---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The standard set up by statute is not a…"
description: "\"“The standard set up by statute is not a rule of law, it is rather a way of life.”\" — Telpner"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09c/telpner-281915_law_the-standard-set-up-by-statute-is-not-a_2851834.jpg"
---

#  The standard set up by statute is not a rule of law, it is…

![“The standard set up by statute is not a rule of law, it is rather a way of life.” quote by Telpner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09c/telpner-281915_law_the-standard-set-up-by-statute-is-not-a_2851834.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09c/telpner-281915_law_the-standard-set-up-by-statute-is-not-a_2851834.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09c/telpner-281915_law_the-standard-set-up-by-statute-is-not-a_2851834.jpg)

> ““The standard set up by statute is not a rule of law, it is rather a way of life.””

Telpner

## About This Quote

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

Statutory standards are cultural practices, not true legal principles.

**In simple terms:** Laws often reflect customs, not pure law.

Key Takeaway

Question the true nature of legal rules.

Themes

law culture standards societal norms legal theory

Mood

analytical critical

Type

academic political

When to use this quote

- policy drafting
- legal education
- public debate
- community governance
- academic research

Key Concepts

sociology philosophy political science

Questions to Reflect On

- How do statutes shape societal values?
- Can law be purely rational?

A Different Perspective

Statutes can still enforce essential rights.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Laws](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laws/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Rule of law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rule-of-law/) [Statute](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/statute/) [Way of life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way-of-life/)

## Related quotes

> [Any new legal measures, or cooperative arrangements between government and companies meant to keep people from organizing violence or criminal actions, must not be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-mackinnon/any-new-legal-measures-or-cooperative-arrangements-between-government/)

[Rebecca MacKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-mackinnon/)

> [ We have introduced a rule of law. That never existed for centuries in this country \[South Africa\], especially under the apartheid regime, when the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/we-have-introduced-a-rule-of-law-that-never-existed-for-centuries-in/)

[Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/)

> [An excess of law inescapably weakens the rule of law.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-tribe/an-excess-of-law-inescapably-weakens-the-rule-of-law/)

[Laurence Tribe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-tribe/)

> [The rule of law that China's dissidents ask for is important to U.S. businesses investing in China as well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-malinowski/the-rule-of-law-that-china-s-dissidents-ask-for-is-important-to-u-s/)

[Tom Malinowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-malinowski/)

> [Lack of rule of law is the main reason Pakistan could not join the ranks of progressive nations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/imran-khan/lack-of-rule-of-law-is-the-main-reason-pakistan-could-not-join-the/)

[Imran Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/imran-khan/)

> [Human rights and rule of law are inseparably connected.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aung-san-suu-kyi/human-rights-and-rule-of-law-are-inseparably-connected/)

[Aung San Suu Kyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aung-san-suu-kyi/)

> [In any civil society, there's a serious problem when confidence in the rule of law is shaken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-hoover/in-any-civil-society-there-s-a-serious-problem-when-confidence-in-the/)

[Margaret Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-hoover/)

> [I think the United States is still the indispensable force for positive change and for rule of law and for order and structure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/i-think-the-united-states-is-still-the-indispensable-force-for/)

[John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/)

> [I studied law before I became a filmmaker, and I actually have a great belief in the justice system and the rule of law.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-broomfield/i-studied-law-before-i-became-a-filmmaker-and-i-actually-have-a-great/)

[Nick Broomfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-broomfield/)

> [Rule of law is based on probable cause.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-swalwell/rule-of-law-is-based-on-probable-cause/)

[Eric Swalwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-swalwell/)

> [The first step in the direction of a world rule of law is the recognition that peace no longer is an unobtainable ideal but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/the-first-step-in-the-direction-of-a-world-rule-of-law-is-the/)

[Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/)

> [“The Chinese state, from the days of the Qin, was an efficient, bureaucratized autocracy. Yet to this day, China has never developed the rule…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-wade/the-chinese-state-from-the-days-of-the-qin-was-an-efficient/)

[Nicholas Wade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-wade/)

> [A country's adhering to the rule of law does not mean that its citizens will not do bad things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-inhofe/a-country-s-adhering-to-the-rule-of-law-does-not-mean-that-its/)

[James Inhofe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-inhofe/)

> [Overregulation corrupts citizens and weakens the rule of law.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-lessig/overregulation-corrupts-citizens-and-weakens-the-rule-of-law/)

[Lawrence Lessig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-lessig/)

> [The rule of law is a republic. The rule of one person is a monarchy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-zeldin/the-rule-of-law-is-a-republic-the-rule-of-one-person-is-a-monarchy/)

[Lee Zeldin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-zeldin/)

## More Law quotes

> [ That country \[Carthage\] was rapidly sinking into the state of barbarism from whence it had been raised by the Phoenician colonies and Roman laws;… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/that-country-carthage-was-rapidly-sinking-into-the-state-of-barbarism/)

[Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/)

> [It's easier to change a law than an age-old mentality. Deep down, many prejudices, many hostilities, many fears persist. But if we take a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dacia-maraini/it-s-easier-to-change-a-law-than-an-age-old-mentality-deep-down-many/)

[Dacia Maraini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dacia-maraini/)

> [America is a democracy and has no Hitler, but I am afraid for her future; there are hard times ahead for the American people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/america-is-a-democracy-and-has-no-hitler-but-i-am-afraid-for-her/)

[Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/)

> [ \[Islam\] Leaves no room of human legislation in an Islamic state, because herein all legislative functions vest in God and the only function left… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abul-a-la-maududi/islam-leaves-no-room-of-human-legislation-in-an-islamic-state-because/)

[Abul A'la Maududi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abul-a-la-maududi/)

> [The law is like apparel, which alters with the time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dodderidge/the-law-is-like-apparel-which-alters-with-the-time/)

John Dodderidge

> [I am convinced that we will never build a democratic state based on rule of law if we do not at the same time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaclav-havel/i-am-convinced-that-we-will-never-build-a-democratic-state-based-on/)

[Vaclav Havel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaclav-havel/)

> [It must be assumed and established as a principle, that the right of private property must be regarded as sacred. Wherefore, the law ought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-leo-xiii/it-must-be-assumed-and-established-as-a-principle-that-the-right-of/)

[Pope Leo XIII](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-leo-xiii/)

> [Dictatorship is rule based directly upon force and unrestricted by any laws. The revolutionary dictatorship of the proletariat is rule won and maintained by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-lenin/dictatorship-is-rule-based-directly-upon-force-and-unrestricted-by/)

[Vladimir Lenin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-lenin/)

> [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/)

[Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/)

> [ Next came the Patent laws. These began in England in 1624; and, in this country, with the adoption of our constitution. Before then \[these?\],… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/next-came-the-patent-laws-these-began-in-england-in-1624-and-in-this/)

[Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/)

> [Laws undertake to punish only overt acts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/laws-undertake-to-punish-only-overt-acts/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [A man has a right to use a saw, an axe, a plane, separately; may he not combine their uses on the same piece…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/a-man-has-a-right-to-use-a-saw-an-axe-a-plane-separately-may-he-not/)

[Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/)

> [In relations between the rich and the strong, between the rich and the poor, between the master and the servant, it's liberty that grinds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-relations-between-the-rich-and-the-strong-between-the-rich-and-the/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“The laws of every country must be analogous to some common principle.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/the-laws-of-every-country-must-be-analogous-to-some-common-principle/)

[Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/)

> [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/)

[Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/)

[Browse all 16,973 Law quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“The standard set up by statute is not a rule of law, it is rather a way of life.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Telpner"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/telpner/the-standard-set-up-by-statute-is-not-a-rule-of-law-it-is-rather-a/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Law"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/telpner/the-standard-set-up-by-statute-is-not-a-rule-of-law-it-is-rather-a/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09c/telpner-281915_law_the-standard-set-up-by-statute-is-not-a_2851834.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09c/telpner-281915_law_the-standard-set-up-by-statute-is-not-a_2851834.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09c/telpner-281915_law_the-standard-set-up-by-statute-is-not-a_2851834.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The standard set up by statute is not a rule of law, it is rather a way of life.” — Telpner",
                "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": "Telpner",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/telpner/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“The standard set up by statute...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/telpner/the-standard-set-up-by-statute-is-not-a-rule-of-law-it-is-rather-a/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/telpner/the-standard-set-up-by-statute-is-not-a-rule-of-law-it-is-rather-a/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
