Samuel Daniel Quotes

In the state of nature profit is the measure of right.

Marriage is an institution necessary to the maintenance of society but contrary to the laws of nature.

All human laws are, properly speaking, only declaratory; they have no power over the substance of original justice.

Custom is our nature. What are our natural principles but principles of custom?

The natural liberty of man is to be free from any superior power on Earth, and not to be under the will or legislative authority of man, but only to have the law of nature for his rule.

The common Notions of Liberty are not from School Divines, but from Nature.

Nature is seldom in the wrong, custom always.

The laws of conscience, which we pretend to be derived from nature, proceed from Custom.

We are more sensible of what is done against custom than against nature.

What is morality but immemorial custom? Conscience is the chief of conservatives.

True religion is the foundation of society. When that is once shaken by contempt, the whole fabric cannot be stable nor lasting.

You can't disobey the rules every time you disapprove. However, when you're considering something that constitutes an extreme abridgement of your rights, conscience is the court of last resort.

Where a bad custom has been in existence for any length of time, most people grow to regard it as part of the order of nature.

Justice is the great end of civil society.

Customs do not concern themselves with right or wrong or reason. But they have to be obeyed; one reasons all around them until he is tired, but he must not transgress them, it is sternly forbidden.

Law is not law, if it violates the principles of eternal justice.

There is but one law for all … the law of nature.

To wish to stop democracy [in America] would be to struggle against God himself

Do not overthrow the custom that has made it all the way to you.

In our society, authority derives from justice, and in our society, learning to live with authority should derive from and aid learning to understand and to feel justice.

Institutions are what allow us to have continuity in civilizations.

Every political edict which is not based upon nature is wrong.

The empire of custom is most mighty.

How but in custom and in ceremony are innocence and beauty born?