Quote#Nature
Ideas are free. But while the author confines them to his study, they…
Quote byJoseph Yates · 1722–1770
Commonly attributed — not confirmed in an authoritative edition. Cited on Wikiquote to: Dissenting in Millar v Taylor (1769), 4 Burr. Part IV., 2379..
English (original)
Ideas are free. But while the author confines them to his study, they are like birds in a cage, which none but he can have a right to let fly : for till he thinks proper to emancipate them, they are under his own dominion.
— Joseph Yates
More from Joseph Yates
It is proper to inquire into the practice and precedents; and to see whether they have been uniform and concomitant.
The Courts can take no notice of anything but what comes judicially before them.
The Court must have ministers : the attornies are its ministers.
The sheriffs of London have been immemorially the sheriff of Middlesex.
Old rights must remain: it would be very unreasonable if it should be otherwise.
If the custom be general, it is the law of the realm: if local only, it is lex loci, the law of the place. Now, all laws are general, as far as the law extends; and all customs of England are of course, immemorial.1 No usage, therefore, …