WIST Quotations

Lescroart, John -- A Plague of Secrets, Part 1 (2009)

Dave — Tue, 25 Aug 2026 04:06:17 +0000

The essence of fascism is to make laws forbidding everything and then enforce them selectively against your enemies.

John Lescroart (b. 1948) American novelist
A Plague of Secrets, Part 1 (2009)

Recalled by Hardy as an aphorism of someone he'd once known. Possibly tied to Hitchens (2004).

Hitchens, Christopher -- Essay (2004-02), “I Fought the Law,” Vanity Fair

Dave — Mon, 23 Mar 2026 16:33:56 +0000

The essence of tyranny is not iron law. It is capricious law.

Christopher Hitchens (1949–2011) English intellectual, polemicist, socio-political critic
Essay (2004-02), “I Fought the Law,” Vanity Fair

Collected as "I Fought the Law in Bloomburg's New York," Love, Poverty, and War (2004).

Roosevelt, Theodore -- Speech (1903-09-07), “The Square Deal,” Labor Day, New York State Agricultural Association, New York State Fair, Syracuse

Dave — Thu, 22 Jan 2026 19:50:33 +0000

We must keep ever in mind that a republic such as ours can exist only by virtue of the orderly liberty which comes through the equal domination of the law over all men alike, and through its administration in such resolute and fearless fashion as shall teach all that no man is above it and no man below it.

Theodore Roosevelt (1858–1919) American politician, statesman, conservationist, writer; US President (1901–09)
Speech (1903-09-07), “The Square Deal,” Labor Day, New York State Agricultural Association, New York State Fair, Syracuse

Montesquieu -- Spirit of Laws [The Spirit of the Laws; De l’esprit des lois], Book 3, ch. 3 (1748) [tr. Stewart (2018)]

Dave — Mon, 12 Jan 2026 22:36:11 +0000

It is clear that the monarch who, through bad counsel or negligence, ceases to see that the laws are executed can easily repair the damage: he has only to get a new counsellor, or correct his own negligence. But when, in a popular government, the laws have ceased to be executed, since this can result only from corruption of the republic, the state is already undone.

[Il est clair encore que le monarque qui, par mauvais conseil ou par négligence, cesse de faire exécuter les loix, peut aisément réparer le mal ; il n’a qu’à changer de conseil, ou se corriger de cette négligence même. Mais lorsque, dans un gouvernement populaire, les loix ont cessé d’être exécutées, comme cela ne peut venir que de la corruption de la république, l’état est déja perdu.]

Charles-Lewis de Secondat, Baron de Montesquieu (1689–1755) French political philosopher
Spirit of Laws [The Spirit of the Laws; De l’esprit des lois], Book 3, ch. 3 (1748) [tr. Stewart (2018)]

(Source (French)). Other translations:

Clear it is also that a monarch, who through bad advice or indolence ceases to enforce the execution of the laws, may easily repair the evil: he has only to follow other advice; or to shake off this indolence. But when in popular government, there is a suspension of the laws, as this can proceed only from the corruption of the republic, the state is certainly undone.
[tr. Nugent (1750)]

It is also clear that the monarch who ceases to see to the execution of the laws, though bad counsel or negligence, may easily repair the damage; he has only to change his counsel or correct his own negligence. But in a popular government when the laws have ceased to be executed, as this can only come from the corruption of the republic, the state is already lost.
[tr. Cohler/Miller/Stone (1989)]

Hobbes, Thomas -- Leviathan, Part 2 “Of Common-wealth,” ch. 21 “Of the Liberty of Subjects” (1651)

Dave — Fri, 21 Nov 2025 06:58:49 +0000

The Lawes are of no power to protect them, without a Sword in the hands of a man, or men, to cause those laws to be put in execution.

Thomas Hobbes (1588–1679) English philosopher
Leviathan, Part 2 “Of Common-wealth,” ch. 21 “Of the Liberty of Subjects” (1651)

Orwell, George -- Essay (1947-03), “Lear, Tolstoy and the Fool,” Polemic Magazine, No. 7

Dave — Fri, 22 Aug 2025 15:50:31 +0000

There are people who are convinced of the wickedness both of armies and of police forces, but who are nevertheless much more intolerant and inquisitorial in outlook than the normal person who believes that it is necessary to use violence in certain circumstances. They will not say to somebody else, “Do this, that and the other or you will go to prison”, but they will, if they can, get inside his brain and dictate his thoughts for him in the minutest particulars.

George Orwell (1903–1950) English journalist, essayist, writer [pseud. of Eric Arthur Blair]
Essay (1947-03), “Lear, Tolstoy and the Fool,” Polemic Magazine, No. 7

Collected in Inside the Whale, and Other Essays (1962).

Thoreau, Henry David -- Speech (1859-10-30), “A Plea for Captain John Brown,” Concord, Massachusetts

Dave — Wed, 30 Jul 2025 20:59:08 +0000

Is it not possible that an individual may be right and a government wrong? Are laws to be enforced simply because they were made? or declared by any number of men to be good, if they are not good? Is there any necessity for a man’s being a tool to perform a deed of which his better nature disapproves? Is it the intention of law-makers that good men shall be hung ever?

Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862) American philosopher and writer
Speech (1859-10-30), “A Plea for Captain John Brown,” Concord, Massachusetts

Speaking of John Brown and his raid on Harpers Ferry. Collected in A Yankee in Canada (1866).

Franklin, Benjamin -- Poor Richard (1734 ed.)

Dave — Mon, 11 Dec 2023 18:45:13 +0000

Laws like to Cobwebs catch small Flies,
Great ones break thro’ before your eyes.

Benjamin Franklin (1706–1790) American statesman, scientist, philosopher, aphorist
Poor Richard (1734 ed.)

See Swift.

Parsons, Lucy -- “The Principles of Anarchism,” lecture (1905)

Dave — Thu, 21 Jul 2022 16:50:35 +0000

We have laws, jails, courts, armies, guns and armories enough to make saints of us all, if they were the true preventives of crime; but we know they do not prevent crime; that wickedness and depravity exist in spite of them, nay, increase as the struggle between classes grows fiercer, wealth greater and more powerful and poverty more gaunt and desperate.

Lucy Parsons (1851–1942) American labor organizer, anarchist, orator [a.k.a. Lucy Gonzalez]
“The Principles of Anarchism,” lecture (1905)

Thoreau, Henry David -- Essay (1849-05), “Resistance to Civil Government [On the Duty of Civil Disobedience],” Æsthetic Papers, No. 1, Article 10

Dave — Mon, 12 Jul 2021 23:52:21 +0000

The mass of men serve the State thus, not as men mainly, but as machines, with their bodies. They are the standing army, and the militia, gaolers, constables, posse comitatus, etc. In most cases there is no free exercise whatever of the judgment or of the moral sense; but they put themselves on a level with wood and earth and stones; and wooden men can perhaps be manufactured that will serve the purpose as well. Such command no more respect than men of straw or a lump of dirt. They have the same sort of worth only as horses and dogs. Yet such as these even are commonly esteemed good citizens.

Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862) American philosopher and writer
Essay (1849-05), “Resistance to Civil Government [On the Duty of Civil Disobedience],” Æsthetic Papers, No. 1, Article 10

Based on an 1848 lecture at the Concord Lyceum.

Adams, John -- A Defence of the Constitutions of Government of the United States of America, Vol. 3, ch. 3 “Marchamond Nedham: Errors of Government and Rules of Policy” (1787)

Dave — Wed, 14 Sep 2016 23:56:37 +0000

It must be made a sacred maxim, that the militia obey the executive power, which represents the whole people in the execution of laws. To suppose arms in the hands of citizens, to be used at the individual discretion, except in private self-defence, or by partial orders of towns, counties, or districts of a state, is to demolish every constitution, and lay the laws prostrate, so that liberty can be enjoyed by no man; it is a dissolution of the government. The fundamental law of the militia is, that it be created, directed and commanded by the laws, and ever for the support of the laws.

John Adams (1735–1826) American lawyer, Founder, statesman; US President (1797–1801)
A Defence of the Constitutions of Government of the United States of America, Vol. 3, ch. 3 “Marchamond Nedham: Errors of Government and Rules of Policy” (1787)

Aaronovitch, Ben -- Broken Homes (2013)

Dave — Wed, 06 Jan 2016 13:55:30 +0000

It’s a police mantra that all members of the public are guilty of something, but some members of the public are more guilty than others.

Ben Aaronovitch (b. 1964) British author
Broken Homes (2013)

See Orwell.

Lincoln, Abraham -- Speech (1854-07-01?), fragment on government

Dave — Tue, 06 Oct 2015 14:15:11 +0000

The legitimate object of government, is to do for a community of people, whatever they need to have done, but can not do, at all, or can not, so well do, for themselves — in their separate, and individual capacities. In all that the people can individually do as well for themselves, government ought not to interfere.
The desirable things which the individuals of a people can not do, or can not well do, for themselves, fall into two classes: those which have relation to wrongs, and those which have not. Each of these branch off into an infinite variety of subdivisions. The first — that in relation to wrongs — embraces all crimes, misdemeanors, and non-performance of contracts. The other embraces all which, in its nature, and without wrong, requires combined action, as public roads and highways, public schools, charities, pauperism, orphanage, estates of the deceased, and the machinery of government itself.
From this it appears that if all men were just, there still would be some, though not so much, need of government.

Abraham Lincoln (1809–1865) American lawyer, politician, US President (1861–65)
Speech (1854-07-01?), fragment on government

The date was assigned (arbitrarily?) to the fragment by Nicolay and Hay. The speech or lecture it was written for is not recorded.

Lincoln, Abraham -- Letter (1859-12-22) to John J. Crittenden

Dave — Thu, 17 Sep 2015 13:17:54 +0000

No law is stronger than is the public sentiment where it is to be enforced.

Abraham Lincoln (1809–1865) American lawyer, politician, US President (1861–65)
Letter (1859-12-22) to John J. Crittenden

Crittenden was a US Senator from Kentucky, a former Whig but at the time part of the American (Know-Nothing) Party. Lincoln was criticizing the idea of a party platform with the sole position of "The Constitution, the Union, and the enforcement of the laws," and used the resistance to the Fugitive Slave Act in the North as an example.

See Lincoln (1858).

Heinlein, Robert A. -- Friday [Brian] (1982)

Dave — Tue, 01 Sep 2015 12:34:51 +0000

In dealing with the law and with people I have found a vast difference between “should” and “is.”

Robert A. Heinlein (1907–1988) American writer
Friday [Brian] (1982)

Sophocles -- Oedipus at Colonus, l. 839 [tr. Fitzgerald (1941)]

Dave — Mon, 31 Aug 2015 12:54:22 +0000

What you cannot enforce,
Do not command!

Sophocles (496–406 BC) Greek tragic playwright
Oedipus at Colonus, l. 839 [tr. Fitzgerald (1941)]

Kennedy, Robert F. -- The Pursuit of Justice, “Eradicating Free Enterprise in Organized Crime” (1964)

Dave — Mon, 06 Oct 2014 15:39:04 +0000

In the words of the old saying, every society gets the kind of criminal it deserves. What is equally true is that every community gets the kind of law enforcement it insists on.

Robert Francis Kennedy (1925–1968) American politician
The Pursuit of Justice, “Eradicating Free Enterprise in Organized Crime” (1964)

Johnson, Samuel -- Poem (1738), “London: A Poem,” ll. 159-160

Dave — Fri, 12 Oct 2012 14:16:57 +0000

All Crimes are safe, but hated Poverty.
This, only this, the rigid Law pursues.

Samuel Johnson (1709–1784) English writer, lexicographer, critic
Poem (1738), “London: A Poem,” ll. 159-160

Swift, Jonathan -- A Critical Essay upon the Faculties of the Mind (1707)

Dave — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 13:16:15 +0000

Laws are like cobwebs, which may catch small flies, but let wasps and hornets break through.

Jonathan Swift (1667–1745) English writer and churchman
A Critical Essay upon the Faculties of the Mind (1707)

See Franklin.

Grant, Ulysses S. -- Inaugural Address

Dave — Sun, 01 Feb 2004 16:00:00 +0000

I know no method to secure the repeal of bad or obnoxious laws so effective as their stringent execution.

Ulysses S. Grant (1822–1885) American military leader, US President (1869–77)
Inaugural Address

Hobbes, Thomas -- Leviathan, Part 4, ch. 46 (1651)

Dave — Sun, 01 Feb 2004 16:00:00 +0000

What man […] believes the law can hurt him; that is, words and paper, without hands and swords of men?

Thomas Hobbes (1588–1679) English philosopher
Leviathan, Part 4, ch. 46 (1651)

Countering the argument in Aristotle's Politics, which asserts that laws should govern, not men.

Often attributed to John Harrington, who quoted Hobbes in his The Commonwealth of Oceana, Part 1 (1656).

Shakespeare, William -- King Lear, Act 4, sc. 6, l. 180ff (4.6.180-183) (1606)

Dave — Sun, 01 Feb 2004 16:00:00 +0000

LEAR: Through tattered clothes small vices do appear.
Robes and furred gowns hide all. Plate sin with gold,
And the strong lance of justice hurtless breaks.
Arm it in rags, a pygmy’s straw does pierce it.

William Shakespeare (1564–1616) English dramatist and poet
King Lear, Act 4, sc. 6, l. 180ff (4.6.180-183) (1606)