#law

A common and natural result of an undue respect of law is, that you may see a file of soldiers, colonel, captain, corporal, privates, powder-monkeys, and all, marching in admirable order over hill and dale to the wars, against their wills, ay, against their common sense and consciences, which makes it very steep marching indeed, and produces a palpitation of the heart. ↗

— Henry David Thoreau

#respect #soldiers #war #nature

The idea that God is an oversized white male with a flowing beard, who sits in the sky and tallies the fall of every sparrow is ludicrous. But if by 'God,' one means the set of physical laws that govern the universe, then clearly there is such a God. This God is emotionally unsatisfying... it does not make much sense to pray to the law of gravity. ↗

— Carl Sagan

#god #physical-laws #science #spirtuality #science

The political reputation of Servius rests upon his organization of society according to a fixed scale of rank and fortune. He originated the census, a measure of the highest utility to a state destined, as Rome was, to future preeminence; for by means of its public service, in peace as well as in war, could thence forward be regularly organized on the basis of property; every man's contribution could be in proportion to his means. ↗

— Livy

#history #law #policy #political-science #science

Believing, as they now did, that the heavenly powers took part in human affairs, they became so much absorbed in the cultivation of religion and so deeply imbued with the sense of their religious duties, that the sanctity of an oath had more power to control their lives than the fear of punishment for lawbreaking. ↗

— Livy

#law #policy #political-philosophy #political-science #religion

When honor and the Law no longer stand on the same side of the line, how do we choose[?] ↗

— Anne Bishop

#honor #law #honor

And although I broke a lot of laws as a teenager, I straightened out immediately upon turning eighteen, when I realized the state had a legal right to execute me. ↗

— George Carlin

#teens #teen

Let's make a law that gay people can have birthdays, but straight people get more cake--you know, to send the right message to kids. ↗

— Bill Maher

#gay-rights #law

When I pass, speak freely of my shortcomings and my flaws. Learn from them, for I'll have no ego to injure. ↗

— Aaron McGruder

#feely #flaws #i-ll #injure #learn

Issues are like tissues. You pull one out and another appears! ↗

— Gary Goldstein

#alcohol #court #crime #diary #drugs

Most civilisation is based on cowardice. It's so easy to civilize by teaching cowardice. You water down the standards which would lead to bravery. You restrain the will. You regulate the appetites. You fence in the horizons. You make a law for every movement. You deny the existence of chaos. You teach even the children to breathe slowly. You tame. ↗

— Frank Herbert

#civilisation #cowardice #law #cowardice