--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Some laws, though unwritten, are more…" description: "\"Some laws, though unwritten, are more firmly established than all written laws.\" — Seneca the Younger" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb0/seneca-the-younger-219_firmly_some-laws-though-unwritten-are-more-firm_297767.jpg" --- # Some laws, though unwritten, are more firmly established… ![“Some laws, though unwritten, are more firmly established than all written laws.” quote by Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb0/seneca-the-younger-219_firmly_some-laws-though-unwritten-are-more-firm_297767.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb0/seneca-the-younger-219_firmly_some-laws-though-unwritten-are-more-firm_297767.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb0/seneca-the-younger-219_firmly_some-laws-though-unwritten-are-more-firm_297767.jpg) > “Some laws, though unwritten, are more firmly established than all written laws.” [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Unwritten customs can hold more power than formal statutes. **In simple terms:** Customs can outweigh laws. Key Takeaway Recognize the force of cultural norms. Themes authority custom law Mood reflective critical Type philosophical observational When to use this quote - business negotiations - family traditions - political movements Key Concepts social contract normative power Questions to Reflect On - How do unwritten rules shape your decisions? - When should you challenge them? A Different Perspective Written law may still dominate in formal settings. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Firmly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firmly/) [Firmly Established](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firmly-established-1673168/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Laws](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laws/) [Laws Unwritten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laws-unwritten-2851520/) [Unwritten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unwritten/) [Unwritten Firmly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unwritten-firmly-2851521/) [Written](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/written/) [Written Laws](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/written-laws-1024745/) ## Related quotes > [Whose happiness is so firmly established that he has no quarrel from any side with his estate of life?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boethius/whose-happiness-is-so-firmly-established-that-he-has-no-quarrel-from/) [Boethius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boethius/) > [The great thing about 'X-Men' is that it takes characters that are quite firmly established in the comics and puts them in new contexts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-helman/the-great-thing-about-x-men-is-that-it-takes-characters-that-are/) [Josh Helman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-helman/) > [I am still seeking to become firmly established as an actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deforest-kelley/i-am-still-seeking-to-become-firmly-established-as-an-actor/) [DeForest Kelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deforest-kelley/) > [Certain laws have not been written, but they are more fixed than all the written laws.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/certain-laws-have-not-been-written-but-they-are-more-fixed-than-all/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [A strict observance of the written laws is doubtless one of the high virtues of a good citizen, but it is not the highest.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/a-strict-observance-of-the-written-laws-is-doubtless-one-of-the-high/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Written laws are formulas in which we endeavor to express as concisely as possible that which, under such or such determined circumstances, natural justice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-cousin/written-laws-are-formulas-in-which-we-endeavor-to-express-as/) [Victor Cousin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-cousin/) > [Written laws are like spiders' webs, and will, like them, only entangle and hold the poor and weak, while the rich and powerful will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anacharsis/written-laws-are-like-spiders-webs-and-will-like-them-only-entangle/) [Anacharsis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anacharsis/) > [Deep within the human constitution lie written laws of nature that should guide man in the conduct of his life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-m-shelton/deep-within-the-human-constitution-lie-written-laws-of-nature-that/) [Herbert M. 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the effect of precepts is therefore slow and tedious, whilst that of examples is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/men-trust-rather-to-their-eyes-than-to-their-ears-the-effect-of/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [A great step towards independence is a good-humored stomach, one that is willing to endure rough treatment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/a-great-step-towards-independence-is-a-good-humored-stomach-one-that/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [Men can be divided into 2 groups: one that goes ahead and achieves something, and one that comes after and criticizes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/men-can-be-divided-into-2-groups-one-that-goes-ahead-and-achieves/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [Leisure without study is death, and the grave of a living man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/leisure-without-study-is-death-and-the-grave-of-a-living-man/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [Such as the chain of causes we call Fate, such is the chain of wishes: one links on to another; 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For life is tendered to us with the proviso of death. Life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/he-who-does-not-want-to-die-should-not-want-to-live-for-life-is/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [Let us not seek our disease out of ourselves; 'tis in us, and planted in our bowels; and the mere fact that we do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/let-us-not-seek-our-disease-out-of-ourselves-tis-in-us-and-planted-in/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [After death there is nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/after-death-there-is-nothing/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [Adversity finds at last the man whom she has often passed by.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/adversity-finds-at-last-the-man-whom-she-has-often-passed-by/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [Hesitation is the best cure for anger. The first blows of anger are heavy, but if it waits, it will think again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/hesitation-is-the-best-cure-for-anger-the-first-blows-of-anger-are/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) [Explore all 872 Seneca the Younger quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) ## More Firmly quotes > [I firmly believe that if members of Congress fail to perform their most basic duty in passing a budget, then they do not deserve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-schrader/i-firmly-believe-that-if-members-of-congress-fail-to-perform-their/) [Kurt Schrader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-schrader/) > [Positive thinking is so firmly enshrined in our culture that knocking it is a little like attacking motherhood or apple pie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/srikumar-rao/positive-thinking-is-so-firmly-enshrined-in-our-culture-that-knocking/) [Srikumar Rao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/srikumar-rao/) > [Don't get me wrong, some of the mis-informed articles I have read over the last few weeks have been incredibly frustrating, but for my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-rickitt/don-t-get-me-wrong-some-of-the-mis-informed-articles-i-have-read-over/) [Adam Rickitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-rickitt/) > [I firmly believe if you start something, you should finish it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coy-bowles/i-firmly-believe-if-you-start-something-you-should-finish-it/) [Coy Bowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coy-bowles/) > [There's nothing more powerful than a woman who knows how to contain her power and not let it leak, standing firmly within it in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/there-s-nothing-more-powerful-than-a-woman-who-knows-how-to-contain/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [I firmly believe every book was meant to be written.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marchette-chute/i-firmly-believe-every-book-was-meant-to-be-written/) [Marchette Chute](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marchette-chute/) > [I firmly believe everyone needs to have balance in their life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kylie-bunbury/i-firmly-believe-everyone-needs-to-have-balance-in-their-life/) [Kylie Bunbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kylie-bunbury/) > [Therefore, a man ought to root himself so firmly in God that he will not need the consolations of men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/therefore-a-man-ought-to-root-himself-so-firmly-in-god-that-he-will/) [Thomas a Kempis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-kempis/) > [“May the devil be firmly on your side”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tillie-cole/may-the-devil-be-firmly-on-your-side/) [Tillie Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tillie-cole/) > [I firmly believe that emotions are universal, and I know that when they connect with the audience, it works. 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"If you ever doubt anything here, if you ever not know what to think or who to trust, you trust…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ness/no-i-say-firmly-if-you-ever-doubt-anything-here-if-you-ever-not-know/) [Patrick Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ness/) > [The Church of England holds very firmly, and continues to hold to the view, that marriage is a lifelong union of one man to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-welby/the-church-of-england-holds-very-firmly-and-continues-to-hold-to-the/) [Justin Welby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-welby/) > [I firmly believe that unless one has tasted the bitter pill of failure, one cannot aspire enough for success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-p-j-abdul-kalam/i-firmly-believe-that-unless-one-has-tasted-the-bitter-pill-of/) [A. P. J. Abdul Kalam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-p-j-abdul-kalam/) > [We are firmly convinced, and we act on that conviction, that with nations as with individuals our interests soundly calculated will ever be found…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/we-are-firmly-convinced-and-we-act-on-that-conviction-that-with/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) [Browse all 158 Firmly quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firmly/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Some laws, though unwritten, are more firmly established than all written laws.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Seneca the Younger" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/some-laws-though-unwritten-are-more-firmly-established-than-all/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Firmly" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/some-laws-though-unwritten-are-more-firmly-established-than-all/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb0/seneca-the-younger-219_firmly_some-laws-though-unwritten-are-more-firm_297767.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb0/seneca-the-younger-219_firmly_some-laws-though-unwritten-are-more-firm_297767.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb0/seneca-the-younger-219_firmly_some-laws-though-unwritten-are-more-firm_297767.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Some laws, though unwritten, are more firmly established than all written laws.” — Seneca the Younger", "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": "Seneca the Younger", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Some laws, though unwritten, are more...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/some-laws-though-unwritten-are-more-firmly-established-than-all/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/some-laws-though-unwritten-are-more-firmly-established-than-all/#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 } } ] } ```