"Without Liberty, Law loses its nature and its name, and becomes oppression. Without Law, Liberty also loses its nature and its name, and becomes licentiousness"
- James Q. Wilson
About this Quote
This quote by James Q. Wilson emphasizes the importance of both liberty and law in order to keep a functioning society. Without liberty, law loses its function and ends up being overbearing. Without law, liberty loses its function and becomes licentiousness. This quote recommends that both liberty and law are essential for a society to operate correctly. Liberty permits people to express themselves and pursue their own interests, while law offers a structure for people to live within. Without both, society would be disorderly and unable to work. This quote serves as a suggestion of the importance of both liberty and law in order to keep a working society.