Constitution Quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson
“No law can be sacred to me but that of my nature. Good and bad are but names very readily transferable to that or this; the only right is what is after my constitution; the only wrong is what is against it.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: Self-Reliance, 1841
The only true law for an individual is the one that aligns with one’s own nature; moral labels are arbitrary, and right or wrong is defined by personal constitution.
In simple terms: Follow your own nature; moral labels are arbitrary.
Key Takeaway
Live according to your inner nature.
Themes
individualism
morality
authenticity
Mood
reflective
determined
Type
philosophical
ethical
When to use this quote
- personal decision making
- leadership
- creative work
- conflict resolution
Key Concepts
natural law
subjective ethics
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you discern your true nature?
- When should you follow external laws?
A Different Perspective
May ignore societal norms that protect others.
![“Next came the Patent laws. These began in England in 1624; and, in this country, with the adoption of our constitution. Before then [these?], any man might instantly use what another had invented; so that the inventor had no special advantage from his own invention. The patent system changed this…” quote by Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/449/abraham-lincoln-88_adoption_next-came-the-patent-laws-these-began-in_1828.jpg)
