He who saves his country, violates no law
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"He who saves his country, violates no law" (or "He who saves his country does not violate any law") is a purported quotation of dubious origins attributed to Napoleon Bonaparte.[1][2] It is often interpreted as a justification for extraordinary actions in times of national crisis. The phrase has been cited in various political and ideological contexts to defend or rationalize actions perceived as outside legal or ethical norms but claimed to be in the service of national salvation. It sometimes serves to justify the erosion of legal norms in pursuit of nationalist goals.[citation needed] It was notably used by Norwegian terrorist and convicted mass murderer Anders Behring Breivik, who identifies as a Nazi, as justification for the 2011 Norway attacks,[3] as well as by U.S. President Donald Trump.
Attribution and meaning
[edit]The quotation is attributed to Napoleon Bonaparte,[1] though there is no definitive source confirming its exact origin in his writings or speeches. As Celui qui sauve sa patrie ne viole aucune loi, it appears in Maximes et Pensées de Napoléon, a collection compiled by Honoré de Balzac and published under the name of J.-L. Gaudy in an attempt to gain the Légion d'Honneur for Gaudy, but Balzac gives no source.[4][5]
The sentiment expressed aligns with Napoleon’s belief in strong, decisive leadership and his view that the needs of the state could sometimes supersede legal constraints. The phrase suggests that actions taken to protect or preserve a nation are inherently justified, even if they contravene established laws.[citation needed]
This idea resonates with realpolitik, a political philosophy emphasizing pragmatism and national interest over strict adherence to legal or moral codes. However, such justifications have been widely criticized for providing a pretext for authoritarianism, allowing leaders to bypass democratic institutions under the guise of protecting the nation. This rationale has historically been employed by fascist regimes, including Mussolini’s Italy and Hitler’s Germany, where legal structures were undermined in the name of national salvation.[citation needed] The phrase has also been described as aligned with Vladimir Putin's thinking and governance style.[6]
Usage
[edit]Anders Behring Breivik
[edit]The Norwegian terrorist and mass murderer Anders Behring Breivik, responsible for the 2011 Norway attacks, invoked the phrase in his 1,500-page manifesto, 2083: A European Declaration of Independence.[3][7] Breivik justified his violent actions as a necessary means to defend European civilization against "Eurabia", a far-right, Islamophobic trope and conspiracy theory that posits that "globalist" entities aim to Islamize Europe. In Breivik’s case, his self-proclaimed justification did not prevent his conviction on terrorism and mass murder charges, underscoring the legal rejection of such arguments in democratic societies.[3] In prison, Breivik became a supporter of Donald Trump[8] and according to his own lawyer, now identifies as a Nazi.[9]
Nayib Bukele
[edit]On 24 January 2024, El Salvador President Nayib Bukele wrote on X, "He who saves his country violates no law," in reference to a story about Costa Rica supposedly being influenced by El Salvador's crackdown on crime.[10]
Donald Trump
[edit]On 15 February 2025, United States President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social and twitter: "He who saves his Country does not violate any Law", which the White House later reposted on twitter that day.[11][12]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Leigh, Edward E. (1979). Right Thinking: A Personal Collection of Quotations Dating from 3000 BC to the Present Day which Might be Said to Cast Some Light on the Workings of the Tory Mind. Hutchinson Benham. ISBN 9780091402211.
- ^ Dale, Iain (2013). The Dictionary of Conservative Quotations. Biteback. ISBN 9781849546560.
- ^ a b c Nielsen, Andrea Kiel (2015). "Manden bag ondskaben: Hvordan Breivik dræbte uden skam" [The Man Behind the Evil: How Breivik Killed Without Shame]. Politica (in Danish). 47 (3). doi:10.7146/politica.v47i3.131443.
- ^ Balzac, Honoré de (1838). Maximes Et Pensées De Napoléon. Paris. p. 358.
- ^ Donnard, J.-H. (January 1, 1963). "A propos d'une supercherie littéraire. Le "bonapartisme" de Balzac". L'Année Balzacienne. 0: 123. ProQuest 1311674912. Retrieved February 16, 2025.
- ^ Tuominen, Arvo (2020). Vladimir Putin: The Whole Story. ISBN 9789526960029.
- ^ "2083: A European Declaration of Independence" (PDF). 2011-07-22.
- ^ "Regjeringsadvokaten: – Breivik strålende fornøyd med Trump-seier". VG. Retrieved 16 February 2025.
- ^ "Breivik vil sende et signal til venner og fiender" [Breivik wants to send a signal to friends and foes]. NRK. 15 March 2016. Retrieved 20 April 2016.
- ^ Bukele, Nayib. "He who saves his country, violates no law". X. Archived from the original on 2025-02-16. Retrieved 2025-02-16.
- ^ Chiacu, Doina (16 February 2025). "Trump: If it saves the country, it's not illegal". Reuters. Retrieved 16 February 2025.
- ^ Haberman, Maggie; Savage, Charlie; Swan, Jonathan (15 February 2025). "Trump Suggests No Laws Are Broken if He's 'Saving His Country'". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 16 February 2025. Retrieved 16 February 2025.