Law is order in liberty, and without order liberty is social chaos. The highest test of a people's fitness for free institutions is their willingness to obey law. In monarchies and empires physical force restrains the multitude and maintains government. In a democracy all depends on the intelligence and conscience of the people.

—John Ireland (bishop)

intelligence force conscience liberty laws

About John Ireland (bishop)

Portrait of John Ireland (bishop)

John Ireland (baptized September 11, 1838 – September 25, 1918) was an Irish-American prelate who was the third Catholic bishop and first archbishop of Saint Paul, Minnesota (1888–1918). He became both a religious as well as civic leader in Saint Paul during the turn of the 20th century. Ireland was...

More quotations from John Ireland (bishop)

A man shows a narrowness of mind and becomes unworthy of his humanity by refusing any privilege to his fellow man because he is colored. Every prejudice entertained, every breach of justice and charity against a fellow-citizen because of color is a stain flung upon the banner of our liberty that floats over us.

—John Ireland (bishop)

justice humanity privilege prejudice racism

More quotations tagged with “laws”

Where you find the laws most numerous, there you will find also the greatest injustice.

Good laws have their origins in bad morals.

—Ambrosius Macrobius

Laws alone can not secure freedom of expression; in order that every man present his views without penalty there must be spirit of tolerance in the entire population.

—Albert Einstein

Let me not be understood as saying that there are no bad laws, nor that grievances may not arise for the redress of which no legal provisions have been made. I mean to say no such thing. But I do mean to say that although bad laws, if they exist, should be repealed as soon as possible, still, while they continue in force, for the sake of example they should be religiously observed.

—Abraham Lincoln

The United States is a nation of laws: badly written and randomly enforced.

laws America fairness enforcement

History

11 Jul 2015 Added
21 Nov 2022 Edited (details weren’t recorded yet)