That’s a great question and one that doesn’t have an easy answer. I think it’s both, and the balance between the two really shapes how a society functions.

The law sets the framework, but it’s the people who give it life (or push back when it fails). You can have the best laws on paper, but if the people don’t uphold them or if the culture doesn’t value them, they don’t mean much. On the flip side, a strong and principled group of people can sometimes rise above bad laws and demand change.

It’s a dynamic relationship. Laws influence people, but people also shape the laws. Definitely something worth thinking about more.