Who said “The law will never make men free; it is men who have got to make the law free.”?

Verified

Henry David Thoreau. A published source records them saying or writing it.

Source"Slavery in Massachusetts" (1854)

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For academic work, cite the original where you can: "Slavery in Massachusetts" (1854).

APA

Thoreau, H. D. (n.d.). The law will never make men free; it is men who have got to make the law free. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/18551-the-law-will-never-make-men-free-it/

MLA

Thoreau, Henry David. “The law will never make men free; it is men who have got to make the law free.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/18551-the-law-will-never-make-men-free-it/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Thoreau, Henry David. “The law will never make men free; it is men who have got to make the law free.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/18551-the-law-will-never-make-men-free-it/.

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