Which one of the following reflects the most appropriate relationship

Which one of the following reflects the most appropriate relationship between law and liberty ?

If there are more laws, there is less liberty.
If there are no laws, there is no liberty.
If there is liberty, laws have to be made by the people.
If laws are changed too often, liberty is in danger.
This question was previously asked in
UPSC IAS – 2018
The correct answer is B.
The most appropriate relationship between law and liberty is that laws are necessary for the existence and protection of liberty. Without laws, there would be chaos and insecurity, where individuals would be subject to the arbitrary will or force of others, making true liberty impossible. Laws establish order, define rights, and provide a framework within which individuals can exercise their freedoms securely.
Philosophers like John Locke argued that while laws can restrict absolute freedom, they are essential for securing liberty by protecting individuals from harm by others and by the state itself (when the state acts arbitrarily). The concept of “Rule of Law” emphasizes that liberty thrives under a system where everyone, including the government, is subject to and protected by known and stable laws. Option A is partially true in that excessive or unjust laws can curtail liberty, but it doesn’t capture the fundamental necessity of law for liberty’s existence.