Constitution Quote by William H. Seward
“There is a higher law than the Constitution.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Address to the Senate, 1862
Moral principles can supersede written law when higher ethical standards demand it.
In simple terms: Higher moral law outranks the Constitution.
Key Takeaway
Prioritize ethical duty over legal technicalities.
Themes
law
ethics
morality
Mood
thoughtful
serious
Type
political
philosophical
When to use this quote
- civil rights activism
- legal reform
- public policy
Key Concepts
natural law
civil disobedience
Questions to Reflect On
- When should conscience override law?
- What are the risks of ignoring constitutional authority?
A Different Perspective
Legal systems may resist change despite moral urgency.
![“Next came the Patent laws. These began in England in 1624; and, in this country, with the adoption of our constitution. Before then [these?], any man might instantly use what another had invented; so that the inventor had no special advantage from his own invention. The patent system changed this…” quote by Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/449/abraham-lincoln-88_adoption_next-came-the-patent-laws-these-began-in_1828.jpg)
