Lincoln, Abraham -- Speech (1850), Notes for a Law Lecture (fragment)

Dave — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 21:46:05 +0000

As a general rule never take your whole fee in advance, nor any more than a small retainer. When fully paid beforehand, you are more than a common mortal if you can feel the same interest in the case, as if something was still in prospect for you, as well as for your client. And when you lack interest in the case the job will very likely lack skill and diligence in the performance.

Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) American lawyer, politician, US President (1861-65)
Speech (1850), Notes for a Law Lecture (fragment)
(Source)

No lecture of the sort given by Lincoln has been recorded. The date was assigned by Nicolay and Hay, with nothing concrete to contradict it. The lecture notes might well have been written several years later.

Rice, Tim -- Jesus Christ Superstar, “Blood Money” (1970) [music by Andrew Lloyd Webber]

Dave — Wed, 24 Jan 2024 23:50:27 +0000

ANNAS: Your help in this matter won’t go unrewarded.

CAIAPHAS: We’ll pay you in silver — cash on the nail.
We just need to know where the soldiers can find him.

ANNAS: With no crowd around him.

CAIAPHAS:Then we can’t fail.

JUDAS: I don’t need your blood money!

CAIAPHAS: Oh, that doesn’t matter, our expenses are good.

JUDAS: I don’t want your blood money!

ANNAS: But you might as well take it. We think that you should.

CAIAPHAS: Think of the things you could do with that money,
Choose any charity — give to the poor.
We’ve noted your motives — we’ve noted your feelings.
This isn’t blood money — it’s a fee, nothing —
Fee, nothing — fee, nothing more.

Tim Rice (b. 1944) British lyricist and author
Jesus Christ Superstar, “Blood Money” (1970) [music by Andrew Lloyd Webber]
(Source)

(Source (audio))

The movie version reverses the order of "need" and "want your blood money." It also turns the last lines into a brief interchange between Caiaphas and Annas:

CAIAPHAS: This isn't isn't blood money -- it's ...
ANNAS: A fee.
CAIAPHAS: A fee, nothing more.

WIST Quotations

Lincoln, Abraham -- Speech (1850), Notes for a Law Lecture (fragment)

Rice, Tim -- Jesus Christ Superstar, “Blood Money” (1970) [music by Andrew Lloyd Webber]