No man is above the law and no man is below it; nor do we ask any man's permission when we require him to obey it. Obedience to the law is demanded as a right; not asked as a favor.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Everyone is subject to the law equally, and obedience is a mandatory right, not a favor granted by others.
- In plain terms
- The law applies to everyone equally, and you must obey it.
- What can you take from it?
- Legal obedience is a universal duty, not optional.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- When is disobedience justified?
- Is the law always fair?
Another view
This view may overlook unjust laws that should be resisted.
More from Theodore Roosevelt
Far and away the best prize that life has to offer is the chance to work hard at work worth doing.
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