Justice Quote by R.J. Rushdoony
““The basic function of law is to restrain (Rom. 13:1-4) not to regenerate, and when the function of the law is changed from the restraint of evil to the regeneration of man and society, then law itself begins to break down, because an impossible burden is being placed upon it...Only as we return to a Biblical foundation for law shall we again have a return to justice and order under law.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Biblical Foundations of Law, R.J. Rushdoony, 1970
Law's purpose is to restrain evil; when it tries to regenerate humanity, it becomes ineffective.
In simple terms: Law should limit, not rebuild.
Key Takeaway
Focus on law's restraining role.
Themes
law
society
justice
Mood
critical
analytical
Type
theoretical
political
When to use this quote
- legal reform
- policy making
- community governance
Key Concepts
jurisprudence
theology
social order
Questions to Reflect On
- Is a purely restraining law sufficient for justice?
- Can law evolve without losing its core purpose?
A Different Perspective
Law cannot fulfill both restraint and regeneration simultaneously.
![“This cold weather has set all the young Folks to providing Bedfellows. I have signed two or three Licences every Day [as a Fairfax Justice of the Peace] since I have been at Home. I wish I knew where to get a good one myself; for I find cold Sheets extreamly disagreeable.” quote by George Mason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/b92/george-mason-8435_bedfellows_this-cold-weather-has-set-all-the-young_3953.jpg)
