quotations about law
Now, it is of great moment that well-drawn laws should themselves define all the points they possibly can and leave as few as may be to the decision of the judges; and for this several reasons. First, to find one man, or a few men, who are sensible persons and capable of legislating and administering justice is easier than to find a large number. Next, laws are made after long consideration, whereas decisions in the courts are given at short notice, which makes it hard for those who try the case to satisfy the claims of justice and expediency.
ARISTOTLE
Rhetoric
When it comes to true lies and misdemeanors, the law now depends on who you are, not what you do.
CURTICE MANG
"Satire: Nogales, no English: Where the law is an ass", Communities Digital News, March 29, 2016
Of course you got rights, the law's on your side, but sometimes the law takes a long time to kick in and so it gets put in the hands of us poor suckers on duty. You get my drift?
HARUKI MURAKAMI
Dance, Dance, Dance
Law is the supreme power in the state, through its legislature, commanding what is right, and condemning what is wrong.
CALVIN TOWNSEND
attributed, Day's Collacon
When a man is denied the right to live the life he believes in, he has no choice but to become an outlaw.
NELSON MANDELA
Long Walk to Freedom
There is no intrinsic virtue to law and order unless "law" is equated with justice and "order" with the discipline of a people satisfied that justice has been done.
AUNG SAN SUU KYI
In Quest of Democracy
The law hath so many contradictions and varyings from itself, that the law may not improperly be called a law-breaker. It is become too changeable a thing to be defined: it is made little less a Mystery than the Gospel. The clergy and the lawyers, like the Freemasons, may be supposed to take an oath not to tell the secret.
GEORGE SAVILE
"Of Laws", A Character of King Charles the Second: and Political, Moral and Miscellaneous Thoughts and Reflections
Laws are a nation's egotism.
EDWARD COUNSEL
Maxims
The wisdom of a law-maker consisteth not only in a platform of justice, but in the application thereof; taking into consideration by what means laws may be made certain.
FRANCIS BACON
The Advancement of Learning
Many laws as certainly make bad men, as bad men make many laws.
WALTER SAVAGE LANDOR
Imaginary Conversations
The problem with law is that it is blind. It is quite similar to the plight of a young blindfolded child trying to hit a piñata -- there are always chances of collateral damage. The blindfolded statue of Justice which is supposed to portray Her objectivity and therefore Her greatest strength also becomes Her greatest weakness. She is a victim to interpretative machinations and subjectivity.
SAMIR NAZARETH
"When law is blind", The Hindu, March 21, 2016
The universal and absolute law is that natural justice which cannot be written down, but which appeals to the hearts of all.
VICTOR COUSIN
attributed, Day's Collacon
The one great principle of the English law is, to make business for itself.
CHARLES DICKENS
Bleak House
If we look to the historical influences which have actually enacted human codes, and which have governed their administration, it is at first difficult to understand the sanctity which is thus attributed to the law and its ministers. And if, further, we examine the contents of human codes, and observe how far short they fall of enforcing, even within the limits that must bound all attempts at such enforcement, anything like an absolute morality, this difficulty is not diminished. Between law and equity there is, perhaps there must always be, a considerable interval. Between law and absolute morality there is at times patent contradiction. The undue protection of class interests, the neglect of interests of large classes; the legislation which consults, chiefly and above all else, the profit of the legislator, whether he be king, or noble, or popular assembly; the legislation which postpones moral to material interests, and which makes havoc of man's highest good in order to gratify his lower instincts, his passing caprice, his unreasoning passion -- all this and much else appears to forbid enthusiasm for human law.
HENRY PARRY LIDDON
Sermons Preached Before the University of Oxford
If you make 10,000 regulations you destroy all respect for the law.
WINSTON CHURCHILL
speech in House of Commons, Feb. 3, 1949