--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Many laws as certainly make men bad, as…" description: "\"Many laws as certainly make men bad, as bad men make many laws.\" — Walter Savage Landor" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/38e/walter-savage-landor-1404_bad-man_many-laws-as-certainly-make-men-bad-as-b_523857.png" --- # Many laws as certainly make men bad, as bad men make many… ![“Many laws as certainly make men bad, as bad men make many laws.” quote by Walter Savage Landor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/38e/walter-savage-landor-1404_bad-man_many-laws-as-certainly-make-men-bad-as-b_523857.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/38e/walter-savage-landor-1404_bad-man_many-laws-as-certainly-make-men-bad-as-b_523857.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/38e/walter-savage-landor-1404_bad-man_many-laws-as-certainly-make-men-bad-as-b_523857.png) > “Many laws as certainly make men bad, as bad men make many laws.” [Walter Savage Landor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-savage-landor/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Laws reflect human nature; corrupt people create bad laws, and bad laws corrupt people. **In simple terms:** Laws and people influence each other's morality. Key Takeaway Improve laws and character together. Themes law morality society Mood critical reflective Type political philosophical When to use this quote - policy making - judicial reform - education - activism Key Concepts corruption legislation human nature Questions to Reflect On - Can just law prevent corruption? - How can citizens shape better laws? A Different Perspective Changing laws alone may not change behavior. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Law and justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law-and-justice/) [Laws](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laws/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) ## Related quotes > [Many laws as certainly make bad men, as bad men make many laws.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-savage-landor/many-laws-as-certainly-make-bad-men-as-bad-men-make-many-laws/) [Walter Savage Landor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-savage-landor/) > [Men do not make laws. They do but discover them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-coolidge/men-do-not-make-laws-they-do-but-discover-them/) [Calvin Coolidge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-coolidge/) > [“For the power of Man to make himself what he pleases means, as we have seen, the power of some men to make other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis-2/for-the-power-of-man-to-make-himself-what-he-pleases-means-as-we-have/) [C.S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis-2/) > [For the power of Man to make himself what he pleases means... the power of some men to make other men what THEY please.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/for-the-power-of-man-to-make-himself-what-he-pleases-means-the-power/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The monster isn't men, but it can make men do what it wants.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/the-monster-isn-t-men-but-it-can-make-men-do-what-it-wants/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [The role of private equity as fiduciaries is certainly to make money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-g-stemberg/the-role-of-private-equity-as-fiduciaries-is-certainly-to-make-money/) [Thomas G. Stemberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-g-stemberg/) > [Where there is a free government, and the people make their own laws by their representatives, I see no injustice in their obliging one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/where-there-is-a-free-government-and-the-people-make-their-own-laws/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [To make laws is a human instinct that arises as soon as food and shelter have been ensured, among all peoples, everywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-west/to-make-laws-is-a-human-instinct-that-arises-as-soon-as-food-and/) [Rebecca West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-west/) > [When we in Congress set the terms under which immigrants in this country must live, we wield a power that is checked primarily by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mazie-hirono/when-we-in-congress-set-the-terms-under-which-immigrants-in-this/) [Mazie Hirono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mazie-hirono/) > [I believe the family is the foundation of America - and that we must fight to protect and strengthen it. I believe in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/i-believe-the-family-is-the-foundation-of-america-and-that-we-must/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [Big Business can make laws as easily as it can break them - and with as little impunity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-chaplin/big-business-can-make-laws-as-easily-as-it-can-break-them-and-with-as/) [Ralph Chaplin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-chaplin/) > [Man can make only the rules. He cannot make the laws, which are the laws of nature. It is the understanding of these laws…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimon-nicolaides/man-can-make-only-the-rules-he-cannot-make-the-laws-which-are-the/) [Kimon Nicolaides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimon-nicolaides/) > [“That’s how things are supposed to work. If you are privileged enough to have a job as a lawmaker, part of your job is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-franken/that-s-how-things-are-supposed-to-work-if-you-are-privileged-enough/) [Al Franken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-franken/) > [People are unwilling to enforce the laws on the books. Instead, they make more laws. Why can't we get this right?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-szeliga/people-are-unwilling-to-enforce-the-laws-on-the-books-instead-they/) [Kathy Szeliga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-szeliga/) > [People who are very beautiful make their own laws.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivien-leigh/people-who-are-very-beautiful-make-their-own-laws/) [Vivien Leigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivien-leigh/) ## More by Walter Savage Landor > [Nations, like individuals, interest us in their growth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-savage-landor/nations-like-individuals-interest-us-in-their-growth/) [Walter Savage Landor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-savage-landor/) > [Ah what avails the sceptred race, Ah what the form divine! What every virtue, every grace! Rose Aylmer, all were thine. Rose Aylmer, whom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-savage-landor/ah-what-avails-the-sceptred-race-ah-what-the-form-divine-what-every/) [Walter Savage Landor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-savage-landor/) > [A solitude is the audience-chamber of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-savage-landor/a-solitude-is-the-audience-chamber-of-god/) [Walter Savage Landor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-savage-landor/) > [No ashes are lighter than those of incense, and few things burn out sooner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-savage-landor/no-ashes-are-lighter-than-those-of-incense-and-few-things-burn-out/) [Walter Savage Landor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-savage-landor/) > [As there are some flowers which you should smell but slightly to extract all that is pleasant in them ... so there are some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-savage-landor/as-there-are-some-flowers-which-you-should-smell-but-slightly-to/) [Walter Savage Landor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-savage-landor/) > [We talk on principle, but we act on interest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-savage-landor/we-talk-on-principle-but-we-act-on-interest/) [Walter Savage Landor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-savage-landor/) > [States, like men, have their growth, their manhood, their decrepitude, their decay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-savage-landor/states-like-men-have-their-growth-their-manhood-their-decrepitude/) [Walter Savage Landor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-savage-landor/) > [The only effect of public punishment is to show the rabble how bravely it can be borne; and that every one who hath lost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-savage-landor/the-only-effect-of-public-punishment-is-to-show-the-rabble-how/) [Walter Savage Landor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-savage-landor/) > [Every great writer is a writer of history, let him treat on almost what subject he may.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-savage-landor/every-great-writer-is-a-writer-of-history-let-him-treat-on-almost/) [Walter Savage Landor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-savage-landor/) > [I strove with none; for none was worth my strife.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-savage-landor/i-strove-with-none-for-none-was-worth-my-strife/) [Walter Savage Landor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-savage-landor/) > [The habit of pleasing by flattery makes a language soft; the fear of offending by truth makes it circuitous and conventional.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-savage-landor/the-habit-of-pleasing-by-flattery-makes-a-language-soft-the-fear-of/) [Walter Savage Landor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-savage-landor/) > [There is no eloquence which does not agitate the soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-savage-landor/there-is-no-eloquence-which-does-not-agitate-the-soul/) [Walter Savage Landor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-savage-landor/) > [We care not how many see us in choler, when we rave and bluster, and make as much noise and bustle as we can;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-savage-landor/we-care-not-how-many-see-us-in-choler-when-we-rave-and-bluster-and/) [Walter Savage Landor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-savage-landor/) > [Whatever is worthy to be loved for anything is worthy of preservation. A wise and dispassionate legislator, if any such should ever arise among…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-savage-landor/whatever-is-worthy-to-be-loved-for-anything-is-worthy-of-preservation/) [Walter Savage Landor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-savage-landor/) > [The present, like a note in music, is nothing but as it appertains to what is past and what is to come.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-savage-landor/the-present-like-a-note-in-music-is-nothing-but-as-it-appertains-to/) [Walter Savage Landor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-savage-landor/) [Explore all 245 Walter Savage Landor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-savage-landor/) ## More Bad man quotes > [I don't do plays without jokes anymore. I've retired from those plays. I think it's bad manners to invite people to sit in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-nighy/i-don-t-do-plays-without-jokes-anymore-i-ve-retired-from-those-plays/) [Bill Nighy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-nighy/) > [“It is said that the hallmark of a gentleman is that he is only ever rude intentionally. Arthur Bryant was no gentleman. His rudeness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-fowler/it-is-said-that-the-hallmark-of-a-gentleman-is-that-he-is-only-ever/) [Christopher Fowler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-fowler/) > [Good churches are not built by bad men; at least, there must be probity and enthusiasm somewhere in the society. These minsters were neither…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/good-churches-are-not-built-by-bad-men-at-least-there-must-be-probity/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Why, just a couple of economic seasons ago, was idle cash considered an indication of bad management or lazy management? Because it meant that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/why-just-a-couple-of-economic-seasons-ago-was-idle-cash-considered-an/) [Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/) > [The Tao is the center of the universe, the good man's treasure, the bad man's refuge. Honors can be bought with fine words, respect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/the-tao-is-the-center-of-the-universe-the-good-man-s-treasure-the-bad/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [Terrorism is obviously on everybody's mind. The other day my son says to me, 'Daddy, how come the bad men hate us?' How sad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-giraldo/terrorism-is-obviously-on-everybody-s-mind-the-other-day-my-son-says/) [Greg Giraldo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-giraldo/) > [What is a good man but a bad man's teacher? What is a bad man but a good man's job? If you do not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/what-is-a-good-man-but-a-bad-man-s-teacher-what-is-a-bad-man-but-a/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [If I was to ask you tonight if you were saved? Do you say 'Yes, I am saved'. When? 'Oh so and so preached,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-ravenhill/if-i-was-to-ask-you-tonight-if-you-were-saved-do-you-say-yes-i-am/) [Leonard Ravenhill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-ravenhill/) > [What is a good man? Simply one whose life is useful to the world. And a bad man is simply one whose life is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhang-zhao/what-is-a-good-man-simply-one-whose-life-is-useful-to-the-world-and-a/) Zhang Zhao > [~I'm strict about manners. I think that kids have a horrible time with other people if they have bad manners… The one thing you've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-thompson/i-m-strict-about-manners-i-think-that-kids-have-a-horrible-time-with/) [Emma Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-thompson/) > [“He never looked at her; and yet, the careful avoidance of his eyes betokened that in some way he knew exactly where, if they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gaskell/he-never-looked-at-her-and-yet-the-careful-avoidance-of-his-eyes/) [Elizabeth Gaskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gaskell/) > [“As it happens, I’m a terrible dancer. Bears are simply not made for dancing. We’re much better at sitting and sleeping and singing. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-macleod/as-it-happens-i-m-a-terrible-dancer-bears-are-simply-not-made-for/) [Doug MacLeod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-macleod/) > [The Gospel of Jesus Christ can make bad men good and good men better, can alter human nature, and can change human lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/the-gospel-of-jesus-christ-can-make-bad-men-good-and-good-men-better/) [David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/) > [This self-congratulatory notion Americans have that their country is Number One is borne of ignorance and bad manners.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-cranston/this-self-congratulatory-notion-americans-have-that-their-country-is/) [Bryan Cranston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-cranston/) > [You can learn a lot about good management by working under someone who is a bad manager.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-murray/you-can-learn-a-lot-about-good-management-by-working-under-someone/) [Charles Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-murray/) Browse all 410 Bad man quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Many laws as certainly make men bad, as bad men make many laws.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Walter Savage Landor" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-savage-landor/many-laws-as-certainly-make-men-bad-as-bad-men-make-many-laws/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bad man" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-savage-landor/many-laws-as-certainly-make-men-bad-as-bad-men-make-many-laws/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/38e/walter-savage-landor-1404_bad-man_many-laws-as-certainly-make-men-bad-as-b_523857.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/38e/walter-savage-landor-1404_bad-man_many-laws-as-certainly-make-men-bad-as-b_523857.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/38e/walter-savage-landor-1404_bad-man_many-laws-as-certainly-make-men-bad-as-b_523857.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Many laws as certainly make men bad, as bad men make many laws.” — Walter Savage Landor", "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": "Walter Savage Landor", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-savage-landor/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Many laws as certainly make men...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-savage-landor/many-laws-as-certainly-make-men-bad-as-bad-men-make-many-laws/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-savage-landor/many-laws-as-certainly-make-men-bad-as-bad-men-make-many-laws/#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 } } ] } ```