--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The law is designed to help us live. It…" description: "\"“The law is designed to help us live. It has no other justification. If it cannot do that, if it operates only theoretically, the law will fail us.” Se..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b5e/tom-rosenstiel-35390_laws_the-law-is-designed-to-help-us-live-it-h_471563.jpg" --- # The law is designed to help us live. It has no other… ![“The law is designed to help us live. It has no other justification. If it cannot do that, if it operates only theoretically, the law will fail us.” Senator Stevens stares” quote by Tom Rosenstiel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b5e/tom-rosenstiel-35390_laws_the-law-is-designed-to-help-us-live-it-h_471563.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b5e/tom-rosenstiel-35390_laws_the-law-is-designed-to-help-us-live-it-h_471563.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b5e/tom-rosenstiel-35390_laws_the-law-is-designed-to-help-us-live-it-h_471563.jpg) > ““The law is designed to help us live. It has no other justification. If it cannot do that, if it operates only theoretically, the law will fail us.” Senator Stevens stares”” [Tom Rosenstiel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rosenstiel/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The law must serve practical human needs; if it remains abstract, it becomes ineffective. **In simple terms:** Laws should work for people, not just exist on paper. Key Takeaway Ensure laws have real-world impact. Themes law justice practicality policy Mood critical reflective Type philosophical policy-oriented When to use this quote - legislative drafting - public policy - community governance - judicial review Key Concepts legal theory social contract effectiveness Questions to Reflect On - How can lawmakers test a law’s practical impact? - What mechanisms ensure laws stay grounded? A Different Perspective Abstract laws may ignore lived realities, reducing compliance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fail Senator](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fail-senator-4074689/) [Law Designed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law-designed-1459508/) [Law Fail](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law-fail-4074687/) [Laws](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laws/) [Senator Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/senator-stevens-4074688/) [Theoretically Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theoretically-law-4074690/) ## Related quotes > [“The law is not designed to make us honorable, only bearable.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-c-malaro/the-law-is-not-designed-to-make-us-honorable-only-bearable/) [Marie C. Malaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-c-malaro/) > [“In the corporate realm, where several laws are in operation, implementation receives a blow when it comes to interpretation and understanding the spirit and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henrietta-newton-martin/in-the-corporate-realm-where-several-laws-are-in-operation/) [Henrietta Newton Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henrietta-newton-martin/) > [Very often the law of extremity demands an attention to irrelevance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-frame/very-often-the-law-of-extremity-demands-an-attention-to-irrelevance/) [Janet Frame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-frame/) > [The sanctity of law can be maintained only so long as it is the expression of the will of the people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhagat-singh/the-sanctity-of-law-can-be-maintained-only-so-long-as-it-is-the/) [Bhagat Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhagat-singh/) > [The laws keep up their credit, not by being just, but because they are laws; 'tis the mystic foundation of their authority; they have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/the-laws-keep-up-their-credit-not-by-being-just-but-because-they-are/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [It is quite wrong that one group of people should regularly and deliberately flout the law, boast about it and get away with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-widdecombe/it-is-quite-wrong-that-one-group-of-people-should-regularly-and/) [Ann Widdecombe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-widdecombe/) > [Governments regard their own citizens as their main enemy, and they have to be - protect themselves. 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The function of the law is to keep those who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-spence/the-function-of-the-law-is-not-to-provide-justice-or-to-preserve/) [Gerry Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-spence/) > [We are always saying: Let the Law take its Course but what we really mean is: Let the Law take OUR Course.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-rogers/we-are-always-saying-let-the-law-take-its-course-but-what-we-really/) [Will Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-rogers/) > [“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 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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dodderidge/) ## More by Tom Rosenstiel > [Newspapers have been likened to steamships that move very slowly, in terms of their direction. And when a reporter is sent out on a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rosenstiel/newspapers-have-been-likened-to-steamships-that-move-very-slowly-in/) [Tom Rosenstiel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rosenstiel/) > [As for journalism education, there are some terrifically exciting things going on in some schools. Others are struggling to adapt. Curriculum changes can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rosenstiel/as-for-journalism-education-there-are-some-terrifically-exciting/) [Tom Rosenstiel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rosenstiel/) > [We're not seeing, you know, dozens of reporters being beaten up. And there may be more attention to it than there has been in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rosenstiel/we-re-not-seeing-you-know-dozens-of-reporters-being-beaten-up-and/) [Tom Rosenstiel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rosenstiel/) > [Everyone is on Facebook and age is not a determinant of whether a reporter is using Twitter as part of their newsgathering and marketing.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rosenstiel/everyone-is-on-facebook-and-age-is-not-a-determinant-of-whether-a/) [Tom Rosenstiel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rosenstiel/) > [There is more interest in what is occurring in technology companies that impact news. Such companies don't have the same sense of transparency about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rosenstiel/there-is-more-interest-in-what-is-occurring-in-technology-companies/) [Tom Rosenstiel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rosenstiel/) > [I don't think the rhetoric toward President Trump from media sources or media commentators is any worse than what Franklin Roosevelt got from a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rosenstiel/i-don-t-think-the-rhetoric-toward-president-trump-from-media-sources/) [Tom Rosenstiel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rosenstiel/) > [This is a time of tremendous ferment and experimentation that is scary and exciting at the same time. The biggest challenge for media remains…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rosenstiel/this-is-a-time-of-tremendous-ferment-and-experimentation-that-is/) [Tom Rosenstiel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rosenstiel/) > [To say that they are the enemy of the people, among the worst human beings on earth, it encourages and legitimizes an anger towards…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rosenstiel/to-say-that-they-are-the-enemy-of-the-people-among-the-worst-human/) [Tom Rosenstiel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rosenstiel/) > [He looked like the king of muscle beach and he was a surfer. But he had vision. He believed that for a city to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rosenstiel/he-looked-like-the-king-of-muscle-beach-and-he-was-a-surfer-but-he/) [Tom Rosenstiel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rosenstiel/) > [There are fewer media writers in traditional settings. That is a beat that many legacy brands cannot afford. On the other hand technology writers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rosenstiel/there-are-fewer-media-writers-in-traditional-settings-that-is-a-beat/) [Tom Rosenstiel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rosenstiel/) > [ll industries have been disrupted and disruption tends to generate gatherings for people to share information. I don't think media are unusual here. Add…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rosenstiel/ll-industries-have-been-disrupted-and-disruption-tends-to-generate/) [Tom Rosenstiel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rosenstiel/) > [Machines have given us a new ability to count and make our understanding quantitative. The Web connects news gatherers with audiences in ways that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rosenstiel/machines-have-given-us-a-new-ability-to-count-and-make-our/) [Tom Rosenstiel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rosenstiel/) [Explore all 13 Tom Rosenstiel quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rosenstiel/) ## More Laws quotes > [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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dodderidge/) > [“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/) > [We are always saying: Let the Law take its Course but what we really mean is: Let the Law take OUR Course.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-rogers/we-are-always-saying-let-the-law-take-its-course-but-what-we-really/) [Will Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-rogers/) > [The function of the law is not to provide justice or to preserve freedom. 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When it is used for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederic-bastiat/the-law-is-the-collective-organization-of-the-individual-s-right-to/) [Frederic Bastiat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederic-bastiat/) > [“Any law too often subject to infraction is bad; it is the duty of the legislator to repeal or to change it, lest the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marguerite-yourcenar/any-law-too-often-subject-to-infraction-is-bad-it-is-the-duty-of-the/) [Marguerite Yourcenar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marguerite-yourcenar/) > [Governments regard their own citizens as their main enemy, and they have to be - protect themselves. 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