The quote emphasizes the importance of enforcement in the effectiveness of laws. It suggests that creating additional rules or regulations without the means or commitment to enforce existing ones is futile. If a society cannot uphold its current laws, introducing more will only complicate matters and may lead to further disregard for legal norms.
This idea can be unpacked in various contexts. First, consider it from a governance perspective: if lawmakers continue to add new legislation without properly addressing compliance and enforcement issues, citizens may become disillusioned with the legal system. This disillusionment can foster a culture of lawlessness where people feel that neither old nor new laws are worth following.
In personal development, this concept can translate into setting goals or resolutions. For instance, if someone wants to improve their life but continuously sets ambitious goals (like exercising daily or reading more) without establishing routines or accountability mechanisms—such as scheduling time for these activities—they may find themselves overwhelmed and fail to follow through on their intentions. Just like with laws, having clear processes and support systems in place is crucial for achieving personal growth.
Applying this principle today involves prioritizing effective implementation over mere creation—whether in politics by focusing on justice reform that strengthens law enforcement practices or individually by ensuring one’s plans are realistic and manageable before committing fully to them. Ultimately, both at societal and personal levels, success depends not just on having good intentions (or good laws) but on our ability to execute those intentions effectively through consistent action and accountability measures.