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About this quote

What does it mean?
Penn claims governments are free when laws rule and people are involved in making them.
In plain terms
A government works well when laws rule and people help make them.
What can you take from it?
Laws should reflect the people's will.

Where it applies

  • policy making
  • civil rights
  • governance reform

Putting it to work

  • participate in lawmaking
  • follow fair laws

Questions to consider

  • Who makes the best laws?
  • What makes government free?

Another view

Laws do not guarantee freedom if people cannot change them.

More from William Penn

  1. Men being born with a title to perfect freedom and uncontrolled enjoyment of all the rights and privileges of the law of nature... no one can be put out of his…

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  2. BECAUSE no People can be truly happy, though under the greatest Enjoyment of Civil Liberties, if abridged of the Freedom of their Consciences, as to their Reli…

    Permalink to quote #6
  3. There is one great God and power that has made the world and all things therein, to whom you and I and all people owe their being and well-being, and to whom y…

    Permalink to quote #3

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