Laws are like cobwebs, which may catch small flies, but let wasps and hornets break through.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Swift compares laws to cobwebs that catch small offenders but let powerful ones escape.
- In plain terms
- Laws catch small criminals but not big powerful ones.
- What can you take from it?
- Laws often fail to punish the powerful.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Are laws fair to all?
- Who escapes justice?
Another view
It assumes all laws are inherently flawed.
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