"The magistrates are the ministers for the laws, the judges their interpreters, the rest of us are servants of the law, that we all may be free"

Cicero’s reflection on law and freedom reveals a vision of a society governed not by the arbitrary will of individuals, but by the impartial authority of established law. By describing magistrates as ministers for the laws, he emphasizes that political leaders are not above the law; rather, they serve its purpose and are its functionaries. Magistrates have the duty to enact and enforce the laws, overseeing the proper administration of justice. They do not wield unchecked power; instead, their authority is defined and limited by legal provisions.

Judges, on the other hand, are described as the law’s interpreters. Their role is to ensure that the letter and spirit of the law are preserved through their judgments. Interpretation requires discerning the underlying intent behind statutes and applying them to specific cases, which ensures consistency, fairness, and adaptability. This layer between the law’s creation and its application is crucial to maintaining order and justice.

The phrase “the rest of us are servants of the law” speaks to the idea that all citizens, regardless of status, owe allegiance to the legal framework. Everyone is bound by the same laws, and adherence to them upholds the common good. By serving the law, citizens participate in maintaining social order and in protecting both their own rights and those of others.

The final assertion, “that we all may be free,” captures the paradoxical truth that submission to a just legal system is what enables liberty. When laws are supreme, not individual whims or brute force, freedom for all becomes possible. No one is subject to the unpredictable or oppressive power of others, because the law functions as a shield and guide for everyone. In Cicero’s view, law is not merely a restriction but a liberation: only by accepting its discipline and submitting to its authority can a society ensure the equal freedom and security of all its members.