Fools and obstinate men make lawyers rich.
—Common Proverb
When I hear any man talk of an unalterable law, the only effect it produces on me is to convince me that he is an unalterable fool.
—Sydney Smith (1771–1845) English Clergyman, Essayist, Wit
Laws are silent in the midst of arms.
—Cicero (106BCE–43BCE) Roman Philosopher, Orator, Politician, Lawyer
Bad laws are the worst form of tyranny.
—Edmund Burke (1729–97) British Philosopher, Statesman
Laws are always unstable unless they are founded on the manners of a nation; and manners are the only durable and resisting power in a people.
—Alexis de Tocqueville (1805–59) French Historian, Political Scientist
Compared to them I
—Will Rogers (1879–1935) American Actor, Rancher, Humorist
Laws are the sovereigns of sovereigns.
—Louis XIV of France (1638–1715) King of France
The law of God is what we must do; the gospel is what God will give.
—Martin Luther (1483–1546) German Protestant Theologian
Laws, like the spider’s web, catch the fly and let the hawk go free.
—Spanish Proverb
Lawyers spend a great deal of their time shoveling smoke.
—Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. (1841–1935) American Jurist, Author
In a state where corruption abounds, laws must be very numerous.
—Tacitus (56–117) Roman Orator, Historian
Going to law is losing a cow for the sake of a cat.
—Chinese Proverb
The law is the standard and guardian of our liberty; it circumscribes and defends it; but to imagine liberty without a law, is to imagine every man with his sword in his hand to destroy him, who is weaker than himself; and that would be no pleasant prospect to those who cry out most for liberty.
—Edward Hyde, 1st Earl of Clarendon (1609–74) English Statesman, Historian
A jury too often has at least one member more ready to hang the panel than to hang the traitor.
—Abraham Lincoln (1809–65) American Head of State
A man who has never gone to school may steal from a freight car; but if he has a university education, he may steal the whole railroad.
—Unknown
It is difficult to make our material condition better by the best law, but it is easy enough to ruin it by bad laws.
—Theodore Roosevelt (1858–1919) American Head of State, Political leader, Historian, Explorer
In effect, to follow, not to force the public inclination; to give a direction, a form, a technical dress, and a specific sanction, to the general sense of the community, is the true end of legislature.
—Edmund Burke (1729–97) British Philosopher, Statesman
The laws and the stage, both are a form of exhibitionism.
—Orson Welles (1915–85) American Film Director, Actor
Those laws, being forged for universal application, are in perpetual conflict with personal interest, just as personal interest is always in contradiction with the general interest. Good for society, our laws are very bad for the individuals whereof it is composed; for, if they one time protect the individual, they hinder, trouble, fetter him for three quarters of his life.
—Marquis de Sade (1740–1814) French Political leader, Revolutionary, Novelist, Poet, Critic
Our human laws are more or less imperfect copies of the external laws as we see them.
—James Anthony Froude (1818–94) British Historian, Novelist, Biographer, Editor
The wheel of the Good Law moves swiftly on. It grinds by night and day. The worthless husks it drives from out the golden grain, the refuse from the flour. The hand of fate guides the wheel; the revolutions mark the beatings of the heart of manifestation.
—Helena Blavatsky (1831–91) Ukrainian-born American Theosophist, Spiritual Leader, Philosopher, Mystic
The kind of lawyer you hope the other fellow has.
—Raymond Chandler (1888–1959) American Novelist
Judges ought to be more learned than witty, more reverent than plausible, and more advised than confident. Above all things, integrity is their portion and proper virtue.
—Francis Bacon (1561–1626) English Philosopher
Law never does anything constructive. We have had enough of legislators promising to do that which laws can not do.
—Henry Ford (1863–1947) American Businessperson, Engineer
Lawyers enjoy a little mystery, you know. Why, if everybody came forward and told the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth straight out, we should all retire to the workhouse.
—Dorothy L. Sayers (1893–1957) British Crime Writer
A judge is a law student who grades his own papers.
—H. L. Mencken (1880–1956) American Journalist, Literary Critic
This Law—whether Conscious or Unconscious—predestines nothing and no one. It exists from and in Eternity, truly, for it is ETERNITY itself; and as such, since no act can be co-equal with eternity, it cannot be said to act, for it is ACTION itself…Karma creates nothing, nor does it design. It is man who plans and creates causes, and Karmic law adjusts the effects; which adjustment is not an act, but universal harmony, tending ever to resume its original position.
—Helena Blavatsky (1831–91) Ukrainian-born American Theosophist, Spiritual Leader, Philosopher, Mystic
There is one evident, indubitable manifestation of the Divinity, and that is the laws of right which are made known to the world through Revelation.
—Leo Tolstoy (1828–1910) Russian Novelist
Custom is stronger than law.
—Russian Proverb
Once victim, always victim—that’s the law.
—Thomas Hardy (1840–1928) English Novelist, Poet