--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is a base thing for a man among the…" description: "\"It is a base thing for a man among the people not to obey those in command. Never in a state can the laws be well administered when fear does not stand..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d1b/sophocles-370_command_it-is-a-base-thing-for-a-man-among-the-p_2881873.png" --- # It is a base thing for a man among the people not to obey… ![“It is a base thing for a man among the people not to obey those in command. Never in a state can the laws be well administered when fear does not stand firm.” quote by Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d1b/sophocles-370_command_it-is-a-base-thing-for-a-man-among-the-p_2881873.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d1b/sophocles-370_command_it-is-a-base-thing-for-a-man-among-the-p_2881873.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d1b/sophocles-370_command_it-is-a-base-thing-for-a-man-among-the-p_2881873.png) > “It is a base thing for a man among the people not to obey those in command. Never in a state can the laws be well administered when fear does not stand firm.” [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote asserts that disobedience undermines law enforcement, and fear is necessary for laws to be effectively applied. **In simple terms:** Obedience is needed for law to work. Key Takeaway Respect authority for societal order. Themes law authority obedience Mood critical philosophical Type political ethical When to use this quote - government - military - civil obedience Key Concepts political theory social contract Questions to Reflect On - Is fear a healthy basis for law? - Can laws function without fear? A Different Perspective May justify authoritarianism. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Laws](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laws/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Stand firm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stand-firm/) ## Related quotes > [In the ideal State laws are few and simple, because they have been derived from certainties. In the corrupt State laws are many and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/solon/in-the-ideal-state-laws-are-few-and-simple-because-they-have-been/) [Solon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/solon/) > [Living most of my life in New York, I witnessed plenty of nanny state laws. Later, I lived in D.C. for a bit and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-harsanyi/living-most-of-my-life-in-new-york-i-witnessed-plenty-of-nanny-state/) [David Harsanyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-harsanyi/) > [Whoever desires to found a state and give it laws, must start with assuming that all men are bad and ever ready to display…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/whoever-desires-to-found-a-state-and-give-it-laws-must-start-with/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [The state is therefore everyone; the rules within the state are laws which safeguard the welfare of all and which must originate from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-b-chner/the-state-is-therefore-everyone-the-rules-within-the-state-are-laws/) [Georg Buchner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-b-chner/) > [Usually state laws refer to touching intimate parts, it can be breasts or buttocks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megyn-kelly/usually-state-laws-refer-to-touching-intimate-parts-it-can-be-breasts/) [Megyn Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megyn-kelly/) > [“in a constitutionally ordered state, where laws are derived from broad principles of right and wrong and where those principles are enshrined and protected…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-judt/in-a-constitutionally-ordered-state-where-laws-are-derived-from-broad/) [Tony Judt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-judt/) > [The more corrupt the state, the more laws.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publius-cornelius-tacitus/the-more-corrupt-the-state-the-more-laws/) [Publius Cornelius Tacitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publius-cornelius-tacitus/) > [While 45 of the 50 States have either a State constitutional amendment or a statute that preserves the current definition of marriage, left-wing activist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-boehner/while-45-of-the-50-states-have-either-a-state-constitutional/) [John Boehner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-boehner/) > [A lot of industry groups have said they support a federal law. They don't want to have to deal with 50 different state laws.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-jackson/a-lot-of-industry-groups-have-said-they-support-a-federal-law-they/) [William Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-jackson/) > [One of the advantages of having laws is the pleasure one may take in breaking them. We here are not children, Mr. Gurgeh." Hamin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iain-banks/one-of-the-advantages-of-having-laws-is-the-pleasure-one-may-take-in/) [Iain Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iain-banks/) > [“You can force the people to obey; you cannot force them to understand.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/you-can-force-the-people-to-obey-you-cannot-force-them-to-understand/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [HE WHO WANTS TO BECOME A COMMANDER OF MULTITUDES OF PEOPLE SHOULD OBEY A COMMAND](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/solomonernefoy/he-who-wants-to-become-a-commander-of-multitudes-of-people-should/) SolomonErnefoy > [Neither can oath nor promise bind any such people to obey and maintain tyrants against God and against his truth known.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-knox/neither-can-oath-nor-promise-bind-any-such-people-to-obey-and/) [John Knox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-knox/) > [“The language of law should be simple and straight, if you expect people to obey it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/the-language-of-law-should-be-simple-and-straight-if-you-expect/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [Society is well governed when the people obey the magistrates, and the magistrates obey the law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/solon/society-is-well-governed-when-the-people-obey-the-magistrates-and-the/) [Solon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/solon/) ## More by Sophocles > [Those whose life is long still strive for gain, and for all mortals all things take second place to money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/those-whose-life-is-long-still-strive-for-gain-and-for-all-mortals/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [God's dice always have a lucky roll.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/god-s-dice-always-have-a-lucky-roll/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [A fool cannot be an actor, though an actor may act a fool's part.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/a-fool-cannot-be-an-actor-though-an-actor-may-act-a-fool-s-part/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [Go then if you must, but remember, no matter how foolish your deeds, those who love you will love you still.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/go-then-if-you-must-but-remember-no-matter-how-foolish-your-deeds/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [Man's worst ill is stubbornness of heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/man-s-worst-ill-is-stubbornness-of-heart/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [A lie never lives to be old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/a-lie-never-lives-to-be-old/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [How dangerous can false reasoning prove!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/how-dangerous-can-false-reasoning-prove/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [Why should man fear since chance is all in all for him, and he can clearly foreknow nothing? Best to live lightly, as one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/why-should-man-fear-since-chance-is-all-in-all-for-him-and-he-can/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [“But life takes sudden twists.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/but-life-takes-sudden-twists/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [When ice appears out of doors, and boys seize it up while it is solid, at first they experience new pleasures. But in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/when-ice-appears-out-of-doors-and-boys-seize-it-up-while-it-is-solid/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [For God hates utterly the bray of bragging tongues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/for-god-hates-utterly-the-bray-of-bragging-tongues/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [“I have nothing but contempt for the kind of governor who is afraid, for whatever reason, to follow the course that he knows is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/i-have-nothing-but-contempt-for-the-kind-of-governor-who-is-afraid/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [“Not from Hades' black and universal lake can you lift him. Not by groaning, not by prayers. Yet you run yourself out in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/not-from-hades-black-and-universal-lake-can-you-lift-him-not-by/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [A fearful man is always hearing things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/a-fearful-man-is-always-hearing-things/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [There is a point at which even justice does injury.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/there-is-a-point-at-which-even-justice-does-injury/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) [Explore all 621 Sophocles quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) ## More Command quotes > [Why couldn't Jesus command us to obsess over everything, to try to control and manipulate people, to try not to breathe at all, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/why-couldn-t-jesus-command-us-to-obsess-over-everything-to-try-to/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) > [Geometry, which should only obey Physics, when united with it sometimes commands it. 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Stanley Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-stanley-hall/) > [Our beliefs are like the unquestioned commands, telling us how things are, what's possible and what's impossible, what we can and can not do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/our-beliefs-are-like-the-unquestioned-commands-telling-us-how-things/) [Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/) > [Why has no religion this command before all others: Thou shalt work?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/berthold-auerbach/why-has-no-religion-this-command-before-all-others-thou-shalt-work/) [Berthold Auerbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/berthold-auerbach/) > [I ask one thing only: I ask for the right to hope, to suffer as I do. 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