--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We are all equal before the law, but not…" description: "\"We are all equal before the law, but not before those appointed to applyit.\" — Stanislaw Jerzy Lec" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/48e/stanislaw-jerzy-lec-3312_appointed_we-are-all-equal-before-the-law-but-not_3073319.png" --- # We are all equal before the law, but not before those… ![“We are all equal before the law, but not before those appointed to applyit.” quote by Stanislaw Jerzy Lec](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/48e/stanislaw-jerzy-lec-3312_appointed_we-are-all-equal-before-the-law-but-not_3073319.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/48e/stanislaw-jerzy-lec-3312_appointed_we-are-all-equal-before-the-law-but-not_3073319.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/48e/stanislaw-jerzy-lec-3312_appointed_we-are-all-equal-before-the-law-but-not_3073319.png) > “We are all equal before the law, but not before those appointed to applyit.” [Stanislaw Jerzy Lec](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanislaw-jerzy-lec/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Laws treat everyone equally, but those who enforce them may be biased, creating inequality. **In simple terms:** Equality in law vs. inequality in enforcement. Key Takeaway Question authority’s fairness. Themes justice equality corruption Mood critical skeptical Type satirical political When to use this quote - courtrooms - government agencies - everyday interactions Key Concepts legal systems human bias power dynamics Questions to Reflect On - Who holds power in law enforcement? - How can bias be reduced? A Different Perspective May oversimplify complex legal realities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Appointed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/appointed/) [Appointed Applyit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/appointed-applyit-5209597/) [Equal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/equal/) [Equal Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/equal-law-579168/) [Equality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/equality/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Law Appointed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law-appointed-5209596/) ## Related quotes > [To rightly recognize that men and women are equal under the law is perfectly removed from the fact that men and women are distinguishable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gad-saad/to-rightly-recognize-that-men-and-women-are-equal-under-the-law-is/) [Gad Saad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gad-saad/) > [ Government cannot make us equal; it can only recognize, respect, and protect us as equal before the law. That \[affirmative action\] programs may have… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-thomas/government-cannot-make-us-equal-it-can-only-recognize-respect-and-2/) [Clarence Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-thomas/) > [It is of course one of the great joys of our country, a beacon of democracy that the world admires, that every citizen is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-miller/it-is-of-course-one-of-the-great-joys-of-our-country-a-beacon-of/) [Gina Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-miller/) > [Fundamental premise that all are equal under and before the law and all are entitled to the equal protection and the equal benefit of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-stamatis/fundamental-premise-that-all-are-equal-under-and-before-the-law-and/) [George Stamatis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-stamatis/) > [Government cannot make us equal; it can only recognize, respect, and protect us as equal before the law.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-thomas/government-cannot-make-us-equal-it-can-only-recognize-respect-and/) [Clarence Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-thomas/) > [“We should not manifest surprise at any sort of condition into which we are born, and which should be lamented by no one, simply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca/we-should-not-manifest-surprise-at-any-sort-of-condition-into-which/) [Seneca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca/) > [In theory we are all equal before the law. In practice, there are overwhelming privileges that come with winning the birth lottery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arianna-huffington/in-theory-we-are-all-equal-before-the-law-in-practice-there-are/) [Arianna Huffington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arianna-huffington/) > [the minority possess their equal rights, which equal law must protect, and to violate would be oppression.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-minority-possess-their-equal-rights-which-equal-law-must-protect/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [In private matters everyone is equal before the law. In public matters, when it is a question of putting power and responsibility into the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pericles/in-private-matters-everyone-is-equal-before-the-law-in-public-matters/) [Pericles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pericles/) > [Liberty calls to us again. We must follow her further; we must trust her fully. Either we must wholly accept her or she will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-george/liberty-calls-to-us-again-we-must-follow-her-further-we-must-trust/) [Henry George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-george/) > [Everyone must be equal before the law, abide by it, pay their taxes and bear the punishment should they break the law.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-putin/everyone-must-be-equal-before-the-law-abide-by-it-pay-their-taxes-and/) [Vladimir Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-putin/) > [ If we \[gays\] want to be equal under the law, we must now - as the great heroes of the Civil Rights movement of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cleve-jones/if-we-gays-want-to-be-equal-under-the-law-we-must-now-as-the-great/) [Cleve Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cleve-jones/) > [The law is equal before all of us; but we are not all equal before the law. Virtually there is one law for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/the-law-is-equal-before-all-of-us-but-we-are-not-all-equal-before-the/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [I believe marriage equality is a simple change that sends a powerful message. It is a chance for us to say, as a nation,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-shorten/i-believe-marriage-equality-is-a-simple-change-that-sends-a-powerful/) [Bill Shorten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-shorten/) > [It's something fundamental to me, human rights that people are equal under law simply because they are human beings. And I can no more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jacoby/it-s-something-fundamental-to-me-human-rights-that-people-are-equal/) [Susan Jacoby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jacoby/) ## More by Stanislaw Jerzy Lec > [Even Einstein had to rely for his time on his clock.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanislaw-jerzy-lec/even-einstein-had-to-rely-for-his-time-on-his-clock/) [Stanislaw Jerzy Lec](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanislaw-jerzy-lec/) > [A sweet thing, perspective - a chance to see your enemies so small.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanislaw-jerzy-lec/a-sweet-thing-perspective-a-chance-to-see-your-enemies-so-small/) [Stanislaw Jerzy Lec](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanislaw-jerzy-lec/) > [The success of Heine -- to become a world-famous 'unknown poet.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanislaw-jerzy-lec/the-success-of-heine-to-become-a-world-famous-unknown-poet/) [Stanislaw Jerzy Lec](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanislaw-jerzy-lec/) > [What do I believe? I believe in God, if he exists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanislaw-jerzy-lec/what-do-i-believe-i-believe-in-god-if-he-exists/) [Stanislaw Jerzy Lec](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanislaw-jerzy-lec/) > [There are parodies of non-existent things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanislaw-jerzy-lec/there-are-parodies-of-non-existent-things/) [Stanislaw Jerzy Lec](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanislaw-jerzy-lec/) > [Love of one's country recognizes no frontiers... of other countries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanislaw-jerzy-lec/love-of-one-s-country-recognizes-no-frontiers-of-other-countries/) [Stanislaw Jerzy Lec](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanislaw-jerzy-lec/) > [Illiterates have to dictate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanislaw-jerzy-lec/illiterates-have-to-dictate/) [Stanislaw Jerzy Lec](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanislaw-jerzy-lec/) > [“Even the masochists tell everything when tortured. From sheer gratitude.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanislaw-jerzy-lec/even-the-masochists-tell-everything-when-tortured-from-sheer-gratitude/) [Stanislaw Jerzy Lec](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanislaw-jerzy-lec/) > [Many a zero thinks it is the ellipse on which the Earth travels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanislaw-jerzy-lec/many-a-zero-thinks-it-is-the-ellipse-on-which-the-earth-travels/) [Stanislaw Jerzy Lec](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanislaw-jerzy-lec/) > [I don't agree with mathematics; the sum total of zeros is a frightening figure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanislaw-jerzy-lec/i-don-t-agree-with-mathematics-the-sum-total-of-zeros-is-a/) [Stanislaw Jerzy Lec](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanislaw-jerzy-lec/) > [Let him who is without guilt cast the first stone. A trap. Because then he will be no longer without guilt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanislaw-jerzy-lec/let-him-who-is-without-guilt-cast-the-first-stone-a-trap-because-then/) [Stanislaw Jerzy Lec](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanislaw-jerzy-lec/) > [A fat person lives shorter but eats longer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanislaw-jerzy-lec/a-fat-person-lives-shorter-but-eats-longer/) [Stanislaw Jerzy Lec](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanislaw-jerzy-lec/) > [An empty envelope that is sealed contains a secret.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanislaw-jerzy-lec/an-empty-envelope-that-is-sealed-contains-a-secret/) [Stanislaw Jerzy Lec](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanislaw-jerzy-lec/) > [Advice to writers: Sometimes you just have to stop writing. Even before you begin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanislaw-jerzy-lec/advice-to-writers-sometimes-you-just-have-to-stop-writing-even-before/) [Stanislaw Jerzy Lec](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanislaw-jerzy-lec/) > [I prefer the sign NO ENTRANCE to the sign which says NO EXIT.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanislaw-jerzy-lec/i-prefer-the-sign-no-entrance-to-the-sign-which-says-no-exit/) [Stanislaw Jerzy Lec](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanislaw-jerzy-lec/) [Explore all 128 Stanislaw Jerzy Lec quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanislaw-jerzy-lec/) ## More Appointed quotes > [When in doubt, suggest that a subcommittee be appointed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-chapman/when-in-doubt-suggest-that-a-subcommittee-be-appointed/) [Harry Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-chapman/) > [“He appointed a general Overseer who would, as time went on, transfer All the pointless wealth from nation to nation, From one family to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-jo-bang/he-appointed-a-general-overseer-who-would-as-time-went-on-transfer/) [Mary Jo Bang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-jo-bang/) > [ “By his \[God's\] help I will arise and address myself diligently to my appointed duty. If happiness in this world is not for me,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-bronte/by-his-god-s-help-i-will-arise-and-address-myself-diligently-to-my/) [Anne Brontë](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-bronte/) > [No person connected with me by blood or marriage will be appointed to office.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutherford-b-hayes/no-person-connected-with-me-by-blood-or-marriage-will-be-appointed-to/) [Rutherford B. Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutherford-b-hayes/) > [The President is responsible to the public for the conduct of the person he has nominated and appointed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/the-president-is-responsible-to-the-public-for-the-conduct-of-the/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [Even the Congressional Budget Office and the Social Security trustees appointed by the president say that Social Security is financially sound, without any changes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-roosevelt/even-the-congressional-budget-office-and-the-social-security-trustees/) [James Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-roosevelt/) > ['To Kill a Mockingbird' is really two stories. One is a coming-of-age tale told from the point of view of Scout Finch, a girl…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-j-shields/to-kill-a-mockingbird-is-really-two-stories-one-is-a-coming-of-age/) [Charles J. Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-j-shields/) > [The appointed thing comes at the appointed time in the appointed way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myrtle-reed/the-appointed-thing-comes-at-the-appointed-time-in-the-appointed-way/) [Myrtle Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myrtle-reed/) > [I sincerely desire to be appointed Commander in Chief of the air fleet to attack Pearl Harbor so that I may personally command that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isoroku-yamamoto/i-sincerely-desire-to-be-appointed-commander-in-chief-of-the-air/) [Isoroku Yamamoto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isoroku-yamamoto/) > [“Ballot papers do not define leaders. Leadership is defined by conviction, vision, passion and inspiration.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/ballot-papers-do-not-define-leaders-leadership-is-defined-by/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [All my enemies are self-appointed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/all-my-enemies-are-self-appointed/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [“Contrary to popular opinion, leadership is not a reserved position for a particular group of people who were elected or appointed, ordained or enthroned.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/contrary-to-popular-opinion-leadership-is-not-a-reserved-position-for/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [Manufactured scandals prohibit public servants from doing the job they were elected or appointed to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-b-rangel/manufactured-scandals-prohibit-public-servants-from-doing-the-job/) [Charles B. Rangel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-b-rangel/) > [ \[Mondale\] was not born; he was appointed. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hollings/mondale-was-not-born-he-was-appointed/) [Ernest Hollings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hollings/) > [No disrespect to Cardiff but they probably needed me more than I needed them, when I was appointed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-warnock/no-disrespect-to-cardiff-but-they-probably-needed-me-more-than-i/) [Neil Warnock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-warnock/) [Browse all 73 Appointed quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/appointed/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We are all equal before the law, but not before those appointed to applyit.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Stanislaw Jerzy Lec" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanislaw-jerzy-lec/we-are-all-equal-before-the-law-but-not-before-those-appointed-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Appointed" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanislaw-jerzy-lec/we-are-all-equal-before-the-law-but-not-before-those-appointed-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/48e/stanislaw-jerzy-lec-3312_appointed_we-are-all-equal-before-the-law-but-not_3073319.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/48e/stanislaw-jerzy-lec-3312_appointed_we-are-all-equal-before-the-law-but-not_3073319.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/48e/stanislaw-jerzy-lec-3312_appointed_we-are-all-equal-before-the-law-but-not_3073319.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We are all equal before the law, but not before those appointed to applyit.” — Stanislaw Jerzy Lec", "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": "Stanislaw Jerzy Lec", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanislaw-jerzy-lec/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "We are all equal before the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanislaw-jerzy-lec/we-are-all-equal-before-the-law-but-not-before-those-appointed-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanislaw-jerzy-lec/we-are-all-equal-before-the-law-but-not-before-those-appointed-to/#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 } } ] } ```