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About this quote

What does it mean?
Societies with high corruption rely on excessive laws to maintain order.
In plain terms
Corrupt societies need many laws.
What can you take from it?
Laws often increase with corruption.

Where it applies

  • governance
  • legal reform
  • social critique

Putting it to work

  • audit laws
  • reduce corruption
  • simplify regulations

Questions to consider

  • Why are there so many rules where you live?
  • Are laws fixing problems or hiding them?

Another view

Some complex laws are needed for safety not just corruption.

More from Edward Abbey

  1. In a nation of sheep, one brave man forms a majority.

    Permalink to quote #41
  2. Freedom begins between the ears.

    Permalink to quote #43
  3. Anarchism is founded on the observation that since few men are wise enough to rule themselves, even fewer are wise enough to rule others.

    Permalink to quote #40

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