Quote#Politics & Power
Reason is the life of the law; nay, the common law itself is nothing…
Quote byEdward Coke · 1549–1634
Commonly attributed — not confirmed in an authoritative edition. Cited on Wikiquote to: Institutes of the Laws of England (1628), The First Part of the Institutes of the Laws of England, or, A Commentary on Littleton (London, 1628, ed. F. Hargrave and C. Butler, 19th ed., London, 1832), Third Institute. Compare: "Let us consider the reason of the case. For nothing is law that is not re.
English (original)
Reason is the life of the law; nay, the common law itself is nothing else but reason... The law, which is perfection of reason.
— Edward Coke
More from Edward Coke
The house of every one is to him as his castle and fortress, as well for his defence against injury and violence as for his repose.
Fraud and deceit abound in these days more than in former times.
Law is the safest helmet.
Every libel, which is called famosus libellus, is made either against a private man, or against a public person. If it be against a private man, it deserves a severe punishment.
A word must become a friend or you will not understand it. Perhaps you do well to be cool and detached when you are seeking information, but I remind you of the wife who complained, 'When I ask John if he loves me, he thinks I am asking …
They (corporations) cannot commit treason, nor be outlawed nor excommunicate, for they have no souls.