"Written laws are like spiders' webs, and will, like them, only entangle and hold the poor and weak, while the rich and powerful will easily break through them"
- Anacharsis
About this Quote
Anacharsis, a Scythian theorist from the 6th century BC, is credited with this thought-provoking analogy that highlights the fundamental inequality in the application and impact of composed laws. The metaphor of "spiders' webs" paints a brilliant photo of fragility and selectivity. Just as a spider's web captures only those creatures that are small and vulnerable, leaving bigger and more powerful animals to quickly break free, Anacharsis suggests that written laws frequently entangle the bad and weak while stopping working to restrain the abundant and effective.
At the core of this analogy is the critique of systemic predispositions that prefer those with resources and influence. The delicate nature of spider webs illustrates how laws are crafted with inherent loopholes that the affluent and influential can browse. These individuals and entities typically have access to resources like legal competence and monetary ways that enable them to prevent or control the law to their advantage, leaving the disadvantaged ensnared by legal and governmental systems.
Moreover, the example critiques the justice system's unequal treatment of people based on their socioeconomic status. The inability of the bad and weak to leave these metaphorical webs reflects a wider societal issue where justice is not generally achievable. This variation can result in a lack of trust and faith in legal systems, perpetuating a cycle of inequality and injustice.
Anacharsis's observation also triggers a conversation about the requirement for reform within legal and judicial systems to make sure that laws serve their intended function of keeping equity and fairness. By highlighting this inequality, Anacharsis indirectly calls for a re-evaluation of the structure and enforcement of laws to protect not simply the fortunate but all members of society equally. This quote remains pertinent as a call to action, urging contemporary societies to attend to and remedy systemic variations within legal structures.
"We cannot continue to rely only on our military in order to achieve the national security objectives that we've set. We've got to have a civilian national security force that's just as powerful, just as strong, just as well-funded"
