Skip to content
Shawords

Quote#Politics & Power

Libelling against a private man is a moral offence; but when it is…

Quote byJohn Holt · 1642–1710

Commonly attributed — not confirmed in an authoritative edition. Cited on Wikiquote to: Rex v. Beare (1698), 1 Raym. 418. For the antiquity of this notion, see Vinnius, 741, by the law of the twelve tables..

English (original)

Libelling against a private man is a moral offence; but when it is against a government, it tends to the destruction of it.

— John Holt

More from John Holt