None are so old as those who have outlived enthusiasm.
Henry David ThoreauRead
Law never made men a whit more just; and, by means of their respect for it, even the well-disposed are daily made the agents of injustice.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Laws do not inherently create justice, and even good people can contribute to injustice through their adherence to laws.
This quote by Henry David Thoreau emphasizes the idea that laws alone do not ensure fairness or morality in society. It highlights the potential for individuals, even those with good intentions, to perpetuate injustice simply by following rules without questioning their moral implications. Thoreau encourages a deeper reflection on the relationship between law and justice, suggesting that true justice arises from individual conscience rather than blind compliance with societal rules.
Themes
JusticeLawInjusticeMoralitySociety
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion on civil disobedience during a philosophy class.
More from Henry David Thoreau
All quotes βThrough want of enterprise and faith men are where they are, buying and selling and spending their lives like servants.
Henry David ThoreauRead
An early-morning walk is a blessing for the whole day.
Henry David ThoreauRead
Have no mean hours, but be grateful for every hour, and accept what it brings. The reality will make any sincere record respectable.
Henry David ThoreauRead
As every season seems best to us in its turn, so the coming in of spring is like the creation of Cosmos out of Chaos and the realization of the Golden Age.
Henry David ThoreauRead
That grand old poem called Winter
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