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In civilized life, law floats in a sea of ethics.
Earl Warren
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Law is influenced by ethical principles in our society.

Earl Warren's quote highlights the interdependence of law and ethics in a civilized society, suggesting that while laws are established regulations, they are deeply rooted in the moral values and ethical considerations of the people. This relationship implies that without a strong ethical foundation, laws may lose their significance and may not effectively guide human behavior.

Themes

LawEthicsCivilizationSocietyMoralPrinciples

In practice

Example use cases

During a law seminar discussing the foundational principles of justice.

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The man of character, sensitive to the meaning of what he is doing, will know how to discover the ethical paths in the maze of possible behavior.
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Racial discrimination in public education is unconstitutional.....All provisions of federal, state or local law requiring or permitting such discrimination must yield to this principle.
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The success of any legal system is measured by its fidelity to the universal ideal of justice.
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In these days, it is doubtful that any child may reasonably be expected to succeed in life if he is denied the opportunity of an education.
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Don't complain about growing old — many, many people do not have that privilege.
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Today, as always, the people, no less than the courts, must remain vigilant to preserve the principals of our Bill of Rights, lest in our desire to be secure we lose our ability to be free.
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