On the other hand laws may be unjust in two ways: first, by being contrary to human good, through being opposed to the things mentioned above─either in respect of the end, as when an authority imposes on his subjects burdensome laws, conducive, not to the common good, but rather to his own cupidity or vainglory─or in respect of the author, as when a man makes a law that goes beyond the power committed to him─or in respect of the form, as when burdens are imposed unequally on the community, although with a view to the common good. The like are acts of violence rather than laws; because, as Augustine says (De Lib. Arb. i, 5), "a law that is not just, seems to be no law at all." Wherefore such laws do not bind in conscience, except perhaps in order to avoid scandal or disturbance, for which cause a man should even yield his right, according to Matthew 5:40-41: "If a man . . . take away thy coat, let go thy cloak also unto him; and whosoever will force thee one mile, go with him other two."
Secondly, laws may be unjust through being opposed to the Divine good: such are the laws of tyrants inducing to idolatry, or to anything else contrary to the Divine law: and laws of this kind must nowise be observed, because, as stated in Acts 5:29, "we ought to obey God rather than man."
~St. Thomas Aquinas: S.T. I-II, q. 96, a. 4. (Whether human law binds a man in conscience?)
Allegory of the Good Government, by Ambrogio Lorenzetti.
Fresco, 1338-40; Palazzo Pubblico, Siena.
Allegory of Bad Government (detail),
by Ambrogio Lorenzetti.