---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Every society tells its members that they…"
description: "\"“Every society tells its members that they must obey some superhuman moral law, and that breaking this law will result in catastrophe.”\" — Yuval Noah H..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/071/yuval-noah-harari-100_moral-law_every-society-tells-its-members-that-the_917603.jpg"
---

#  Every society tells its members that they must obey some…

![“Every society tells its members that they must obey some superhuman moral law, and that breaking this law will result in catastrophe.” quote by Yuval Noah Harari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/071/yuval-noah-harari-100_moral-law_every-society-tells-its-members-that-the_917603.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/071/yuval-noah-harari-100_moral-law_every-society-tells-its-members-that-the_917603.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/071/yuval-noah-harari-100_moral-law_every-society-tells-its-members-that-the_917603.jpg)

> ““Every society tells its members that they must obey some superhuman moral law, and that breaking this law will result in catastrophe.””

[Yuval Noah Harari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuval-noah-harari/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The statement critiques how societies impose absolute moral codes, promising disaster for transgression, which can control behavior through fear.

**In simple terms:** Societies enforce strict moral laws with threat of catastrophe.

Key Takeaway

Question moral absolutes and seek balanced ethics.

Themes

morality social control fear

Mood

critical thought‑provoking

Type

philosophical analytical

When to use this quote

- lawmaking
- education
- parenting
- media messaging

Key Concepts

ethical absolutism cultural narratives psychology

Questions to Reflect On

- Do you think absolute morals are necessary?
- How can societies enforce ethics without fear?

A Different Perspective

Overlooks moral progress and nuance.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Law breaking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law-breaking/) [Moral law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moral-law/)

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