Don't forget that we lawyers, we're a higher breed of…
“Don't forget that we lawyers, we're a higher breed of intellect, and so it's our privilege to lie. It's as clear as day. Animals can't even imagine lying: if you were to find yourself among some wild islanders, they too would only speak the truth until they learned about European culture.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The quote sat how lawyers view themselves as intellectually superior, granting them moral license to deceive, contrasting with perceived natural honesty of non‑civilized peoples.
In simple terms: Lawyers claim intellectual superiority and justify lying, unlike "natural" peoples.
Key Takeaway
Question humility and ethical limits of professional privilege.
Themes
ethics
power
truth
law
civilization
Mood
cynical
critical
reflective
Type
ethical
philosophical
sociological
When to use this quote
- legal practice
- political negotiation
- cross‑cultural encounters
Key Concepts
moral relativism
professional ethics
cultural relativism
Questions to Reflect On
- Do professional codes truly prevent abuse of intellectual authority?
- How does cultural context shape concepts of truth?
A Different Perspective
Legal ethics challenge the notion of a privileged right to lie.