Books Quote by Carl Sandburg
““The Lawyers Know Too Much THE LAWYERS, Bob, know too much. They are chums of the books of old John Marshall. They know it all, what a dead hand wrote, A stiff dead hand and its knuckles crumbling, The bones of the fingers a thin white ash. The lawyers know a dead man’s thoughts too well. In the heels of the higgling lawyers, Bob, Too many slippery ifs and buts and howevers, Too much hereinbefore provided whereas, Too many doors to go in and out of. When the lawyers are through What is there left, Bob? Can a mouse nibble at it And find enough to fasten a tooth in? Why is there always a secret singing When a lawyer cashes in? Why does a hearse horse snicker Hauling a lawyer away? The work of a bricklayer goes to the blue. The knack of a mason outlasts a moon. The hands of a plasterer hold a room together. The land of a farmer wishes him back again. Singers of songs and dreamers of plays Build a house no wind blows over. The lawyers—tell me why a hearse horse snickers hauling a lawyer’s bones.””
About This Quote
Source Poem: “The Lawyers Know Too Much” by Carl Sandburg, 1930s
The poem critiques the pervasive, entrenched power of lawyers, likening their influence to a dead, unyielding hand that stifles progress and creativity.
In simple terms: Lawyers are portrayed as rigid, overbearing forces that hinder change.
Key Takeaway
Beware of allowing any profession to become an unchecked authority.
Themes
power
tradition
stagnation
authority
creativity
Mood
critical
reflective
somber
Type
poetic
social commentary
When to use this quote
- legal reform
- creative industries
- public policy
- education
- community organizing
Key Concepts
legalism
institutional inertia
social critique
Questions to Reflect On
- How can society balance legal oversight with innovation?
- What safeguards prevent legal systems from becoming oppressive?
A Different Perspective
The critique may overlook the essential role lawyers play in protecting rights and upholding justice.
