I will look, your Honor, and endeavor to find a precedent…
“I will look, your Honor, and endeavor to find a precedent, if you require it; though it would seem to be a pity that the Court should lose the honor of being the first to establish so just a rule.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The speaker seeks precedent while noting the court’s reluctance to set a new, just rule, highlighting legal caution.
In simple terms: Seeking precedent, fearing new rule.
Key Takeaway
Weigh tradition against innovation in law.
Themes
law
precedent
justice
Mood
analytical
formal
Type
legal
historical
When to use this quote
- court case
- legislation
- policy making
- academic debate
Key Concepts
legal theory
judicial restraint
Questions to Reflect On
- When should courts break precedent?
- What justifies new legal standards?
A Different Perspective
Innovation may be stifled by tradition.