The law should regulate in certain areas of culture - but it should regulate culture only where that regulation does good. Yet lawyers rarely test their power, or the power they promote, against this simple pragmatic question: 'Will it do good?' When challenged about the expanding reach of the law, the lawyer answers, 'Why not?' We should ask, 'Why?' Show me why your regulation of culture is needed. Show me how it does good. And until you can show me both, keep your lawyers away.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Laws regulating culture must prove they do good rather than just expanding power without justification.
- In plain terms
- Show why a law is needed and how it helps before enforcing it.
- What can you take from it?
- Regulations need clear benefits to be justified.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What counts as doing good?
- Who decides if a law works?
Another view
Sometimes laws must act preventively before harm is proven.
More from Lawrence Lessig
The legal system doesn't work. Or more accurately, it doesn't work for anyone except those with the most resources. Not because the system is corrupt. I don't …
Permalink to quote #50 'Writing' is the Latin of our times. The modern language of the people is video and sound.
Permalink to quote #52 I'm a lawyer. I make lawyers for a living. I believe in the law. I believe in the law of copyright. Indeed, I have devoted my life to working in law, not becau…
Permalink to quote #49
Related quotes
'I think in this case international law stood in the way of doing the right thing.' (2003)
Richard PerleRichard Perle quote #2 Good laws are produced by bad actions.
Ambrosius Theodosius MacrobiusAmbrosius Theodosius Macrobius quote #2 The number of laws is constantly growing in all countries and, owing to this, what is called crime is very often not a crime at all, for it contains no element…
P. D. OuspenskyP. D. Ouspensky quote #5