It is revolting to have no better reason for a rule of law than that so it was laid down in the time of Henry IV. It is still more revolting if the grounds upon which it was laid down have vanished long since, and the rule simply persists from blind imitation of the past.

Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. (1841-1935) American jurist, Supreme Court Justice
“The Path of the Law”, 10 Harvard Law Review 457 (1897)

Full text.


 
Added on 6-Apr-09 | Last updated 6-Apr-09
Link to this post | No comments
More quotes by Holmes, Oliver Wendell, Jr.

Thoughts? Comments? Corrections? Feedback?