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About this quote

What does it mean?
Totalitarian leaders can manipulate legal systems to make oppressive acts seem lawful.
In plain terms
Laws can be twisted to hide tyranny.
What can you take from it?
Watch how laws are interpreted and applied.

Where it applies

  • dictatorships
  • legal reforms

Putting it to work

  • monitoring courts
  • checking executive power

Questions to consider

  • How can we prevent laws from being abused?

Another view

Democracies also face risks of legal overreach.

More from Robert Byrd

  1. Do not run a campaign that would embarrass your mother.

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  2. I do question the motives of a deskbound President who assumes the garb of a warrior for the purposes of a speech.

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  3. Congress is not an ATM.

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