--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If moral truths do not exist as a…" description: "\"“If moral truths do not exist as a foundation for law, then law itself becomes merely a system of raw political power accountable to no one.”\" — Scott ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/83b/scott-klusendorf-28089_law_if-moral-truths-do-not-exist-as-a-founda_2300419.jpg" --- # If moral truths do not exist as a foundation for law, then… ![“If moral truths do not exist as a foundation for law, then law itself becomes merely a system of raw political power accountable to no one.” quote by Scott Klusendorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/83b/scott-klusendorf-28089_law_if-moral-truths-do-not-exist-as-a-founda_2300419.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/83b/scott-klusendorf-28089_law_if-moral-truths-do-not-exist-as-a-founda_2300419.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/83b/scott-klusendorf-28089_law_if-moral-truths-do-not-exist-as-a-founda_2300419.jpg) > ““If moral truths do not exist as a foundation for law, then law itself becomes merely a system of raw political power accountable to no one.”” [Scott Klusendorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-klusendorf/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Without objective moral foundations, law is reduced to unchecked political authority, lacking legitimate accountability. **In simple terms:** Law needs moral basis to be just. Key Takeaway Ensure laws reflect shared ethical standards. Themes law morality political power accountability Mood critical reflective Type philosophical analytical When to use this quote - legislative drafting - judicial review - public policy debates - human rights advocacy Key Concepts legal philosophy social contract ethical foundations Questions to Reflect On - What safeguards can prevent power abuse in law? - How do societies negotiate moral standards? A Different Perspective Moral relativism can argue that consensus, not absolute truth, can ground law. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Morality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/morality/) [Political power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political-power/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) [Truths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truths/) ## Related quotes > [If opponents of all important truths do not exist, it is indispensable to imagine them and supply them with the strongest arguments which the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stuart-mill/if-opponents-of-all-important-truths-do-not-exist-it-is-indispensable/) [John Stuart Mill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stuart-mill/) > [“Who has not, a hundred times, found himself committing a vile or silly action for no other reason than because he knows he should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-allan-poe/who-has-not-a-hundred-times-found-himself-committing-a-vile-or-silly/) [Edgar Allan Poe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-allan-poe/) > [For Obama, 'rule of law' is merely his political silly-putty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-lapierre/for-obama-rule-of-law-is-merely-his-political-silly-putty/) [Wayne LaPierre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-lapierre/) > [“It must have been law that developed in man the sense of just and unjust, right and wrong. Our readers may judge of this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-kropotkin/it-must-have-been-law-that-developed-in-man-the-sense-of-just-and/) [Peter Kropotkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-kropotkin/) > [“Everything happens according to Law; that nothing ever "merely happens"; that there is no such thing as Chance; that while there are various planes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/three-initiates/everything-happens-according-to-law-that-nothing-ever-merely-happens/) [Three Initiates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/three-initiates/) > [“Constitutional Law is merely politics made incomprehensible to the common man.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-goldstone/constitutional-law-is-merely-politics-made-incomprehensible-to-the/) [Lawrence Goldstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-goldstone/) > [Law is merely the expression of the will of the strongest for the time being, and therefore laws have no fixity, but shift from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-brooks-adams/law-is-merely-the-expression-of-the-will-of-the-strongest-for-the/) [Henry Brooks Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-brooks-adams/) > [Thus, if there exists a law which sanctions slavery or monopoly, oppression or robbery, in any form whatever, it must not even be mentioned.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederic-bastiat/thus-if-there-exists-a-law-which-sanctions-slavery-or-monopoly/) [Frederic Bastiat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederic-bastiat/) > [“The only law that means anything - that can have anything to do with God - is one that is alive and that strives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nafisa-haji/the-only-law-that-means-anything-that-can-have-anything-to-do-with/) [Nafisa Haji](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nafisa-haji/) > [There are some particular moral truths that I believe we have access to (such as the one not to inflict pain on a sentient…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/torbjorn-tannsjo/there-are-some-particular-moral-truths-that-i-believe-we-have-access/) [Torbjorn Tannsjo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/torbjorn-tannsjo/) > [When I was at Notre Dame studying under Joe Evans, Frank O'Malley, and others, there was a very lively debate about the distinction between…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-babbitt/when-i-was-at-notre-dame-studying-under-joe-evans-frank-o-malley-and/) [Bruce Babbitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-babbitt/) > [With truths of a certain kind, it is not enough to make them appear convincing: one must also make them felt. Of such kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/with-truths-of-a-certain-kind-it-is-not-enough-to-make-them-appear/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [That the system of morals propounded in the New Testament contained no maxim which had not been previously enunciated, and that some of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-thomas-buckle/that-the-system-of-morals-propounded-in-the-new-testament-contained/) [Henry Thomas Buckle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-thomas-buckle/) > [“All the dilemmas and questions of today were known in ethics more than 2,000 years ago. All the greatest teachers of mankind whether prophets…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alija-izetbegovic/all-the-dilemmas-and-questions-of-today-were-known-in-ethics-more/) [Alija Izetbegović](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alija-izetbegovic/) > [It is important for America that the moral truths which make freedom possible should be passed on to each new generation. Every generation of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-john-paul-ii/it-is-important-for-america-that-the-moral-truths-which-make-freedom/) [Pope John Paul II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-john-paul-ii/) ## More by Scott Klusendorf > [“Is the unborn a member of the human family? If so, killing him or her to benefit others is a serious moral wrong. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-klusendorf/is-the-unborn-a-member-of-the-human-family-if-so-killing-him-or-her/) [Scott Klusendorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-klusendorf/) > [“Here's the problem for the secularist: where does the right to an abortion come from? If it comes from the state, he really can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-klusendorf/here-s-the-problem-for-the-secularist-where-does-the-right-to-an/) [Scott Klusendorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-klusendorf/) > [“To say that science is the measure of all true knowledge is not a scientific truth but a philosophic claim about science. It's scientism…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-klusendorf/to-say-that-science-is-the-measure-of-all-true-knowledge-is-not-a/) [Scott Klusendorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-klusendorf/) > [“The Bible does not speak to all issues (for example, where did AIDS come from?), and science says little about doctrine (for example, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-klusendorf/the-bible-does-not-speak-to-all-issues-for-example-where-did-aids/) [Scott Klusendorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-klusendorf/) > [“When pro-life advocates claim that elective abortion unjustly takes the life of a defenseless human being, they are not saying they dislike abortion. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-klusendorf/when-pro-life-advocates-claim-that-elective-abortion-unjustly-takes/) [Scott Klusendorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-klusendorf/) > [“Gregg Cunningham once said, “There are more people working full-time to kill babies than there are working full-time to save them. That’s because killing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-klusendorf/gregg-cunningham-once-said-there-are-more-people-working-full-time-to/) [Scott Klusendorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-klusendorf/) > [“For too long the pro-life movement has been shouting conclusions rather than establishing facts. Staying focused on the status of the unborn brings moral…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-klusendorf/for-too-long-the-pro-life-movement-has-been-shouting-conclusions/) [Scott Klusendorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-klusendorf/) > [“Pro-life advocates don't oppose abortion because they find it distasteful; they oppose it because it violates rational moral principles. The negative emotional response follows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-klusendorf/pro-life-advocates-don-t-oppose-abortion-because-they-find-it/) [Scott Klusendorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-klusendorf/) > [“Few people can present a completely secular argument detailing why abusing toddlers is objectively wrong. But that hardly stops them from recognizing this moral…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-klusendorf/few-people-can-present-a-completely-secular-argument-detailing-why/) [Scott Klusendorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-klusendorf/) > [“What makes humans valuable in the first place? Science can't answer that question because science deals only with things we can measure empirically though…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-klusendorf/what-makes-humans-valuable-in-the-first-place-science-can-t-answer/) [Scott Klusendorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-klusendorf/) > [“There is no conflict between science and faith if science means an objective investigation of the facts and faith means knowledge based on evidence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-klusendorf/there-is-no-conflict-between-science-and-faith-if-science-means-an/) [Scott Klusendorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-klusendorf/) > [“The real conflict over cosmology is not between religion and science-- it's between religion and materialism, between those who think that religious truth is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-klusendorf/the-real-conflict-over-cosmology-is-not-between-religion-and-science/) [Scott Klusendorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-klusendorf/) > [“The Declaration of Independence, Abraham Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address, and Martin Luther King's 'Letter from the Birmingham Jail' all have their metaphysical roots in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-klusendorf/the-declaration-of-independence-abraham-lincoln-s-second-inaugural/) [Scott Klusendorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-klusendorf/) > [“In the past, we used to discriminate on the basis of skin color and gender (and still do at times), but now with elective…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-klusendorf/in-the-past-we-used-to-discriminate-on-the-basis-of-skin-color-and/) [Scott Klusendorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-klusendorf/) > [“The crimes of religion pale in comparison to those of secular regimes. This doesn't justify wrongs done in the name of Christianity, but it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-klusendorf/the-crimes-of-religion-pale-in-comparison-to-those-of-secular-regimes/) [Scott Klusendorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-klusendorf/) [Explore all 20 Scott Klusendorf quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-klusendorf/) ## More Law quotes > [ That country \[Carthage\] was rapidly sinking into the state of barbarism from whence it had been raised by the Phoenician colonies and Roman laws;… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/that-country-carthage-was-rapidly-sinking-into-the-state-of-barbarism/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [It's easier to change a law than an age-old mentality. Deep down, many prejudices, many hostilities, many fears persist. But if we take a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dacia-maraini/it-s-easier-to-change-a-law-than-an-age-old-mentality-deep-down-many/) [Dacia Maraini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dacia-maraini/) > [America is a democracy and has no Hitler, but I am afraid for her future; there are hard times ahead for the American people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/america-is-a-democracy-and-has-no-hitler-but-i-am-afraid-for-her/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [ \[Islam\] Leaves no room of human legislation in an Islamic state, because herein all legislative functions vest in God and the only function left… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abul-a-la-maududi/islam-leaves-no-room-of-human-legislation-in-an-islamic-state-because/) [Abul A'la Maududi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abul-a-la-maududi/) > [The law is like apparel, which alters with the time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dodderidge/the-law-is-like-apparel-which-alters-with-the-time/) John Dodderidge > [I am convinced that we will never build a democratic state based on rule of law if we do not at the same time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaclav-havel/i-am-convinced-that-we-will-never-build-a-democratic-state-based-on/) [Vaclav Havel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaclav-havel/) > [It must be assumed and established as a principle, that the right of private property must be regarded as sacred. Wherefore, the law ought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-leo-xiii/it-must-be-assumed-and-established-as-a-principle-that-the-right-of/) [Pope Leo XIII](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-leo-xiii/) > [Dictatorship is rule based directly upon force and unrestricted by any laws. The revolutionary dictatorship of the proletariat is rule won and maintained by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-lenin/dictatorship-is-rule-based-directly-upon-force-and-unrestricted-by/) [Vladimir Lenin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-lenin/) > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [ Next came the Patent laws. These began in England in 1624; and, in this country, with the adoption of our constitution. Before then \[these?\],… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/next-came-the-patent-laws-these-began-in-england-in-1624-and-in-this/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Laws undertake to punish only overt acts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/laws-undertake-to-punish-only-overt-acts/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A man has a right to use a saw, an axe, a plane, separately; may he not combine their uses on the same piece…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/a-man-has-a-right-to-use-a-saw-an-axe-a-plane-separately-may-he-not/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [In relations between the rich and the strong, between the rich and the poor, between the master and the servant, it's liberty that grinds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-relations-between-the-rich-and-the-strong-between-the-rich-and-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The laws of every country must be analogous to some common principle.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/the-laws-of-every-country-must-be-analogous-to-some-common-principle/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) [Browse all 16,973 Law quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“If moral truths do not exist as a foundation for law, then law itself becomes merely a system of raw political power accountable to no one.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Scott Klusendorf" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-klusendorf/if-moral-truths-do-not-exist-as-a-foundation-for-law-then-law-itself/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Law" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-klusendorf/if-moral-truths-do-not-exist-as-a-foundation-for-law-then-law-itself/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/83b/scott-klusendorf-28089_law_if-moral-truths-do-not-exist-as-a-founda_2300419.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/83b/scott-klusendorf-28089_law_if-moral-truths-do-not-exist-as-a-founda_2300419.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/83b/scott-klusendorf-28089_law_if-moral-truths-do-not-exist-as-a-founda_2300419.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If moral truths do not exist as a foundation for law, then law itself becomes merely a system of raw…” — Scott Klusendorf", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Scott Klusendorf", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-klusendorf/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“If moral truths do not exist...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-klusendorf/if-moral-truths-do-not-exist-as-a-foundation-for-law-then-law-itself/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-klusendorf/if-moral-truths-do-not-exist-as-a-foundation-for-law-then-law-itself/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```