WIST Quotations

More, Thomas -- Utopia, Book 2, ch. 7 “Of Their Slaves, and of Their Marriages” (1518 ed.) [tr. Turner (1965 ed.)]

Dave — Wed, 12 Aug 2026 16:38:37 +0000

They have very few laws, because, with their social system, very few laws are required. Indeed, one of their great complaints against other countries is that, although they’ve already got books and books of laws and interpretations of laws, they never seem to have enough. For, according to the Utopians, it’s quite unjust for anyone to be bound by a legal code which is too long for an ordinary person to read right through, or too difficult for him to understand.

[Leges habent perquam paucas. sufficiunt enim sic institutis paucissimae. Quin hoc in primis apud alios improbant populos, quod legum interpretumque uolumina, non infinita sufficiunt. Ipsi uero censent iniquissimum; ullos homines his obligari legibus; quae aut numerosiores sint, quam ut perlegi queant; aut obscuriores quam ut a quouis possint intelligi.]

Thomas More (1478–1535) English lawyer, social philosopher, statesman, humanist, Christian martyr
Utopia, Book 2, ch. 7 “Of Their Slaves, and of Their Marriages” (1518 ed.) [tr. Turner (1965 ed.)]
(Source)

Turner has the same translation in the 2003 ed.

(Source (Latin)). Other translations:

They have but few lawes. For to people so instructe and institute very fewe do suffice. Yea this thing they chiefely reprove among other nations, that innumerable bokes of lawes and expositions upon the same be not sufficient. But they think it against all right and justice that men shoulde be bound to those lawes, which either be in number mo then be hable to be read, or els blinder and darker, then that anye man can well understande them.
[tr. Robynson (1551)]

They have but few Laws, and such is their Constitution, that they need not many. They do very much condemn other Nations, whose Laws, together with the Commentaries on them, swell up to so many Volumes; for they think it an unreasonable thing to oblige Men to obey a Body of Laws, that are both of such a bulk, and so dark, that they cannot be read or understood by every one of the Subjects.
[tr. Burnet (1684)]

They have few laws, and such is their constitution, they require not many. They much condemn other countries, whose laws, with the commentaries on them, swell so many volumes; esteeming it unreasonable to oblige men to obey a body of laws so large and intricate, as not to be read and understood by every subject.
[tr. Cayley (1808)]

They have but few laws, and such is their constitution that they need not many. They very much condemn other nations whose laws, together with the commentaries on them, swell up to so many volumes; for they think it an unreasonable thing to oblige men to obey a body of laws that are both of such a bulk, and so dark as not to be read and understood by every one of the subjects.
[tr. Burnet/Morley (1901)]

They have but few laws. For to people so instruct and institute very few do suffice.. Yea this thing they chiefly reprove among other nations, that innumerable books of laws and expositions upon the same be not sufficient. But they think it against all right and justice that men should be bound to those laws, which either be in number more than be able to be read, or else blinder and darker, than that any man can well understand them.
[tr. Robinson (1909 ed)]

They have very few laws; people so trained, need but few. The chief fault they find with other people is that they have almost innumerable books of laws and commentaries on them which yet are not sufficient; for they themselves think it most unfair that any man should be bound by laws, which are too numerous to be read through, or too obscure to be understood by any.
[tr. Richards (1923)]

They have very few laws because very few are needed for persons so educated. The chief fault they find with other peoples is that almost innumerable books of laws and commentaries are not sufficient. They themselves think it most unfair that any group of men should be bound by laws which are either too numerous to be read through or too obscure to be understood by anyone.
[tr. Richards/Surtz (1964)]

They have very few laws, and their training is such that they need no more. The chief fault they find with other nations is that, even with infinite volumes of laws and interpretations, they cannot manage their affairs properly. They think it completely unjust to bind men by a set of laws that are too many to be read and too obscure for anyone to understand.
[tr. Adams (1992 ed.)]

Addison, Joseph -- Essay (1713-07-04), The Guardian, No. 99

Dave — Mon, 16 Mar 2026 17:28:10 +0000

Whatever passion enters into a sentence or decision, so far will there be in it a tincture of injustice.

Joseph Addison (1672–1719) English essayist, poet, statesman
Essay (1713-07-04), The Guardian, No. 99
(Source)

Addison, Joseph -- Essay (1713-07-04), The Guardian, No. 99

Dave — Mon, 02 Mar 2026 18:33:00 +0000

When a nation once loses its regard to justice; when they do not look up it as something venerable, holy and inviolable; when any of them dare presume to lessen, affront or terrify those who have the distribution of it in their hands; when a judge is capable of being influenced by any thing that is foreign to its own merits, we may venture to pronounce that such a nation is hastening to its ruin.

Joseph Addison (1672–1719) English essayist, poet, statesman
Essay (1713-07-04), The Guardian, No. 99
(Source)

Cicero, Marcus Tullius -- Pro Caecina [For Aulus Caecina], ch. 26 / sec. 73 (c. 69 BC) [tr. @sentantiq (2013)]

Dave — Thu, 12 Feb 2026 21:16:23 +0000

What is the law? A thing that ought neither to be swayed by favor, nor be shattered by force, nor be corrupted by power.

[Quod enim est ius civile? Quod neque inflecti gratia neque perfringi potentia neque adulterari pecunia debeat.]

Marcus Tullius Cicero (106–43 BC) Roman orator, statesman, philosopher
Pro Caecina [For Aulus Caecina], ch. 26 / sec. 73 (c. 69 BC) [tr. @sentantiq (2013)]
(Source)

(Source (Latin)). Other translations:

For, indeed, what is the civil law? A thing which can neither be bent by influence, nor broken down by power, nor adulterated by corruption.
[tr. Yonge (1856)]

How may we describe it? The law is that which influence cannot bend, nor power break, nor wealth corrupt.
[tr. Grose Hodge (Loeb) (1927)]

White, Ken -- “Fault Lines” blog, Mimeslaw.com (8 Jun 2016)

Dave — Wed, 29 Jul 2020 22:28:13 +0000

Despite what Hollywood would lead you to believe, we criminal defense attorneys do not advocate lenient sentences for all wrongdoers as a matter of policy. […] Our role is to stand beside our clients, no matter who they are or what they did, and be their advocates, the one person required to plead their case and argue their interests. This is the closest our society comes to grace or humility. It’s grace because we give this support to defendants whether they deserve it by any objective measure, and it’s humility because we know the system is so capable of grave error in accusing and punishing.

Ken White (b. c. 1969) American constitutional and criminal attorney, prosecutor, blogger
“Fault Lines” blog, Mimeslaw.com (8 Jun 2016)
(Source)

Brecht, Bertholt -- Die Dreigroschenoper [The Three-Penny Opera], Act 3, sc. 1 (1928)

Dave — Thu, 01 Oct 2015 15:05:03 +0000

POLLY PEACHUM: The law is simply and solely made for the exploitation of those who do not understand it or of those who, for naked need, cannot obey it.

Bertolt Brecht (1898–1956) German poet, playwright, director, dramaturgist
Die Dreigroschenoper [The Three-Penny Opera], Act 3, sc. 1 (1928)

Other translations: "The law was made for one thing alone, for the exploitation of those who don't understand it, or are prevented by naked misery from obeying it."

Franklin, Benjamin -- Poor Richard (1742 ed.)

Dave — Thu, 13 Aug 2015 17:04:29 +0000

Honest Men often go to Law for their Right; when Wise Men would sit down with the Wrong, supposing the first Loss least. In some Countries the Course of the Courts is so tedious, and the Expence so high, that the Remedy, Justice, is worse than, Injustice, the Disease. In my Travels I once saw a Sign call’d The Two Men at Law; One of them was painted on one Side, in a melancholy Posture, all in Rags, with this Scroll, I have lost my Cause. The other was drawn capering for Joy, on the other Side, with these Words, I have gain’d my Suit; but he was stark naked.

Benjamin Franklin (1706–1790) American statesman, scientist, philosopher, aphorist
Poor Richard (1742 ed.)
(Source)

Harris, Sydney J. -- Syndicated column, Chicago Daily News (Apr 1971)

Dave — Tue, 31 Mar 2015 13:10:02 +0000

One of the oldest Russian proverbs remains as inexorably true in modern America: “No one is hanged who has money in his pocket.” Or, one might say, capital punishment is only for those without capital.

Sydney J. Harris (1917–1986) Anglo-American columnist, journalist, author
Syndicated column, Chicago Daily News (Apr 1971)

Jackson, Robert H. -- Speech, Greater Buffalo Advertising Club, New York (1933)

Dave — Thu, 03 May 2012 12:40:33 +0000

When we went to school we were told that we were governed by laws, not men. As a result of that, many people think there is no need to pay any attention to judicial candidates because judges merely apply the law by some mathematical formula and a good judge and a bad judge all apply the same kind of law. The fact is that the most important part of a judge’s work is the exercise of judgment and that the law in a court is never better than the common sense judgment of the judge that is presiding.

Robert H. Jackson (1892–1954) US Supreme Court Justice (1941–54), lawyer, jurist, politician
Speech, Greater Buffalo Advertising Club, New York (1933)
(Source)

Quoted in Eugene Gerhart, America's Advocate: Robert H. Jackson, ch. 4 (1958).

Ivins, Molly -- Essay (2001-04), “Wake Me When We’re Equal,” The Progressive, Vol. 65, No. 4

Dave — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 18:29:12 +0000

As a now-forgotten Sunday-morning chatter announced in horror: “This could cause people to think that the rich can buy their way out of the justice system.”
No shit.
Been going to Texas prisons for a long time. Seen nobody rich on Death Row yet. You mean money has something to do with justice in this country?

Molly Ivins (1944–2007) American writer, political columnist [Mary Tyler Ivins]
Essay (2001-04), “Wake Me When We’re Equal,” The Progressive, Vol. 65, No. 4
(Source)

A shortened form (which is more widely quoted) was given in a Progressive memorial article for Ivins:

Sunday-morning chatter announced in horror: "People may think the rich can buy their way out of the justice system." No shit. Been going to Texas prisons for a long time. Seen nobody rich on Death Row yet. You mean MONEY has something to do with justice in this country?

Ericsson, Graham -- Journal (2009-08-28)

Dave — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 12:26:24 +0000

The rule of law should not suspended whenever it is convenient or urgent. It is at times when we are most tempted, most compelled to ignore the law that we should should be most reliant upon it, and consider most carefully the consequences of ignoring it. The law is there precisely to keep us from making mistakes when it is convenient or urgent to act.

Graham Ericsson (b. 1961) American technologist, writer, aphorist
Journal (2009-08-28)

Bok, Derek -- Report to Harvard Board of Overseers (21 Apr 1983)

Dave — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 10:23:14 +0000

There is far too much law for those who can afford it and far too little for those who cannot.

Derek Bok (b. 1930) American lawyer, educator
Report to Harvard Board of Overseers (21 Apr 1983)

Ivins, Molly -- Essay (1997-06-10), Creators Syndicate column

Dave — Sun, 01 Feb 2004 16:00:00 +0000

Yes, the bad-lawyer felony is the leading cause of the death penalty in Texas. The single most dangerous thing you can be in Texas is poor.

Molly Ivins (1944–2007) American writer, political columnist [Mary Tyler Ivins]
Essay (1997-06-10), Creators Syndicate column