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General propositions do not decide concrete cases. The…

“General propositions do not decide concrete cases. The decision will depend on a judgment or intuition more subtle than any articulate major premise.” quote by Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr
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“General propositions do not decide concrete cases. The decision will depend on a judgment or intuition more subtle than any articulate major premise.”

Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

General rules guide but cannot resolve every specific situation; judgment and intuition fill the gaps.

In simple terms: Rules need intuition for specifics.

Key Takeaway

Rely on nuanced judgment.

Themes

law judgment intuition decision-making

Mood

thoughtful analytical

Type

advice philosophical

When to use this quote

  • court rulings
  • policy drafting
  • ethical dilemmas
  • personal choices

Key Concepts

Legal theory pragmatism epistemology

Questions to Reflect On

  • How do you balance rules with gut feeling?
  • When should intuition override precedent?
A Different Perspective

Intuition can be biased or inconsistent.

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