This quote highlights the necessity for laws, especially those pertaining to marriage, to be grounded in human understanding and experience before they can aspire to any higher, divine status. The idea here is that if a law does not resonate with our basic human nature and needs, it cannot possibly align with any divine or universal principles.
In the context of marriage, this might mean that the rules governing this institution need to reflect our evolving understandings of love, commitment and partnership. For instance, traditional notions of marriage may emphasize lifelong monogamy or certain gender roles. However, if these concepts do not align with people’s lived experiences or values – such as equality between partners or acceptance of diverse sexual orientations – then they are fundamentally ‘inhuman’.
Only when these laws are reshaped to mirror our collective human experience can they become ‘divine’, in other words universally accepted and respected. This could mean recognizing same-sex marriages or allowing for more flexibility in how we define marital relationships.
Applying this idea today could involve questioning established norms around marriage and pushing for reforms that reflect modern values like equality and diversity. It encourages us to critically evaluate societal structures instead of accepting them blindly because “that’s how things have always been done.”
In terms of personal development too, one might interpret Shaw’s words as an invitation to first understand oneself deeply- one’s desires, dreams and fears- before striving for loftier spiritual goals. Just like a law must first be rooted in humanity before it can reach divinity; self-improvement should begin by acknowledging our earthly existence with all its imperfections rather than pursuing an idealized vision of perfection from the get-go.
