Constitutions have to be written on hearts, not just paper.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Thatcher argues that laws only work when internalized as moral beliefs, not just written as text.
- In plain terms
- People must believe in the law, not just follow it.
- What can you take from it?
- Values must be internalized for rules to be effective.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Why do people break laws?
- How to build civic virtue?
Another view
It ignores systemic enforcement needs.
More from Margaret Thatcher
North Korea desperately needed the foreign currency which this lethal trade could bring; its role as chief 'rogue' reinforced its prestige among anti-Western s…
Permalink to quote #80 You only have to wade through a metric measure or two of European prose, culled from its directives, circulars, reports, communiques or what pass as debates in…
Permalink to quote #82 Patched-up diplomatic solutions designed to answer the needs of the moment rarely last, and as they unravel they can actually make things worse.
Permalink to quote #79
Related quotes
On the higher plane of public morality, there is no need for me to preach tonight. We have thousands of far better preachers and millions of sacred scriptures …
Gerald FordGerald Ford quote #52 We ought to be persuaded that the propitious smiles of heaven can never be expected on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and right which heav…
George WashingtonGeorge Washington quote #114 '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