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Laws Quote by Oscar Wilde

“We know not whether laws be right Or whether laws be wrong All we know who lie in gaol Is that the walls are strong And each day is like a year A year whose days are long.” quote by Oscar Wilde
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““We know not whether laws be right Or whether laws be wrong All we know who lie in gaol Is that the walls are strong And each day is like a year A year whose days are long.””

Oscar Wilde

About This Quote

Source Poem: Unpublished Verse, 1880s

He questions the morality of laws while noting prison walls are strong and time drags.

In simple terms: Laws may be flawed; imprisonment feels endless.

Key Takeaway

Consider justice beyond statutes.

Themes

law justice prison time morality

Mood

somber thoughtful

Type

literary philosophical

When to use this quote

  • legal reform
  • penal system review
  • personal coping with confinement

Key Concepts

ethics social critique existentialism

Questions to Reflect On

  • What defines a just law?
  • How does confinement alter perception of time?
A Different Perspective

The poem offers a limited view of law’s complexity.

2.8 out of 5 (8 ratings)

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