Authority Quote by William H. Seward
“But there is a higher law than the Constitution, which regulates our authority over the domain, and devotes it to the same noble purposes.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Senate Address, 1860
A higher moral law supersedes the Constitution, guiding authority toward noble purposes.
In simple terms: Higher moral law outranks the Constitution.
Key Takeaway
Align actions with higher moral principles.
Themes
law
ethics
governance
Mood
serious
thoughtful
Type
political
philosophical
When to use this quote
- policy making
- legal reform
- civil service
Key Concepts
natural law
constitutional limits
public duty
Questions to Reflect On
- What constitutes a higher law?
- How should conflicts between law and morality be resolved?
A Different Perspective
Balancing moral law with democratic processes can be contentious.
![“The rationale which accompanies that imposition of male authority euphemistically referred to as 'the battle of the sexes' bears a certain resemblance to the formulas of nations at war, where any heinousness is justified on the grounds that the enemy is either an inferior [part of the] species or…” quote by Kate Millett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/895/kate-millett-7301_accompany_the-rationale-which-accompanies-that-imp_8896.jpg)
