Quote by Michel de Montaigne

Laws gain their authority from actual possession and custom: it is perilous to go back to their origins; laws, like our rivers, get greater and nobler as they roll along: follow them back upstream to their sources and all you find is a tiny spring, hardly recognizable; as time goes by it swells with pride and grows in strength.

Laws gain their authority from actual possession and custom:

Summary

This quote suggests that laws derive their legitimacy and authority from being established customs, accepted and obeyed by the people. It warns against questioning their origins because, like rivers, laws become more significant and powerful over time. Going back to their sources reveals a humble beginning, but as they evolve, they gain complexity and influence. The quote emphasizes the importance of respecting and following established laws rather than deconstructing them, as they have grown in stature and effectiveness over the course of their existence.

By Michel de Montaigne

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