The man of character, sensitive to the meaning of what he is doing, will know how to discover the ethical paths in the maze of possible behavior.
Earl WarrenRead
In civilized life, law floats in a sea of ethics.
Interpretation
Law is influenced by ethical principles in our society.
Earl Warren's quote highlights the interdependence of law and ethics in a civilized society, suggesting that while laws are established regulations, they are deeply rooted in the moral values and ethical considerations of the people. This relationship implies that without a strong ethical foundation, laws may lose their significance and may not effectively guide human behavior.
In practice
During a law seminar discussing the foundational principles of justice.
The man of character, sensitive to the meaning of what he is doing, will know how to discover the ethical paths in the maze of possible behavior.
Racial discrimination in public education is unconstitutional.....All provisions of federal, state or local law requiring or permitting such discrimination must yield to this principle.
The success of any legal system is measured by its fidelity to the universal ideal of justice.
In these days, it is doubtful that any child may reasonably be expected to succeed in life if he is denied the opportunity of an education.
Don't complain about growing old β many, many people do not have that privilege.
Today, as always, the people, no less than the courts, must remain vigilant to preserve the principals of our Bill of Rights, lest in our desire to be secure we lose our ability to be free.
On why I don't trust democracy without extremely powerful systems of accountability and recall What seems to be generosity is often only disguised ambition - which despises small interests to gain great ones.
Passion is what gives sense to our life.
We are all one - and if we don't know it, we will learn it the hard way.
I saw clear as daylight how strange it is that not a single person living in this mad world has had the daring to go straight for it all and send it flying to the devil! I...I wanted to have the daring...and I killed her.
Every thought you produce, anything you say, any action you do, it bears your signature.
Thomas More: ...And when the last law was down, and the Devil turned around on you--where would you hide, Roper, the laws all being flat? This country's planted thick with laws from coast to coast--man's laws, not God's--and if you cut them down...d'you really think you could stand upright in the winds that would blow then? Yes, I'd give the Devil benefit of law, for my own safety's sake.
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