We must not make a scarecrow of the law,
Setting it up to fear the birds of prey,
And let it keep one shape till custom make it
Their perch and not their terror.

William Shakespeare

Measure for Measure

Buy Measure for Measure at Amazon Buy Measure for Measure at Amazon
Read Measure for Measure at The Folger Shakespeare Library

More information about this quote

Topic

Law Justice

Speaker

Angelo

Author

William Shakespeare

Source

Measure for Measure

Medium

Play

Genre

Comedy (play)

Statement Type

Metaphor, analogy and simile

Language

English

Time

1616 1610s 17th century

Era

European Renaissance

Occupation

Playwright Poet Writer

From

United Kingdom Europe

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Shakespeare, William. "Measure for Measure." Mr. William Shakespeare's Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies. London: Edward Blount and William and Isaac Jaggard, 1623, act 2, sc. 1.

Current Citation

Shakespeare, William. "Measure for Measure." The Norton Shakespeare, edited by Stephen Greenblatt, et al., 3rd ed., W. W. Norton & Company, 2015, act 2, sc. 1.

Illustrated Quote

A quote by William Shakespeare about law: “We must not make a scarecrow of the law, Setting it up to fear the birds…”
Download
A quote by William Shakespeare about law: “We must not make a scarecrow of the law, Setting it up to fear the birds…”
Download
A quote by William Shakespeare about law: “We must not make a scarecrow of the law, Setting it up to fear the birds…”
Download

Related Quotes

Below are one or more quotes that share at least one tag with the quote at the top of the page

Another quote about Justice

Justice is the end of government. It is the end of civil society. It ever has been and ever will be pursued until it be obtained, or until liberty be lost in the pursuit.

James Madison

Federalist 51

Buy The Federalist Papers at Amazon Buy The Federalist Papers at Amazon
Read Federalist No. 51 at the Library of Congress website
More information about this quote
Topic
Political theory Justice Political progress Progress Government

Author

James Madison
Source
Federalist 51 The Federalist Papers
Medium
Essay
Genre
Political literature
Language
English
Time
1788 1780s 18th century
Era
American Revolutionary Period
Authentication Score 2
Original Citation

Madison, James [published as Publius]. "Federalist No. 51, The Structure of the Government Must Furnish the Proper Checks and Balances Between the Different Departments." New York Packet, 8 Feb. 1788.

Current Citation

Madison, James. "No. 51: How to maintain: make the parts check each other. Also, a federal system divides power further.--Madison (or Hamilton)." The Federalist: A Commentary on the Constitution of the United States, edited by Robert Scigliano. The Modern Library, 2001.

Another quote from European Renaissance

The apparel oft proclaims the man.

William Shakespeare

Hamlet

Buy Hamlet at Amazon Buy Hamlet at Amazon
Read Hamlet at The Folger Shakespeare Library
More information about this quote
Topic
Personal brand Image Clothes make the man Clothing
Speaker
Lord Polonius

Author

William Shakespeare
Source
Hamlet
Medium
Play
Genre
Tragedy (play)
Statement Type
Proverbs, aphorisms and adages
Language
English
Time
1616 1610s 17th century
Era
European Renaissance
Authentication Score 2
Original Citation

Shakespeare, William. "Hamlet." Mr. William Shakespeare's Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies. London: Edward Blount and William and Isaac Jaggard, 1623, act 1, sc. 3.

Current Citation

Shakespeare, William. "Hamlet." The Norton Shakespeare, edited by Stephen Greenblatt, et al., 3rd ed., W. W. Norton & Company, 2015, act 1, sc. 3.

Another quote of the following type Metaphor, analogy and simile

The inward gates of a bird are always open.
It does not know how to shut them.
That is the secret of its song,
But whether any man's are ajar is doubtful.

Hugh MacDiarmid

More information about this quote
Topic
Vulnerability

Author

Hugh MacDiarmid
Source
On a Raised Beach
Medium
Poem
Statement Type
Metaphor, analogy and simile
Language
English
Time
1934 1930s 20th century
Authentication Score 3
Citation

MacDiarmid, Hugh. "On a Raised Beach." Stony Limits and Other Poems. Victor Gollancz, 1934.