead Law. I think it worthy of consideration, and that the wild lands of the country should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/an-allusion-has-been-made-to-the-homestead-law-i-think-it-worthy-of/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [However saying that I totally support the concept of civil partnerships in the eyes of the law, and think it a disgrace that same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-rickitt/however-saying-that-i-totally-support-the-concept-of-civil/) [Adam Rickitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-rickitt/) > [It's clear now that Donald Trump and his administration doesn't want the start a trade war. What we are seeing is a very careful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/it-s-clear-now-that-donald-trump-and-his-administration-doesn-t-want/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [I don't think I can change the fact that the court can cancel a law, but I think the court should only get involved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayelet-shaked/i-don-t-think-i-can-change-the-fact-that-the-court-can-cancel-a-law/) [Ayelet Shaked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayelet-shaked/) > [I don't think the question is if should we have a shield law. I think the question is what kind of shield law we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-gup/i-don-t-think-the-question-is-if-should-we-have-a-shield-law-i-think/) [Ted Gup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-gup/) ## More by Nick Broomfield > [I think if people give you their time and they haven't got any money then they deserve to get something. Not so that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-broomfield/i-think-if-people-give-you-their-time-and-they-haven-t-got-any-money/) [Nick Broomfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-broomfield/) > [I've spent a lot of time in L.A., it's always reminded me a bit of Jo'burg, which is a deeply segregated city. And L.A.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-broomfield/i-ve-spent-a-lot-of-time-in-l-a-it-s-always-reminded-me-a-bit-of-jo/) [Nick Broomfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-broomfield/) > [You know so many documentaries now are very carefully scripted before you start, and then people are sort of put in chairs which are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-broomfield/you-know-so-many-documentaries-now-are-very-carefully-scripted-before/) [Nick Broomfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-broomfield/) > [For some reason, politically there's a distinction between cocaine and crack. Cocaine is not a felony conviction because it's used by middle class and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-broomfield/for-some-reason-politically-there-s-a-distinction-between-cocaine-and/) [Nick Broomfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-broomfield/) > [Cocaine and crack are essentially the same thing. Cocaine is a middle-class drug. 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These lead me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kent-beck/responsible-development-shares-many-practices-with-xp-but-the-roots/) [Kent Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kent-beck/) > [“Opinion is really the lowest form of human knowledge. It requires no accountability, no understanding. The highest form of knowledge… is empathy, for it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-bullard/opinion-is-really-the-lowest-form-of-human-knowledge-it-requires-no/) Bill Bullard > [The American people deserve accountability over wasteful spending, and we accomplish that by prioritizing taxpayer dollars in a responsive and responsible manner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-britt/the-american-people-deserve-accountability-over-wasteful-spending-and/) [Katie Britt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-britt/) > [If torture is going to be administered as a last resort in the ticking-bomb case, to save enormous numbers of lives, it ought to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-dershowitz/if-torture-is-going-to-be-administered-as-a-last-resort-in-the/) [Alan Dershowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-dershowitz/) > [“There are many professions that require individuals, on an ongoing basis, to pass drug tests, physicals and psychological evaluations in order to keep their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-hopkins/there-are-many-professions-that-require-individuals-on-an-ongoing/) [Gary Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-hopkins/) > [“Expecting accountability from the UN system was akin to expecting a blind dog to catch a flying Frisbee.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-soussan/expecting-accountability-from-the-un-system-was-akin-to-expecting-a/) Michael Soussan [Browse all 860 Accountability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accountability/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I studied law before I became a filmmaker, and I actually have a great belief in the justice system and the rule of law. 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