…a few philosophers really do important work. This applies to the so called ‘critical philosophy’ and to the theory of read more

…a few philosophers really do important work. This applies to the so called ‘critical philosophy’ and to the theory of knowledge or epistemology. This class of workers I call epistemologists to avoid the disagreeable implications of the term ‘philosopher’.

It may be true that the law cannot make a man love me, but it can keep him from lynching read more

It may be true that the law cannot make a man love me, but it can keep him from lynching me, and I think that's pretty important.

Our government is the potent, the omnipresent teacher. For good
or for ill, it teaches the whole people by read more

Our government is the potent, the omnipresent teacher. For good
or for ill, it teaches the whole people by its example. Crime is
contagious. If the government becomes a law-breaker, it breeds
contempt for law; it invites every man to become a law unto
himself; it invites anarchy.

The United States is a nation of laws: badly written and randomly enforced.

The United States is a nation of laws: badly written and randomly enforced.

It is impossible to tell where the law stops and justice begins.

It is impossible to tell where the law stops and justice begins.

It is not possible to make a bad law. If is is bad, it is not a law.

It is not possible to make a bad law. If is is bad, it is not a law.

A law is valuable not because it is law, but because there is right in it.

A law is valuable not because it is law, but because there is right in it.

There was an ancient Roman lawyer, of great fame in the history
of Roman jurisprudence, whom they called Cui read more

There was an ancient Roman lawyer, of great fame in the history
of Roman jurisprudence, whom they called Cui Bono, from his
having first introduced into judicial proceedings the argument,
"What end or object could the party have had in the act with
which he is accused."

Because just as good morals, if they are to be maintained, have need of the laws, so the laws, if read more

Because just as good morals, if they are to be maintained, have need of the laws, so the laws, if they are to be observed, have need of good morals.