Ultimately, the best guarantor of the rule of law is not the state and the branches which comprise it but the recognition by people of its value and their willingness to fight for, and uphold it.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- The rule of law depends more on public belief and willingness to uphold it than on state institutions.
- In plain terms
- Laws only work when people believe in them and fight for them.
- What can you take from it?
- Public commitment is essential for the rule of law.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Is the rule of law a public or state responsibility?
- How do we measure public belief in law?
Another view
The quote understates the role of state enforcement mechanisms.
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