Nos lois civiles ne seront jamais assez couples pour s'adapter a l'immense et fluide variete des faits. Elles changent moins vite que les moeurs; dangereuses quand elles retardent sur celles-ci, elles le sont davantage quand elles se melent de les preceder.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Civil laws cannot fully adapt to the vast and fluid variety of real-life facts. They change slower than customs, becoming dangerous when they lag behind or try to lead them.
- In plain terms
- Laws always struggle to keep up with how people actually live and behave.
- What can you take from it?
- Legal systems must remain flexible to avoid becoming harmful obstacles to social progress.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- How should lawmakers balance stability and change?
Another view
Some stability in law is necessary for predictability and trust.
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