Fiorello H. La Guardia Quotes

The people become more observant of justice, and do not refuse to submit to the laws when they see them obeyed by their enactor.

If you will not enforce the law, I will.

Obedience of the law is demanded; not asked as a favor.

When you enforce the laws of the state, you don’t get to pick and choose.

No man is above the law and no man is below it; nor do we ask any man's permission when we require him to obey it. Obedience to the law is demanded as a right; not asked as a favor.

Laws are generally not understood by three sorts of persons, viz, by those who make them, by those who execute them, and by those who suffer if they break them.

A fair question could be posed in this fashion: If people are not obeying existing laws, what makes us think they would obey any new laws?

Do not have any doubt that I will apply the law over whoever is responsible for not complying with the law.

Laws do not persuade just because they threaten.

While a law is in force it should be lived up to. You have a right to try to change it, and if you can persuade the majority that it should be changed then it will be changed. But you must abide by a law until it is changed or you will be flouting the fundamental things that make us a democracy and a law-abiding nation.

From day one, I told people there are consequences for not abiding by the law.

We have one authority and one law and everyone has the responsibility to follow that law and that authority.

To be clear... no one is above the law.

Protests are fine. But in South Carolina we believe in the rule of law, and the people of this state should never doubt that as governor, I will enforce it.

A law is not a law without coercion behind it.

Law, without force, is impotent.

I'm supposed to enforce the laws of the land.

No matter who you are or what you intend to do, you should not exceed the boundaries of the rule of law.

I sometimes wish that people would put a little more emphasis upon the observance of the law than they do upon its enforcement.

A real patriot is the fellow who gets a parking ticket and rejoices that the system works.

I would uphold the law if for no other reason but to protect myself.

In a government of laws, existence of the government will be imperiled if it fails to observe the law scrupulously.

Our government is the potent, the omnipresent teacher. For good or for ill, it teaches the whole people by example. If the government becomes a lawbreaker, it breeds contempt for law; it invites every man to become a law unto himself; it invites anarchy.

Respect for the law is not an obligation which is exhausted or obliterated by willingness to accept the penalty for breaking it.

The country is being flooded with illegal liquor and that either Congress will need to modify the law or spend incalculable sums to enforce it [Prohibition].