“An unjust law is not a law, but a violence.”Mihai Eminescu · Publicistică · 1880 · Timpul, 1880
An unjust law is institutionalized violence, not a legitimate norm.
Eminescu distinguishes between formal law, adopted by a state, and moral law, based on justice. An unjust law is merely an act of force, not a legitimate norm, because it does not respect the fundamental principles of fairness. For example, a law that discriminates against an ethnic minority is not truly a law, but a form of institutionalized violence.
Eminescu warns us that not every written rule deserves respect. In everyday life, when a boss imposes an absurd rule just to show power, it is nothing but abuse. A true law must be based on justice, not force. Otherwise, it becomes a tool of oppression. That is why it is important to distinguish between legitimate authority and mere coercion. How can we recognize a truly just law?
Why it matters It encourages us not to blindly accept any imposed rule and to evaluate whether it serves the common good.