William Golding Quotes

It's about living in a world with rules, or a world without rules.

We know that we cannot live together without rules which tell us what is right and what is wrong, what is permitted and what is prohibited. We know that it is law which enables men to live together, that creates order out of chaos. We know that law is the glue that holds civilization together.

Anarchy is as detestable in grammar as it is in society.

In the depths all becomes law.

We are nothing but by the law.

One wonders what would happen in a society in which there were no rules to break. Doubtless everyone would quickly die of boredom.

If civilization has an opposite, it is war. Of these two things, you have either one, or the other. Not both.

Mankind can live free in a society hemmed in by laws, but we have yet to find a historical example of mankind living free in lawless anarchy.

Civilization and violence are antithetical concepts.

Which is better, law and rescue, or hunting and breaking things up?

There's been nothing but discipline, discipline, discipline all my life.

I have a funny relationship with religion. I'm a big believer in ritualistic behavior as long as it doesn't hurt anybody. But I'm not a big fan of rules. And yet, we cannot live in a world without order.

You know, how much order is good? And when does order become too restrictive? Is a little bit of chaos okay, or is chaos always an evil force? I mean, these are questions that any kid who's ever been in a school cafeteria can relate to.

People seem to be looking for discipline in a topsy-turvy world.

The history of our civilization has been one of intermittent war.

The rule of law is the basis for any democracy. And without the rule of law in democracy, you have chaos.

The way of the world is to make laws, but follow custom.

All laws are an attempt to domesticate the natural ferocity of the species.

Law gave me some structure... all these rules and internal disciplines.

A world in chaos is not a world in which books are copied and libraries maintained.

I follow the roles.

I like structure, and I like discipline and people doing the right thing.

Every house has to have rules - even 'Animal House.'

The rules are there for a reason.

Everybody knows if you have the rules, you need to follow the rules and do exactly what you need to do.