Natural law

Explore 18 quotes about Natural law

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

Declaration of Independence

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Topic

Equality Natural law Human rights Freedom

Source

Declaration of Independence

Genre

Political literature

Language

English

Time

1776 1770s 18th century

Era

American Revolutionary Period

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

United States Declaration of Independence. 1776, preamble.

Current Citation

The National Archives. The Declaration of Independence: A Transcript. 24 July 2020, www.archives.gov/founding-docs/declaration-transcript.

The sacred rights of mankind are not to be rummaged for among old parchments or musty records. They are written, as with a sunbeam, in the whole volume of human nature, by the hand of the divinity itself; and can never be erased or obscured by mortal power.

Alexander Hamilton

New-York Gazetteer

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Topic

Natural law

Author

Alexander Hamilton

Source

The Farmer Refuted New-York Gazetteer

Genre

Political literature

Language

English

Time

1775 1770s 18th century

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Hamilton, Alexander. "The Farmer Refuted." New-York Gazetteer. New York: James Rivington, 23 Feb. 1775.

Current Citation

Hamilton, Alexander. "The Farmer Refuted &c., [23 February] 1775." Founders Online, National Archives, founders.archives.gov/documents/Hamilton/01-01-02-0057.

There is no such thing as "natural law": this expression is nothing but old nonsense…Prior to laws, what is natural is only the strength of the lion, or the need of the creature suffering from hunger or cold, in short, need.

Stendhal

The Red and the Black

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Topic

Natural law Might makes right

Author

Stendhal

Source

The Red and the Black

Medium

Novel

Language

French

Time

1819 1810s 19th century

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Stendhal. Le Rouge et le Noir: Chronique du XIXe siècle [The Red and the Black: A Chronicle of the 19th Century]. Vol. 2, Paris: A. Levasseur, c. 1830, ch. 44.

Current Citation

Stendhal. The Red and the Black, translated by Catherine Slater. Oxford University Press, 2009, bk. 2, ch. 44.

Right knows no boundaries, and justice no frontiers; the brotherhood of man is not a domestic institution.

Learned Hand

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Topic

Natural law Moral universalism Moral theory Morality

Speaker

Learned Hand

Source

Speeches of Learned Hand

Medium

Speech

Language

English

Time

1945 1940s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Hand, Learned. "A Pledge of Allegiance." I Am An American Day. 20 May 1945, Central Park, New York City, NY, USA.

There are two sorts of laws, those of absolute equity and universality, and the bizarre ones which owe their autonomy only to blindness or to the force of circumstance. The latter merely cover the man who is breaking them with a passing disgrace, which time then transfers to the judges and the nations, on whom it remains forever.

Denis Diderot

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Topic

Natural law Custom and convention Law

Author

Denis Diderot

Source

Rameau's Nephew

Genre

Philosophical literature

Language

French

Time

1805 1800s 19th century

Era

Age of Enlightenment

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Diderot, Denis. Le Neveu de Rameau, ou La Satire seconde [The Nephew of Rameau, or the Second Satire]. 1805 (German); 1891 (original French manuscript).

Current Citation

Diderot, Denis. "Rameau's Nephew." Rameau's Nephew and Other Works, translated by Jacques Barzun and Ralph H. Bowen. Hackett Publishing Company, 2001.

There is but one law for all, namely, that law which governs all law, the law of our Creator, the law of humanity, justice, equity, — the Law of Nature and of Nations.

Edmund Burke

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Topic

Natural law Law Moral universalism Moral theory Morality

Author

Edmund Burke

Source

Speech in General Reply; First Day: Wednesday May 28, 1794.

Medium

Speech

Genre

Political speech

Language

English

Time

1794 1790s 18th century

Era

Age of Enlightenment

Authentication Score 2

Citation

Burke, Edmund. "Speech in General Reply; First Day: Wednesday, May 28, 1794." Speeches in the Impeachment of Warren Hastings, Esquire. 28 May 1794, Westminster Hall, Westminster, London, UK.

The God who gave us life, gave us liberty at the same time.

Thomas Jefferson

A Summary View of the Rights of British America

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Topic

Natural law Human rights

Author

Thomas Jefferson

Source

A Summary View of the Rights of British America

Genre

Political literature

Language

English

Time

1774 1770s 18th century

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Jefferson, Thomas. A Summary View of the Rights of British America. Williamsburg, 1774.

Current Citation

Jefferson, Thomas. "A Summary View of the Rights of British America." Jefferson: Political Writings. Cambridge University Press, 1999.

There is no reason in the world why the negro is not entitled to all the natural rights enumerated in the Declaration of Independence, the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

Abraham Lincoln

Lincoln-Douglas Debates

More information about this quote

Topic

Declaration of Independence American Dream Equality Natural law

Speaker

Abraham Lincoln

Source

Lincoln-Douglas Debates

Medium

Political debate

Language

English

Time

1858 1850s 19th century

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Lincoln, Abraham. "First Debate with Stephen A. Douglas." 21 Aug. 1858, Ottawa, IL, USA.

Current Citation

Lincoln, Abraham. "First Lincoln-Douglas Debate, Ottawa, Illinois, August 21, 1858." Abraham Lincoln: Speeches and Writings 1832-1858, edited by Don E. Fehrenbacher. Library of America, 1989.

Man...has by nature a power...to preserve his property—that is, his life, liberty, and estate—against the injuries and attempts of other men.

John Locke

Two Treatises of Government

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Topic

Property rights Natural law

Author

John Locke

Source

Second Treatise of Civil Government Two Treatises of Government

Medium

Treatise

Genre

Political literature

Statement Type

Precepts and axioms

Language

English

Time

1690 1690s 17th century

Era

Age of Enlightenment

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Locke, John. "Second Treatise of Civil Government." Two Treatises of Government. London: Awnsham Churchill, 1690, ch. 7, sect. 87.

Current Citation

Locke, John. Second Treatise of Civil Government, edited by C. B. Macpherson. Hackett Publishing Company, 1980, ch. 7, sect. 87.

Two things fill the mind with ever new and increasing wonder and awe, the more often and the more seriously reflection concentrates upon them: the starry heaven above me and the moral law within me.

Immanuel Kant

Critique of Practical Reason

More information about this quote

Topic

The night sky Natural law Morality

Author

Immanuel Kant

Source

Critique of Practical Reason

Genre

Philosophical literature

Language

German

Time

1788 1780s 18th century

Era

Age of Enlightenment

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Kant, Immanuel. Critik der praktischen Vernuft [Critique of Practical Reason]. Riga: Johann Friedrich Hartknoch, 1788, conclusion.

Current Citation

Kant, Immanuel. Critique of Practical Reason, translated by Mary Gregor. Cambridge University Press, 2015, conclusion.

And yet the same revolutionary beliefs for which our forebears fought are still at issue around the globe—the belief that the rights of man come not from the generosity of the state but from the hand of God.

John F. Kennedy

Inaugural Address of John F. Kennedy

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Topic

Human rights Natural law

Speaker

John F. Kennedy

Source

Inaugural Address of John F. Kennedy Presidential inaugural address

Medium

Speech

Genre

Political speech

Language

English

Time

1961 1960s 20th century

Authentication Score 2

Citation

Kennedy, John F. "Inaugural Address." 20 Jan. 1961, East Portico, US Capitol Building, Washington, DC, USA.

Natural rights is simple nonsense: natural and imprescriptible rights, rhetorical nonsense,—nonsense upon stilts.

Jeremy Bentham

More information about this quote

Topic

Human rights Natural law

Author

Jeremy Bentham

Source

Anarchical Fallacies; being an Examination of the Declarations of Rights issued during the French Revolution The Works of Jeremy Bentham

Genre

Political literature

Language

English

Time

1832 1830s 19th century

Authentication Score 1

Citation

Bentham, Jeremy. "Anarchical Fallacies; being an Examination of the Declarations of Rights issued during the French Revolution." The Works of Jeremy Bentham. Vol. 2, Edinburgh: William Tait, 1843.

We admit of no government by divine right, believing that so far as power is concerned the Beneficent Creator has made no distinction amongst men; that all are upon an equality, and that the only legitimate right to govern is an express grant of power from the governed.

William Henry Harrison

Inaugural Address of William Henry Harrison

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Topic

Political equality Equality Natural law Political theory

Speaker

William Henry Harrison

Source

Inaugural Address of William Henry Harrison Presidential inaugural address

Medium

Speech

Genre

Political speech

Language

English

Time

1841 1840s 19th century

Authentication Score 2

Citation

Harrison, William Henry. "Inaugural Address." 4 Mar. 1841, East Portico, US Capitol Building, Washington, DC, USA.

Wherever there is a human being, I see God-given rights inherent in that being, whatever may be the sex or complexion.

William Lloyd Garrison

More information about this quote

Topic

Natural law Human rights

Speaker

William Lloyd Garrison

Medium

Speech

Language

English

Time

1853 1850s 19th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Garrison, William Lloyd. Speech at a Woman's Rights Convention. Woman's Rights Convention. 6 Sept. 1853, Broadway Tabernacle, New York City, NY, USA.

The slave trade is contrary to the laws of God and to the rights of men.

David Hartley (the Younger)

More information about this quote

Topic

Slave trade Slavery Human rights Natural law

Speaker

David Hartley (the Younger)

Source

A Memoir of Granville Sharp

Medium

Speech

Language

English

Time

1776 1770s 18th century

Era

Age of Enlightenment

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Harley, David. Speech before the House of Commons. 1776, Palace of Westminster, London, England, UK.

Every man, when he comes to be sensible of his natural rights, and to feel his own importance, will consider himself as fully equal to any other person whatever.

Joseph Priestley

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Topic

Natural law Human rights Equality

Author

Joseph Priestley

Source

An Essay on the First Principles of Government

Medium

Essay

Genre

Political literature

Language

English

Time

1768 1760s 18th century

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Priestley, Joseph. An Essay on the First Principles of Government. London: J. Dodsley, 1768.

Current Citation

Priestley, Joseph. "An Essay on the First Principles of Government." Priestley: Political Writings. Cambridge University Press, 1993.

That all men are by nature equally free and independent, and have certain inherent rights, of which, when they enter into a state of society, they cannot by any compact deprive or divest their posterity; namely, the enjoyment of life and liberty, with the means of acquiring and possessing property, and pursuing and obtaining happiness and safety.

George Mason

Virginia Bill of Rights

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Topic

Natural law Political theory

Author

George Mason

Source

Virginia Bill of Rights

Genre

Political literature

Language

English

Time

1776 1770s 18th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Mason, George. Virginia Bill of Rights. 12 June 1776, article 1.

We may brave human laws, but we cannot resist natural ones.

Jules Verne

Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea

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Topic

Laws of physics Natural law Law

Speaker

Captain Nemo

Author

Jules Verne

Source

Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea

Medium

Novel

Language

French

Time

1870 1870s 19th century

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Verne, Jules. "Vingt mille lieues sous les mers [Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas]." Magasin d'éducation et de récréation, Mar. 1869 - Jun. 1870. Serial.

Current Citation

Verne, Jules. Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, edited and translated by David Coward. Penguin Classics, 2017.