As an attorney, I assure you the law isn't a line engraved…
“As an attorney, I assure you the law isn't a line engraved in marble, immovable and unchangeable through the centuries. Rather the law is like a string, fixed at both ends but with a great deal of play in it very loose, the line of the law so you can stretch it this way or that, rearrange the arc of it so you are nearly always short of blatant theft or cold-blooded murder safely on the right side. That's a daunting thing to realize but true.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
He likens law to a flexible rope, anchored but bendable, allowing adaptation while preventing extreme wrongdoing.
In simple terms: Law is firm yet adaptable.
Key Takeaway
Recognize legal flexibility while upholding core principles.
Themes
law
flexibility
justice
ethics
Mood
thoughtful
analytical
Type
philosophical
legal
When to use this quote
- courtroom arguments
- legislative drafting
- civil rights cases
- ethical dilemmas
Key Concepts
legal theory
interpretation
balance
Questions to Reflect On
- When should legal flexibility be limited?
- How to balance adaptability with certainty?
A Different Perspective
Flexibility may be exploited to erode rights.