Skip to content
quotesby

About this quote

What does it mean?
Governments need unchangeable core principles, such as preventing parliaments from becoming perpetual.
In plain terms
Every government needs a fixed rule that cannot be changed, like limiting how long parliaments last.
What can you take from it?
Fundamental laws must remain fixed to protect liberty.

Where it applies

  • drafting constitutions
  • legislative reform
  • limiting power

Putting it to work

  • establishing fundamental laws
  • preventing tyranny
  • reforming legislature

Questions to consider

  • What rules should never change?
  • How do you limit power?

Another view

Defining what is fundamental can be subjective and contested.

More from Oliver Cromwell

  1. There are some things in this establishment that are fundamental... about which I shall deal plainly with you... the government by a single person and a parlia…

    Permalink to quote #31
  2. Necessity hath no law. Feigned necessities, imagined necessities... are the greatest cozenage that men can put upon the Providence of God, and make pretenses t…

    Permalink to quote #33
  3. Though peace be made, yet it's interest that keep peace.

    Permalink to quote #30

Related quotes

  1. We are under a Constitution, but the Constitution is what the judges say it is, and the judiciary is the safeguard of our liberty and of our property under the…

    Charles Evans HughesCharles Evans Hughes quote #1
  2. There are those in America today who have come to depend absolutely on government for their security. And when government fails they seek to rectify that failu…

    Ronald ReaganRonald Reagan quote #7
  3. Let the end be legitimate, let it be within the scope of the constitution, and all means which are appropriate, which are plainly adapted to that end, which ar…

    John MarshallJohn Marshall quote #7