--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: And the law, that is the perfection of…" description: "\"And the law, that is the perfection of reason, cannot suffer anything that is inconvenient.\" — Edward Coke" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a9f/edward-coke-11376_inconvenient_and-the-law-that-is-the-perfection-of-re_1677880.png" --- # And the law, that is the perfection of reason, cannot… ![“And the law, that is the perfection of reason, cannot suffer anything that is inconvenient.” quote by Edward Coke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a9f/edward-coke-11376_inconvenient_and-the-law-that-is-the-perfection-of-re_1677880.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a9f/edward-coke-11376_inconvenient_and-the-law-that-is-the-perfection-of-re_1677880.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a9f/edward-coke-11376_inconvenient_and-the-law-that-is-the-perfection-of-re_1677880.png) > “And the law, that is the perfection of reason, cannot suffer anything that is inconvenient.” [Edward Coke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-coke/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Reasoned law must be practical; inflexible rules hinder justice. **In simple terms:** Law should serve practicality, not just logic. Key Takeaway Balance reason with flexibility. Themes law reason practicality Mood serious thoughtful Type philosophical legal When to use this quote - court decisions - policy drafting - legislative debates Key Concepts jurisprudence legal philosophy Questions to Reflect On - When should law bend for compassion? - How to reconcile reason with inconvenient truths? A Different Perspective Rigid application can ignore human nuance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Laws](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laws/) [Perfection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfection/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering/) ## Related quotes > [Reason is the life of the law; nay, the common law itself is nothing else but reasonThe law, which is perfection of reason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-coke/reason-is-the-life-of-the-law-nay-the-common-law-itself-is-nothing/) [Edward Coke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-coke/) > [The Law ... is perfection of reason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-coke/the-law-is-perfection-of-reason/) [Edward Coke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-coke/) > [Discretion is the perfection of reason, and a guide to us in all the duties of life. It is only found in men of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-bruyere/discretion-is-the-perfection-of-reason-and-a-guide-to-us-in-all-the/) [Jean de la Bruyere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-bruyere/) > [Discretion is the perfection of reason, and a guide to us in all the duties of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-scott/discretion-is-the-perfection-of-reason-and-a-guide-to-us-in-all-the-3/) [Walter Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-scott/) > [Abstaining so as really to enjoy, is the epicurism, the very perfection, of reason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-jacques-rousseau/abstaining-so-as-really-to-enjoy-is-the-epicurism-the-very-perfection/) [Jean-Jacques Rousseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-jacques-rousseau/) > [I say that a man must be certain of his morality for the simple reason that he has to suffer for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/i-say-that-a-man-must-be-certain-of-his-morality-for-the-simple/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [There is really no reason to suffer. The only reason you suffer is because you choose to suffer. If you look at your life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-angel-ruiz/there-is-really-no-reason-to-suffer-the-only-reason-you-suffer-is/) [Miguel Angel Ruiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-angel-ruiz/) > [“John does not know how much I really suffer. He knows there is no reason to suffer, and that satisfies him.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-perkins-gilman/john-does-not-know-how-much-i-really-suffer-he-knows-there-is-no/) [Charlotte Perkins Gilman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-perkins-gilman/) > [“Man must be certain of his morality for the simple reason that he has to suffer for it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-k-chesterton/man-must-be-certain-of-his-morality-for-the-simple-reason-that-he-has/) [G.K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-k-chesterton/) > [You move totally away from reality when you believe that there is a legitimate reason to suffer".](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-katie/you-move-totally-away-from-reality-when-you-believe-that-there-is-a/) [Byron Katie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-katie/) > [“I am glad my case is not serious! But these nervous troubles are dreadfully depressing. John does not know how much I really suffer.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-perkins-gilman/i-am-glad-my-case-is-not-serious-but-these-nervous-troubles-are/) [Charlotte Perkins Gilman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-perkins-gilman/) > [“John doesn't know how much I really suffer. He knows there is no reason to suffer, and that satisfies him. It is getting to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-perkins-gilman/john-doesn-t-know-how-much-i-really-suffer-he-knows-there-is-no/) [Charlotte Perkins Gilman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-perkins-gilman/) > [Reality - the way that is, exactly as it is, in every moment - is always kind. It's our story about reality that blurs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-katie/reality-the-way-that-is-exactly-as-it-is-in-every-moment-is-always/) [Byron Katie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-katie/) > [Finding out I was expecting a child was highly inconvenient for doing all the promotion for 'Venus.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keren-woodward/finding-out-i-was-expecting-a-child-was-highly-inconvenient-for-doing/) [Keren Woodward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keren-woodward/) > [Geometry, which should only obey Physics, when united with it sometimes commands it. If it happens that the question which we wish to examine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-le-rond-d-alembert/geometry-which-should-only-obey-physics-when-united-with-it-sometimes/) [Jean le Rond d'Alembert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-le-rond-d-alembert/) ## More by Edward Coke > [Force ought to follow justice and not to precede.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-coke/force-ought-to-follow-justice-and-not-to-precede/) [Edward Coke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-coke/) > [Corporations cannot commit treason, nor be outlawed, nor excommunicated, for they have no souls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-coke/corporations-cannot-commit-treason-nor-be-outlawed-nor-excommunicated/) [Edward Coke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-coke/) > [Everyone thirsteth after gaine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-coke/everyone-thirsteth-after-gaine/) [Edward Coke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-coke/) > [A corporation has no soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-coke/a-corporation-has-no-soul/) [Edward Coke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-coke/) > [The agreement of the parties cannot make that good which the law maketh void.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-coke/the-agreement-of-the-parties-cannot-make-that-good-which-the-law/) [Edward Coke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-coke/) > [He is not cheated who knows he is being cheated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-coke/he-is-not-cheated-who-knows-he-is-being-cheated/) [Edward Coke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-coke/) > [The house of every one is to him as his castle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-coke/the-house-of-every-one-is-to-him-as-his-castle/) [Edward Coke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-coke/) > [The King himself should be under no man, but under God and the Law.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-coke/the-king-himself-should-be-under-no-man-but-under-god-and-the-law/) [Edward Coke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-coke/) > [It is better, saith the law, to suffer a mischief that is peculiar to one, than an inconvenience that may prejudice many.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-coke/it-is-better-saith-the-law-to-suffer-a-mischief-that-is-peculiar-to/) [Edward Coke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-coke/) > [We have a saying in the House of Commons; that old ways are the safest and surest ways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-coke/we-have-a-saying-in-the-house-of-commons-that-old-ways-are-the-safest/) [Edward Coke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-coke/) > [Success in crime always invites to worse deeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-coke/success-in-crime-always-invites-to-worse-deeds/) [Edward Coke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-coke/) > [For when the law doth give any thing to one, it giveth impliedly whatsoever is necessary for the taking and enjoying of the same.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-coke/for-when-the-law-doth-give-any-thing-to-one-it-giveth-impliedly/) [Edward Coke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-coke/) > [Things are worth what they will fetch at a sale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-coke/things-are-worth-what-they-will-fetch-at-a-sale/) [Edward Coke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-coke/) > [The Common lawes of the Realme should by no means be delayed for the law is the surest sanctuary, that a man should take,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-coke/the-common-lawes-of-the-realme-should-by-no-means-be-delayed-for-the/) [Edward Coke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-coke/) > [The cause ceasing, the effect ceases also](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-coke/the-cause-ceasing-the-effect-ceases-also/) [Edward Coke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-coke/) [Explore all 60 Edward Coke quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-coke/) ## More Inconvenient quotes > [Geometry, which should only obey Physics, when united with it sometimes commands it. If it happens that the question which we wish to examine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-le-rond-d-alembert/geometry-which-should-only-obey-physics-when-united-with-it-sometimes/) [Jean le Rond d'Alembert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-le-rond-d-alembert/) > [Finding out I was expecting a child was highly inconvenient for doing all the promotion for 'Venus.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keren-woodward/finding-out-i-was-expecting-a-child-was-highly-inconvenient-for-doing/) [Keren Woodward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keren-woodward/) > [It's very inconvenient being a sculptor. It's like playing the double-bass; one's so handicapped by one's baggage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-l-sayers/it-s-very-inconvenient-being-a-sculptor-it-s-like-playing-the-double/) [Dorothy L. 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But I have often found it inconvenient - in America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bert-williams/i-have-never-been-able-to-discover-anything-disgraceful-in-being-a/) [Bert Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bert-williams/) > [“Great I was going into shock. That was just… so inconvenient.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hawkins/great-i-was-going-into-shock-that-was-just-so-inconvenient/) [Rachel Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hawkins/) > [We are living in a time in which movies such as 'Super Size Me' and 'An Inconvenient Truth' have made box-office history, and books…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noreena-hertz/we-are-living-in-a-time-in-which-movies-such-as-super-size-me-and-an/) [Noreena Hertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noreena-hertz/) > [Poverty is no disgrace to a man, but it is confoundedly inconvenient](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-smith/poverty-is-no-disgrace-to-a-man-but-it-is-confoundedly-inconvenient/) [Sydney Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-smith/) > [When it comes to Fashion Week, I'm over the too-cool-for-school runway experience with loud music in a raw space that's inconvenient for everyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodger-berman/when-it-comes-to-fashion-week-i-m-over-the-too-cool-for-school-runway/) [Rodger Berman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodger-berman/) > [The circumstances of the world are continually changing, and the opinions of men change also; and as government is for the living, and not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/the-circumstances-of-the-world-are-continually-changing-and-the-2/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [So when somebody asks me to make a decision about a situation, I don't offer a solution, I ask a question: What are our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/so-when-somebody-asks-me-to-make-a-decision-about-a-situation-i-don-t/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [Underneath it, in 'An Inconvenient Truth', we talked a lot about the unspoken decisions that people make in their heads.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/davis-guggenheim/underneath-it-in-an-inconvenient-truth-we-talked-a-lot-about-the/) [Davis Guggenheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/davis-guggenheim/) > [Intense mutual erotic love, love which involves with the flesh all the most refined sexual being of the spirit, which reveals and perhaps even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iris-murdoch/intense-mutual-erotic-love-love-which-involves-with-the-flesh-all-the/) [Iris Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iris-murdoch/) > [Many will, no doubt, prefer to retain old unsystematic names as far as possible, but it is easy to see that the desire to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-edward-armstrong/many-will-no-doubt-prefer-to-retain-old-unsystematic-names-as-far-as/) [Henry Edward Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-edward-armstrong/) Browse all 198 Inconvenient quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "And the law, that is the perfection of reason, cannot suffer anything that is inconvenient.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Edward Coke" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-coke/and-the-law-that-is-the-perfection-of-reason-cannot-suffer-anything/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Inconvenient" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-coke/and-the-law-that-is-the-perfection-of-reason-cannot-suffer-anything/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a9f/edward-coke-11376_inconvenient_and-the-law-that-is-the-perfection-of-re_1677880.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a9f/edward-coke-11376_inconvenient_and-the-law-that-is-the-perfection-of-re_1677880.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a9f/edward-coke-11376_inconvenient_and-the-law-that-is-the-perfection-of-re_1677880.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“And the law, that is the perfection of reason, cannot suffer anything that is inconvenient.” — Edward Coke", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Edward Coke", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-coke/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "And the law, that is the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-coke/and-the-law-that-is-the-perfection-of-reason-cannot-suffer-anything/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-coke/and-the-law-that-is-the-perfection-of-reason-cannot-suffer-anything/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```