The Importance Of Breaking The Law

If a lawyer was to be asked whether or not one should ever be allowed to break the law, the answer would most likely be no. Yet, one ought to remember that not everyone drives a fancy car or has a steady income. Ask a malnourished, persecuted person and in all likelihood you will get a positive answer. Fundamentally, laws exist to protect us. Abiding by the same rules binds societies together and builds trust between the citizens and the authorities who enforce said laws. However, on occasion governments can turn out be untrustworthy. Imagine a totalitarian society where the state controls all aspects of public and private life and where all human rights are just a feeble memory. This might sound like a description of the book ‘’1984’’ but it is a quite real scenario to too many people.

Yet, sometimes there simply is no other option.

Fulfilling one’s basic human needs should not be an immense challenge for anybody but if it comes to it, bending the rules a bit is acceptable. I’m not necessarily talking about stealing from others as they might also be facing the same difficulties, but standing up to the powers that be. Understanding the relativity of law and pursuing universal ethical principles is more important than mindlessly following the rules. Everyone is entitled to shelter, safety and nourishment even at the expense of breaking the