In fact ignorance of law leads to more lawsuits than knowledge of it.
[Potius ignoratio iuris litigiosa est quam scientia.]
Marcus Tullius Cicero (106-43 BC) Roman orator, statesman, philosopher
De Legibus [On the Laws], Book 1, ch. 5 (1.6) / sec. 18 [Marcus] (c. 51 BC) [tr. Zetzel (1999)]
(Source)
(Source (Latin)). Alternate translations:
It is not so much the science of law that produces litigation, as the ignorance of it.
[tr. Barham (1842), Barham/Yonge (1878)]
The litigious spirit is more often found with ignorance than with knowledge of law.
[ed. Harbottle (1906)]
For it is rather ignorance of the law than knowledge of it that leads to litigation.
[tr. Keyes (1928)]
Ignorance rather than knowledge of the law leads to litigation.
[tr. Rudd (1998)]
Quotations about:
litigation
Note not all quotations have been tagged, so Search may find additional quotes on this topic.
A lean compromise is better than a fat lawsuit.
George Herbert (1593-1633) Welsh priest, orator, poet.
(Attributed)
Attributed to Herbert, but not found in his works. Bohn identifies this as proverbs in three Germanic languages:
- Ein magerer Bergleich ist besser den ein setter Process. (German)
- Een mager verdrag is betger dan een vet proces. (Dutch)
- Bedre er et magert Forliig, end en fed Traette. (Danish)
Discourage litigation. Persuade your neighbors to compromise whenever you can. Point out to them how the nominal winner is often a real loser — in fees, and expenses, and waste of time. As a peacemaker the lawyer has a superior opertunity [sic] of being a good man. There will still be business enough.
Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) American lawyer, politician, US President (1861-65)
“Notes on the Practice of Law” (1850?)