We All Want a Code to Live by

[Anon Oby]

"...living in a world in which undecleared aggression, war, hypocrisy, chicanery, anarchy and impending immolation are part of our daily lives, we all want a code to live by."

Source: Virtue and a Fast Gun by Carl Foreman from The Observer

The article is not very difficult too read, but I have confusion about the last words of it. What does the 'code' mean? And how do you get by in this bitter world and life, with a code?

 

[teechar]

"...living in a world in which undeclared aggression, war, hypocrisy, chicanery, anarchy and impending immolation are part of our daily lives, we all want a code to live by."

Source: Virtue and a Fast Gun by Carl Foreman from The Observer

Please provide the link. I can't find that online.

What does the 'code' mean?

Have you tried looking it up in the dictionary (www.onelook.com)? If so, what did you find?

And how do you get by in this bitter world and life, with a code?

"Live by" is not the same as "get by". "Live by a code" just means to abide by it, to follow it.