Judges... are picked out from the most dextrous lawyers…
“Judges... are picked out from the most dextrous lawyers, who are grown old or lazy, and having been biased all their lives against truth or equity, are under such a fatal necessity of favoring fraud, perjury and oppression, that I have known several of them to refuse a large bribe from the side where justice lay, rather than injure the faculty by doing any thing unbecoming their nature in office.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Judges, often selected from seasoned lawyers, become biased and may favor injustice unless they resist corruption.
In simple terms: Judges can become corrupt unless they stay honest.
Key Takeaway
Resist corruption, uphold integrity.
Themes
justice
corruption
integrity
law
ethics
Mood
cautious
critical
reflective
Type
observational
ethical
When to use this quote
- courtroom decisions
- legislative drafting
- public office
- legal reform
Key Concepts
bias
institutional decay
morality
power dynamics
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we ensure judicial independence?
- What safeguards protect against bias?
A Different Perspective
Even honest judges may be pressured to act unethically.