---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The first requisite of civilization…"
description: "\"The first requisite of civilization, therefore, is that of justice — that is, the assurance that a law once made will not be broken in favour of an ind..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f3/sigmund-freud-360_civilization_the-first-requisite-of-civilization-ther_2350849.jpg"
---

#  The first requisite of civilization, therefore, is that of…

![“The first requisite of civilization, therefore, is that of justice — that is, the assurance that a law once made will not be broken in favour of an individual. This implies nothing as to the ethical value of such a law.” quote by Sigmund Freud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f3/sigmund-freud-360_civilization_the-first-requisite-of-civilization-ther_2350849.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f3/sigmund-freud-360_civilization_the-first-requisite-of-civilization-ther_2350849.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f3/sigmund-freud-360_civilization_the-first-requisite-of-civilization-ther_2350849.jpg)

> “The first requisite of civilization, therefore, is that of justice — that is, the assurance that a law once made will not be broken in favour of an individual. This implies nothing as to the ethical value of such a law.”

[Sigmund Freud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigmund-freud/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Justice is the guarantee that laws are applied equally, not favoring individuals, regardless of the law's moral worth.

**In simple terms:** Laws must be applied fairly to all.

Key Takeaway

Ensure consistent law enforcement.

Themes

justice law equality

Mood

reflective critical

Type

philosophical political

When to use this quote

- government policy
- court rulings
- corporate compliance
- human rights advocacy

Key Concepts

social contract rule of law

Questions to Reflect On

- How can societies protect against selective law enforcement?
- What mechanisms ensure laws remain impartial?

A Different Perspective

Legal systems can be biased despite formal rules.

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[Civilization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civilization/) [Civilization Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civilization-justice-419961/) [Confidence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confidence/) [Ethical Value](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ethical-value-1721172/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Implies Ethical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/implies-ethical-5722661/) [Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Requisite Civilization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/requisite-civilization-419962/)

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