--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It requires but a very small glance of…" description: "\"It requires but a very small glance of thought to perceive, that although laws made in one generation often continue in force through succeeding genera..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e88/thomas-paine-267_consent_it-requires-but-a-very-small-glance-of-t_1123605.png" --- # It requires but a very small glance of thought to… ![“It requires but a very small glance of thought to perceive, that although laws made in one generation often continue in force through succeeding generations, yet that they continue to derive their force from the consent of the living. A law not repealed continues in force, not because it cannot be…” quote by Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e88/thomas-paine-267_consent_it-requires-but-a-very-small-glance-of-t_1123605.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e88/thomas-paine-267_consent_it-requires-but-a-very-small-glance-of-t_1123605.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e88/thomas-paine-267_consent_it-requires-but-a-very-small-glance-of-t_1123605.png) > “It requires but a very small glance of thought to perceive, that although laws made in one generation often continue in force through succeeding generations, yet that they continue to derive their force from the consent of the living. A law not repealed continues in force, not because it cannot be repealed, but because it is not repealed; and the non repealing passes for consent.” [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Laws persist because living people accept them, not because they are immutable; consent keeps them alive. **In simple terms:** Laws stay because people agree to them. Key Takeaway Ensure active civic participation. Themes law consent societal continuity Mood thoughtful critical Type political philosophical When to use this quote - voting - public debate - community meetings - policy review Key Concepts social contract legitimacy political theory Questions to Reflect On - How do you actively consent or dissent to current laws? - What mechanisms ensure consent is informed? A Different Perspective Consent can be passive, allowing unjust laws to endure. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Consent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consent/) [Generations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generations/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) ## Related quotes > [Until our leaders take seriously their responsibility to pass on a healthy and just world to the next generation, I will continue this fight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-dechristopher/until-our-leaders-take-seriously-their-responsibility-to-pass-on-a/) [Tim DeChristopher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-dechristopher/) > [No higher duty, or more solemn responsibility, rests upon this Court than that of translating into living law and maintaining this constitutional shield deliberately…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugo-black/no-higher-duty-or-more-solemn-responsibility-rests-upon-this-court/) [Hugo Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugo-black/) > [Living by the Law puts the focus on yourself. Living by Grace puts the focus on Jesus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/living-by-the-law-puts-the-focus-on-yourself-living-by-grace-puts-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [May our children and our children's children to a thousand generations, continue to enjoy the benefits conferred upon us by a united country, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/may-our-children-and-our-children-s-children-to-a-thousand/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Generations will continue to meet the same fate unless the perennial oppressor-Britain-is removed, for she will unashamedly and mercilessly continue to maintain her occupation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-sands/generations-will-continue-to-meet-the-same-fate-unless-the-perennial/) [Bobby Sands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-sands/) > [For the sake of future generations, we must continue to work together to realise a world without nuclear weapons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-roos/for-the-sake-of-future-generations-we-must-continue-to-work-together/) [John Roos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-roos/) > [It is time for the next generations to continue our struggle against social injustice and for the rights of humanity. It is in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/it-is-time-for-the-next-generations-to-continue-our-struggle-against/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [Hopefully, generations after us will continue to protect, preserve, and look after this wonderful land.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilford-brimley/hopefully-generations-after-us-will-continue-to-protect-preserve-and/) [Wilford Brimley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilford-brimley/) > [So even when I am not around for many, many generations, I will continue to motivate a lot of people... Wherever my soul would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sudha-chandran/so-even-when-i-am-not-around-for-many-many-generations-i-will/) [Sudha Chandran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sudha-chandran/) > [Time is running out if we want our next generations and the generations after that to continue living on this beautiful planet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ii-prince-of-monaco/time-is-running-out-if-we-want-our-next-generations-and-the/) [Albert II, Prince of Monaco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ii-prince-of-monaco/) > [If our economies are to flourish, if global poverty is to be banished, and if the wellbeing of the world's people enhanced - not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-brown/if-our-economies-are-to-flourish-if-global-poverty-is-to-be-banished/) [Gordon Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-brown/) > [When women thrive, all of society benefits, and succeeding generations are given a better start in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/when-women-thrive-all-of-society-benefits-and-succeeding-generations/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [“Every generation gets stuck in own youth and then scolds succeeding generations for sticking in their youth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryanna-reid/every-generation-gets-stuck-in-own-youth-and-then-scolds-succeeding/) Bryanna Reid > [This is the moral challenge of our generation. Not only are the eyes of the world upon us. More important, succeeding generations depend on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ban-ki-moon/this-is-the-moral-challenge-of-our-generation-not-only-are-the-eyes/) [Ban Ki-moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ban-ki-moon/) > [If we focused on using the opportunities we have, which are very great by any standard - health, longevity, comfort and privacy, endless resources…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/if-we-focused-on-using-the-opportunities-we-have-which-are-very-great/) [Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) ## More by Thomas Paine > [“No man is prejudiced in favour of a thing, knowing it to be wrong. He is attached to it on the belief of its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/no-man-is-prejudiced-in-favour-of-a-thing-knowing-it-to-be-wrong-he/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [“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/) > [The book called the Bible has been voted by men, and decreed by human laws to be the word of God; and the disbelief…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/the-book-called-the-bible-has-been-voted-by-men-and-decreed-by-human/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [To argue with a person who has renounced the use of reason is like administering medicine to the dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/to-argue-with-a-person-who-has-renounced-the-use-of-reason-is-like/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [One would think that a system loaded with such gross and vulgar absurdities as Scripture religion is could never have obtained credit; yet we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/one-would-think-that-a-system-loaded-with-such-gross-and-vulgar/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [Commerce diminishes the spirit, both of patriotism and military defence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/commerce-diminishes-the-spirit-both-of-patriotism-and-military-defence/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [What is it the Bible teaches us? - raping, cruelty, and murder. What is it the New Testament teaches us? - to believe that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/what-is-it-the-bible-teaches-us-raping-cruelty-and-murder-what-is-it/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/those-who-expect-to-reap-the-blessings-of-freedom-must-like-men/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [“It has been the practice of all Christian commentators on the Bible, and of all Christian priests and preachers, to impose the Bible on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/it-has-been-the-practice-of-all-christian-commentators-on-the-bible/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [But there are times when men have serious thoughts, and it is at such times, when they begin to think, that they begin to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/but-there-are-times-when-men-have-serious-thoughts-and-it-is-at-such/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [Wisdom is not the purchase of a day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/wisdom-is-not-the-purchase-of-a-day/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [Our citizenship in the United States is our national character. Our citizenship in any particular state is only our local distinction. By the latter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/our-citizenship-in-the-united-states-is-our-national-character-our/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [Suspicion is the companion of mean souls, and the bane of all good society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/suspicion-is-the-companion-of-mean-souls-and-the-bane-of-all-good/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [“To pass from the extremes of danger to safety-from the tumult of war to the tranquility of peace, though sweet in contemplation, requires a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/to-pass-from-the-extremes-of-danger-to-safety-from-the-tumult-of-war/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [What more does man want to know than that the hand or power that made these things is divine, is omnipotent? Let him believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/what-more-does-man-want-to-know-than-that-the-hand-or-power-that-made/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) [Explore all 772 Thomas Paine quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) ## More Consent quotes > [The order of things consents to virtue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-order-of-things-consents-to-virtue/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Therefore, I see whatever exists as good, death is to me like life, sin like holiness, wisdom like foolishness, everything has to be as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/therefore-i-see-whatever-exists-as-good-death-is-to-me-like-life-sin/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [To divide one's life by years is of course to tumble into a trap set by our own arithmetic. The calendar consents to carry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clifton-fadiman/to-divide-one-s-life-by-years-is-of-course-to-tumble-into-a-trap-set/) [Clifton Fadiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clifton-fadiman/) > [“When a lady does consent to listen to an argument against her own opinions, she is always predetermined to withstand it - to listen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-bronte/when-a-lady-does-consent-to-listen-to-an-argument-against-her-own/) [Anne Brontë](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-bronte/) > [But a most pernicious error widely prevails that Scripture has only so much weight as is conceded to it by the consent of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/but-a-most-pernicious-error-widely-prevails-that-scripture-has-only/) [John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/) > [Well I think that what we're seeing now is that the people feel like they, the people in Congress don't have their consent to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-ingraham/well-i-think-that-what-we-re-seeing-now-is-that-the-people-feel-like/) [Laura Ingraham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-ingraham/) > [Even if a civil society were to be dissolved by the consent of all its members (e.g., if a people inhabiting an island decided…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immanuel-kant/even-if-a-civil-society-were-to-be-dissolved-by-the-consent-of-all/) [Immanuel Kant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immanuel-kant/) > [We live in an age rather skeptical of truth, of its existence." There is a "tendency to believe that nothing is definitive, and think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/we-live-in-an-age-rather-skeptical-of-truth-of-its-existence-there-is/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [“Silence does not mean yes. No can be thought and felt but never said. It can be screamed silently on the inside. It can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-reed/silence-does-not-mean-yes-no-can-be-thought-and-felt-but-never-said/) [Amy Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-reed/) > [I can never consent to being dictated to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-tyler/i-can-never-consent-to-being-dictated-to/) [John Tyler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-tyler/) > [When all moves equally (says Pascal), nothing seems to move as in a vessel under sail; and when all run by common consent into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/when-all-moves-equally-says-pascal-nothing-seems-to-move-as-in-a/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [“There are some wounds unreachable by words, some sins immune to apology.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-hatvany/there-are-some-wounds-unreachable-by-words-some-sins-immune-to-apology/) [Amy Hatvany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-hatvany/) > [Many people do not realize that where unions have bargaining rights employers cannot raise wages or improve benefit plans any more than they can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-e-wilson/many-people-do-not-realize-that-where-unions-have-bargaining-rights/) [Charles E. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-e-wilson/) > [Fate does not seek our consent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-goodkind/fate-does-not-seek-our-consent/) [Terry Goodkind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-goodkind/) > [That is a list of the Territories that yielded to Ebon Askavi. They now stand within the shadow of the Keep. They are mine.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-bishop/that-is-a-list-of-the-territories-that-yielded-to-ebon-askavi-they/) [Anne Bishop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-bishop/) [Browse all 676 Consent quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consent/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It requires but a very small glance of thought to perceive, that although laws made in one generation often continue in force through succeeding generations, yet that they continue to derive their force from the consent of the living. 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