International law is that law which the wicked do not obey and the righteous do not enforce.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- International law fails when bad people ignore it and good people do not enforce it.
- In plain terms
- Laws only work if everyone follows them or stops those who don't.
- What can you take from it?
- Laws need enforcement to matter.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Who is responsible for enforcing global rules?
Another view
This ignores cases where enforcement is dangerous or costly.
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