Resisting Tyranny: Duty Calls When Law Fails

The quote, When injustice becomes law, resistance becomes duty, is often attributed to Thomas Jefferson, the third president of the United States. However, there is no evidence that Jefferson ever said this, and the Thomas Jefferson Foundation has called the quote spurious. The expression has also been credited to other famous figures, such as Nelson Mandela, but its true origin remains uncertain. Despite this, the quote captures some of the ideas that Jefferson expressed in the Declaration of Independence, reflecting his belief in the right and duty of the people to rebel against an unjust or despotic government.

The right to rebel

The idea that "when the law is tyranny, then resistance becomes duty" is often attributed to Thomas Jefferson, the United States' third president. However, there is no evidence that he ever said this exact phrase. The Thomas Jefferson Foundation, which maintains his property at Monticello, could not find the saying anywhere in his writings. Instead, a similar quote by Jefferson from 1787 conveys the sentiment: "I like a little rebellion now and then. It is like a storm in the atmosphere."

The expression has been credited to other famous figures, such as Nelson Mandela, but there is also no proof that they uttered these words. The first known attribution of the quote to Jefferson was in 2006, although it had been circulating for decades prior. It is believed that the phrase was popularized by social activists in Australia, who used it in the context of protesting the imprisonment of refugee children in detention centres.

Despite the uncertainty of its origin, the quote captures some of the ideas that Jefferson expressed in the Declaration of Independence:

> "...when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government..."

In conclusion, while the exact phrase "when the law is tyranny, then resistance becomes duty" may not have a definitive source, the sentiment it expresses is a timeless and powerful one. It captures the belief that resistance to tyranny and injustice is not merely a choice but a duty and it has been invoked by many individuals and movements throughout history in their pursuit of freedom and justice.

Resistance as a duty

The notion that "when injustice becomes law, resistance becomes duty" is often attributed to Thomas Jefferson, the principal author of the Declaration of Independence. However, this quote has been deemed "spurious" by the Thomas Jefferson Foundation, and there is no evidence that he ever said or wrote it. The first known attribution to Jefferson was in 2006, although the saying had been in circulation for decades.

Despite this, the quote captures some of the ideas that Jefferson expressed in the Declaration of Independence:

> "...when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government..."

Jefferson did write letters expressing his belief in the spirit of resistance to government, stating that he wished it to be "always kept alive". He also wrote, "I like a little rebellion now and then. It is like a storm in the atmosphere."

The idea that resistance becomes a duty when faced with unjust or tyrannical laws has been a powerful concept for many people, both in the past and the present. It suggests that passive acceptance of unjust laws is not an option, and that it is the responsibility of the people to actively oppose such laws and, if necessary, overthrow the government that enacted them. This concept has been invoked by social activists around the world, including in Australia, where members of the Socialist Alliance used the phrase in 1993 to oppose the detention of refugee children.

In conclusion, while the exact quote may not be attributable to Jefferson, the sentiment it expresses is certainly in keeping with his beliefs. The idea of resistance as a duty when faced with injustice or tyranny is a powerful one that has resonated with people across the globe and continues to inspire resistance to unjust laws and governments.

The spirit of resistance

Regardless of its origin, the quote captures the essence of the spirit of resistance, which is deeply rooted in the belief that there is a moral obligation to stand against unjust laws and oppressive regimes. This sentiment was echoed by Jefferson in his writing, expressing the importance of maintaining a "spirit of resistance to government" and even embracing "a little rebellion now and then."

Resistance can take many forms, from civil disobedience and non-violent protests to more radical and revolutionary acts. History is replete with examples of resistance movements that have shaped the course of nations, from the American Revolution, inspired by Jefferson and his contemporaries, to the Civil Rights Movement, where figures like Martin Luther King, Jr. embodied the spirit of resistance through their advocacy for racial equality and their rejection of discriminatory laws.

At its core, the spirit of resistance is about the refusal to yield to injustice and the unwavering commitment to uphold values that transcend the laws of the land. It is a recognition that true duty lies not in blind obedience but in the pursuit of liberty and justice for all.

Injustice as law

The quote "When injustice becomes law, resistance becomes duty" is often attributed to Thomas Jefferson, the third president of the United States. However, there is no evidence that he ever said or wrote this exact phrase. The Thomas Jefferson Foundation, which maintains his property at Monticello, could not find the saying in any of Jefferson's writings. Despite this, the quote captures some of the ideas that Jefferson expressed in the Declaration of Independence, such as the right and duty of the people "to throw off such Government..." when faced with prolonged abuses and usurpations that lead to despotism.

The sentiment of the quote, "When injustice becomes law, resistance becomes duty," has been used by both conservatives and liberals in the United States to justify opposition to political decisions or administrations they disagree with. For example, during the presidency of Donald Trump, liberals shared the quote to invoke the notion of "resistance." The quote has also been used by Australians, with the first known attribution to Thomas Jefferson occurring in 2006, although the saying had been in circulation for decades prior.

While the origin of the quote remains uncertain, it has been credited to other famous figures besides Thomas Jefferson, including Nelson Mandela. The expression encapsulates the idea that when laws are perceived as unjust, it becomes the responsibility of the people to oppose them. This concept of civil disobedience, or the refusal to obey laws or policies deemed unfair, has been a driving force behind many social and political movements throughout history.

In conclusion, while the exact phrase "When injustice becomes law, resistance becomes duty" may not have been uttered by Thomas Jefferson, it resonates with people across different countries and political ideologies. It serves as a reminder that when laws are viewed as oppressive or unjust, it is the duty of the governed to challenge and resist them. This notion of resistance against tyranny is a fundamental aspect of democratic societies and a powerful motivator for those seeking to bring about change.

Tyranny and despotism

The concepts of tyranny and despotism are often used interchangeably to refer to unjust and oppressive rule. However, there are some key differences between the two terms.

Tyranny, as described by Plato, occurs when moral-civic rectitude decays in democracies. The tyrant is fearful and feared, and their rule is the complete opposite of rational civic-centred politics. In the context of ancient Greece, tyranny was seen as a deviation from the ideal of rational, civic-centred politics, with the tyrant being driven by fear and desire rather than reason and the public good.

Despotism, on the other hand, implies that the ruler's power is fundamentally unrestrained by any constitution or other institutions. The term despotism originated in the writing of French thinkers around the time of the French Revolution to denote the political system of monarchy, specifically the non-constitutional variety. It is tendentially used to denote pre-modern forms of government, as opposed to dictatorship, which is typically associated with modern political systems.

In the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries, European writers and thinkers used the concepts of tyranny and despotism to characterise the government of the Ottoman Empire. The use of these terms reflected a negative shift in the European perception of the Ottoman Empire, from one of admiration and curiosity to one of disdain and backwardness. The term "despotism" was redefined in the 18th century to be inherently negative and was employed to depict the corruption and backwardness of the Ottoman government in a way that "tyranny" was not.

Resistance to tyranny and despotism has been a recurring theme throughout history. Thomas Jefferson, in the Declaration of Independence, wrote that when a government exhibits a "long train of abuses and usurpations... it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government". This sentiment captures the idea that resistance becomes the duty of the people when faced with unjust and oppressive rule.

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