Let's put it this way: if you need to ask a lawyer whether what you do is 'right' or not, you are morally corrupt. Let's not go there. We don't base our morality on law.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- If you need a lawyer to tell you right from wrong, you lack moral integrity.
- In plain terms
- Morality shouldn't depend on the law.
- What can you take from it?
- Know right from wrong without legal advice.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Does law define morality?
- When is legal advice necessary?
Another view
The law sometimes defines moral boundaries.
More from Linus Torvalds
Ok, I admit it. I was just a front-man for the real fathers of Linux, the Tooth Fairy and Santa Claus.
Permalink to quote #71 '95 percent of all software developers believe they are in the top 5 percent, when it comes to knowledge and skills.'
Permalink to quote #73 The memory management on the PowerPC can be used to frighten small children.
Permalink to quote #70
Related quotes
[An attorney] can find it consistent with his dignity to turn wrong into right, and right into wrong, to abet a lie, nay to create, disseminate, and with all t…
Anthony TrollopeAnthony Trollope quote #1 Monsters remain human beings. In fact, to reduce them to a subhuman level is to exonerate them of their acts of terrorism and mass murder - just as animals are…
Andrew SullivanAndrew Sullivan quote #1 'There are two sides to reconciliation; the law aspect and the moral values. Unless there is improvement for both, changes will not come by easily.' (15 May 20…
Taito WaradiTaito Waradi quote #1