What does this quote mean?

Sorta sounds along the likes of laws can’t change the heart, but stop the heartless from doing something.

Basically laws can stop people from killing blacks without trial, or enslaving them, but won’t change their feelings about it

Laws prevent certain dumb shit, and therefore can be effective.

I believe Dr. King’s quote was: “Morality cannot be legislated, but behavior can be regulated. Judicial decrees may not change the heart, but they can restrain the heartless.”

To me this is about morality and behavior. Judicial decrees/laws can govern behavior, but morality comes from the heart….

He is saying that courts can force schools to enroll black students, even though they don’t want to.

No decree was going to change the heart of Sheriff Clark or George Wallace regarding the acceptance of blacks to ride buses or attend schools. But the decrees could restrain the heartlessness of those two men by not allowing them to harm or interfere with the civil rights of Freedom Riders or students.

It won’t give you prevent criminals from committing crime because they can understand right from wrong but it can restrain them from carrying on with their criminal behavior simply because they don’t wish to go to jail.

You can rule by force but you cannot force changed attitudes.