--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: No doubt it is an evil to be bound by…" description: "\"No doubt it is an evil to be bound by laws, but it is necessary at the immature stage to be guided by rules; in other words, as the Master used to say ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51e/swami-vivekananda-53_bounds_no-doubt-it-is-an-evil-to-be-bound-by-la_2968158.jpg" --- # No doubt it is an evil to be bound by laws, but it is… ![“No doubt it is an evil to be bound by laws, but it is necessary at the immature stage to be guided by rules; in other words, as the Master used to say that the sapling must be hedged round, and so on.” quote by Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51e/swami-vivekananda-53_bounds_no-doubt-it-is-an-evil-to-be-bound-by-la_2968158.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51e/swami-vivekananda-53_bounds_no-doubt-it-is-an-evil-to-be-bound-by-la_2968158.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51e/swami-vivekananda-53_bounds_no-doubt-it-is-an-evil-to-be-bound-by-la_2968158.jpg) > “No doubt it is an evil to be bound by laws, but it is necessary at the immature stage to be guided by rules; in other words, as the Master used to say that the sapling must be hedged round, and so on.” [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Rules guide early development, but must be relaxed as maturity grows. **In simple terms:** Early guidance is essential, later flexibility. Key Takeaway Adapt rules to personal growth. Themes education spirituality growth discipline Mood thoughtful inspired Type philosophical practical When to use this quote - parenting - education reform - personal coaching - self‑discipline - cultural traditions Key Concepts philosophy developmental psychology Questions to Reflect On - When should you loosen a rule? - How does flexibility aid maturity? A Different Perspective Rigid rules can stifle creativity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bounds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bounds/) [Discipline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discipline/) [Doubt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doubt/) [Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) [Immature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/immature/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Rounds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rounds/) [Saplings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saplings/) [Stage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stage/) ## Related quotes > [A sapling must be hedged about for protection, but when it becomes a tree, a hedge would be a hindrance. So there is no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/a-sapling-must-be-hedged-about-for-protection-but-when-it-becomes-a/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [“(B)ut when you spend your days with evil, some of it is bound to soak into your clothes, like cigar smoke in a closed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/b-ut-when-you-spend-your-days-with-evil-some-of-it-is-bound-to-soak/) [Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/) > [How I wish we lived in a time when laws were not necessary to safeguard us from discrimination.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbra-streisand/how-i-wish-we-lived-in-a-time-when-laws-were-not-necessary-to/) [Barbra Streisand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbra-streisand/) > [As good government is an empire of laws, how shall your laws be made? In a large society, inhabiting an extensive country, it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/as-good-government-is-an-empire-of-laws-how-shall-your-laws-be-made/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [An infinite God ought to be able to protect himself, without going in partnership with State Legislatures. Certainly he ought not so to act…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/an-infinite-god-ought-to-be-able-to-protect-himself-without-going-in-2/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [As labor creates the wealth of the country, we demand the passage of such laws as may be necessary to protect it in all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-peter-altgeld/as-labor-creates-the-wealth-of-the-country-we-demand-the-passage-of/) [John Peter Altgeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-peter-altgeld/) > [As soon as laws are necessary for men, they are no longer fit for freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pythagoras/as-soon-as-laws-are-necessary-for-men-they-are-no-longer-fit-for/) [Pythagoras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pythagoras/) > [For as laws are necessary that good manners may be preserved, so there is need of good manner that laws may be maintained. \[It.,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/for-as-laws-are-necessary-that-good-manners-may-be-preserved-so-there/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [For as laws are necessary that good manners be preserved, so there is need of good manners that law may be maintained.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/for-as-laws-are-necessary-that-good-manners-be-preserved-so-there-is/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [Everything happens through immutable laws, ...everything is necessary... 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Sometimes you have to get out of that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-hardy/the-dream-in-your-heart-may-be-bigger-than-the-environment-in-which/) [Darren Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-hardy/) > [On Wenlock Edge the wood's in trouble;His forest fleece the Wrekin heaves;The wind it plies the saplings double, And thick on Severn snow the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-e-housman/on-wenlock-edge-the-wood-s-in-trouble-his-forest-fleece-the-wrekin/) [A. E. Housman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-e-housman/) > [“trembling copse of young saplings”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-d-baker/trembling-copse-of-young-saplings/) [E.D. Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-d-baker/) > [I hate to see prudence clinging to the green suckers of youth; 'tis like ivy round a sapling, and spoils the growth of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-brinsley-sheridan/i-hate-to-see-prudence-clinging-to-the-green-suckers-of-youth-tis/) [Richard Brinsley Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-brinsley-sheridan/) ## More by Swami Vivekananda > [Every action that helps us manifest our divine nature more and more is good; every action that retards it is evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/every-action-that-helps-us-manifest-our-divine-nature-more-and-more/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Holiness sincerity, and faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/holiness-sincerity-and-faith/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [The Hindus have a peculiar slovenliness in business matters, not being sufficiently methodical and strict in keeping accounts etc.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/the-hindus-have-a-peculiar-slovenliness-in-business-matters-not-being/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Renunciation is in our blood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/renunciation-is-in-our-blood/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Let positive, strong, helpful thoughts enter into your brains from very childhood. Lay yourselves open to these thoughts, and not to weakening and paralysing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/let-positive-strong-helpful-thoughts-enter-into-your-brains-from-very/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Where can we go to find God if we cannot see Him in our own hearts and in every living being.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/where-can-we-go-to-find-god-if-we-cannot-see-him-in-our-own-hearts/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [It is the free alone which never changes, and the unchangeable alone which is free; for change is produced by something exterior to a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/it-is-the-free-alone-which-never-changes-and-the-unchangeable-alone/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Above all, India is the land of religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/above-all-india-is-the-land-of-religion/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [The awakening of the soul to its bondage and its effort to stand up and assert itself - this is called life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/the-awakening-of-the-soul-to-its-bondage-and-its-effort-to-stand-up/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [It is the Prana that is manifesting as motion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/it-is-the-prana-that-is-manifesting-as-motion/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Though an atom is invisible, unthinkable, yet in it are the whole power and potency of the universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/though-an-atom-is-invisible-unthinkable-yet-in-it-are-the-whole-power/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Nothing can be produced without a cause, and the effect is but the cause reproduced.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/nothing-can-be-produced-without-a-cause-and-the-effect-is-but-the/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [All the strength and succour you want is within yourselves. Therefore make your own future. "Let the dead past bury its dead." The infinite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/all-the-strength-and-succour-you-want-is-within-yourselves-therefore/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Be brave! Be strong! Be fearless! Once you have taken up the spiritual life, fight as long as there is any life in you.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/be-brave-be-strong-be-fearless-once-you-have-taken-up-the-spiritual/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [“there is a continuity of mind, as the Yogis call it. The mind is universal. 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She turned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/you-spin-in-the-sky-the-world-spins-under-you-and-you-step-from-land/) [Samuel R. 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