Lawyers hold that there are two kinds of particularly bad…
“Lawyers hold that there are two kinds of particularly bad witnesses--a reluctant witness, and a too-willing witness.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The quote warns that witnesses can be harmful either by refusing to speak or by speaking too eagerly, compromising truth.
In simple terms: Bad witnesses either stay silent or speak too much, hurting truth.
Beware both extremes in testimony.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- court trials
- jury deliberations
- media interviews
- political inquiries
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you assess a witness's motivation?
- What safeguards prevent over‑eager testimony?
A witness may be coerced into over‑participation, blurring the line.