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The register, the attorneys, and bailiffs, went to his…

“The register, the attorneys, and bailiffs, went to his house with great formality to carry him back his four hundred ounces. They only retained three hundred and ninety-eight of them to defray the expenses of justice; and then their servants demanded their fees. Zadig” quote by Voltaire
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““The register, the attorneys, and bailiffs, went to his house with great formality to carry him back his four hundred ounces. They only retained three hundred and ninety-eight of them to defray the expenses of justice; and then their servants demanded their fees. Zadig””

Voltaire

About This Quote

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

The legal system extracts fees, keeping most of the money for itself while barely covering costs.

In simple terms: Justice takes most of the money and leaves little for the accused.

Key Takeaway

Beware of costly legal processes.

Themes

justice economics bureaucracy

Mood

critical skeptical

Type

satirical observational

When to use this quote

  • court cases
  • debt collection
  • inheritance disputes
  • small claims
  • public defense

Key Concepts

fee extraction legal exploitation

Questions to Reflect On

  • How do legal fees affect fairness?
  • Can reforms reduce such excess?
A Different Perspective

The quote may exaggerate for satire; real cases differ.

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