I shall not attempt further to define the kinds of…
“I shall not attempt further to define the kinds of material I understand to be embraced within that shorthand description (of pornography), and perhaps I could never succeed in intelligibly doing so. But I know it when I see it, and the motion picture involved in this case is not that.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The judge admits difficulty defining pornography but asserts it can be recognized intuitively.
In simple terms: Knowing pornography by instinct, not precise definition.
Key Takeaway
Trust intuition when legal definitions fail.
Themes
law
morality
media
judgment
Mood
analytical
critical
Type
legal
philosophical
When to use this quote
- court cases
- media regulation
- public policy
- education
- art criticism
Key Concepts
jurisprudence
subjective standards
Questions to Reflect On
- How do we balance subjective judgment with objective law?
- Can intuition replace precise definitions?
A Different Perspective
Legal standards may be vague and inconsistently applied.