Public opinion's always in advance of the law.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Public opinion often changes before laws do, suggesting social sentiment leads legal reform.
- In plain terms
- What people think usually changes before the laws change to match it.
- What can you take from it?
- Laws typically follow public opinion.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Does current law reflect public views?
- How fast should law change with opinion?
Another view
Sometimes law leads opinion in areas like civil rights.
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