--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Reason is the life of the law." description: "\"Reason is the life of the law.\" — Edward Coke" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e8/edward-coke-11376_coke_reason-is-the-life-of-the-law-1519090_1519090.png" --- # Reason is the life of the law. ![“Reason is the life of the law.” quote by Edward Coke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e8/edward-coke-11376_coke_reason-is-the-life-of-the-law-1519090_1519090.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e8/edward-coke-11376_coke_reason-is-the-life-of-the-law-1519090_1519090.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e8/edward-coke-11376_coke_reason-is-the-life-of-the-law-1519090_1519090.png) > “Reason is the life of the law.” [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. Law depends on reason to ensure fairness and consistency. **In simple terms:** Reason guides law. Key Takeaway Apply logical analysis to legal issues. Themes justice reason law Mood analytical serious Type philosophical legal When to use this quote - courtroom - legislation - policy drafting - academic study Key Concepts legal philosophy rationalism Questions to Reflect On - How does reason shape justice? - When should emotion influence law? A Different Perspective Overreliance on reason may ignore moral nuance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Coke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coke/) [Common law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/common-law/) [In-laws](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/in-laws/) [Intelligence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intelligence/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Laws](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laws/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-law-455126/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Reason Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason-life/) ## Related quotes > [I believe that he who has less in life should have more in law.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramon-magsaysay/i-believe-that-he-who-has-less-in-life-should-have-more-in-law/) [Ramon Magsaysay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramon-magsaysay/) > [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/) > [Society today is no longer in revolt against particular laws which it finds alien, unjust, and imposed, but against law as such, against the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-joshua-heschel/society-today-is-no-longer-in-revolt-against-particular-laws-which-it/) [Abraham Joshua Heschel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-joshua-heschel/) > [Law grows, and though the principles of law remain unchanged, yet (and it is one of the advantages of the common law) their application…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/law-grows-and-though-the-principles-of-law-remain-unchanged-yet-and/) [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) > [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 Common Law of England has been laboriously built about a mythical figure-the figure of 'The Reasonable Man'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-p-herbert/the-common-law-of-england-has-been-laboriously-built-about-a-mythical/) [A. P. Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-p-herbert/) > [Certainty is the mother of repose, and therefore the common law aims at certainty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-yorke-1st-earl-of-hardwicke/certainty-is-the-mother-of-repose-and-therefore-the-common-law-aims/) [Philip Yorke, 1st Earl of Hardwicke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-yorke-1st-earl-of-hardwicke/) > [There is no jewel in the world comparable to learning; no learning so excellent both for Prince and subject, as knowledge of laws; and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-coke/there-is-no-jewel-in-the-world-comparable-to-learning-no-learning-so/) [Edward Coke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-coke/) > [Common law is common right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-coke/common-law-is-common-right/) [Edward Coke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-coke/) > [I'm pro-life. The law protects women's right to chose, and I think there's a competing right, which is the rights of the unborn. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeb-bush/i-m-pro-life-the-law-protects-women-s-right-to-chose-and-i-think/) [Jeb Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeb-bush/) > [The life of the law has not been logic; it has been experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/the-life-of-the-law-has-not-been-logic-it-has-been-experience/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/) > [The law of life is the law of belief.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-murphy/the-law-of-life-is-the-law-of-belief/) [Joseph Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-murphy/) > [In civilized life, law floats in a sea of ethics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-warren/in-civilized-life-law-floats-in-a-sea-of-ethics/) [Earl Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-warren/) > [“No, it could not be. Fairytales do not come to life; that is their first law.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-t-mayes/no-it-could-not-be-fairytales-do-not-come-to-life-that-is-their-first/) [P.T. Mayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-t-mayes/) > [If that is the law of life we must work it out in daily exisitance. Wherever there are wars, wherever we are confronted with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/if-that-is-the-law-of-life-we-must-work-it-out-in-daily-exisitance/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) ## 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 Coke quotes > [I hate things that are diluted- -I mean, you don't mix Jack Daniels with Coke. That's a sin!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/motley-crue/i-hate-things-that-are-diluted-i-mean-you-don-t-mix-jack-daniels-with/) [Motley Crue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/motley-crue/) > [It ended suddenly for Brenda, more slowly for me. My runs began getting shorter and less pleasurable. I'd feel bad after only one day,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/it-ended-suddenly-for-brenda-more-slowly-for-me-my-runs-began-getting/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [“The number of individuals who know how to make a can of Coke is zero. The number of individual nations that could produce a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-number-of-individuals-who-know-how-to-make-a-can-of-coke-is-zero/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I just put myself in a hotel and was smoking coke for a while. Then I met up with the wrong people. I ended…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-wallice/i-just-put-myself-in-a-hotel-and-was-smoking-coke-for-a-while-then-i/) [Marc Wallice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-wallice/) > [Everybody likes to drink a Coke once in a while; it's when we run out of everything else to drink and we're only left…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lexi-alexander/everybody-likes-to-drink-a-coke-once-in-a-while-it-s-when-we-run-out/) [Lexi Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lexi-alexander/) > [Everyone knows I drink a lot of Diet Coke, so...I drink chocolate milk after races as my recovery drink, and you won't ever find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-armstrong/everyone-knows-i-drink-a-lot-of-diet-coke-so-i-drink-chocolate-milk/) [Kristin Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-armstrong/) > [Man! I'll suck dick for coke! By suck dick, I mean I'll do whatever it takes, and by coke, I mean cash cause I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katt-williams/man-i-ll-suck-dick-for-coke-by-suck-dick-i-mean-i-ll-do-whatever-it/) [Katt Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katt-williams/) > [The waiter brought fresh-baked bread and cheese, a bottle of sparkling water for Annabeth, and a Coke with ice for me (because I’m a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/the-waiter-brought-fresh-baked-bread-and-cheese-a-bottle-of-sparkling/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [“That was the first time I did coke. My body, it was electric. For the first time in my life I felt as if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-alire-s-enz/that-was-the-first-time-i-did-coke-my-body-it-was-electric-for-the/) [Benjamin Alire Sáenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-alire-s-enz/) > [“First comes Coke, then asphalt, then power lines, then maybe education, justice, and human rights.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-gettleman/first-comes-coke-then-asphalt-then-power-lines-then-maybe-education/) [Jeffrey Gettleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-gettleman/) > [I don't even drink Coke. It tastes like robot sweat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-rees/i-don-t-even-drink-coke-it-tastes-like-robot-sweat/) [David Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-rees/) > [You can't snort a line of coke off a womans ass and not wonder about her hopes and dreams, it's not gentlemanly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hank-moody/you-can-t-snort-a-line-of-coke-off-a-womans-ass-and-not-wonder-about/) [Hank Moody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hank-moody/) > [Passion is something you really don't miss, after it has cooled. It is like looking at an empty bottle on the side of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-bragg/passion-is-something-you-really-don-t-miss-after-it-has-cooled-it-is/) [Rick Bragg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-bragg/) > [As Trotsky didn't exactly say, you may not be interested in electronic snoops, but snoops are interested in you, whether or not you keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barton-gellman/as-trotsky-didn-t-exactly-say-you-may-not-be-interested-in-electronic/) [Barton Gellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barton-gellman/) > [There really isn't anything more refreshing then iced Coke out of the old-school glass bottles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-zupan/there-really-isn-t-anything-more-refreshing-then-iced-coke-out-of-the/) [Mark Zupan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-zupan/) [Browse all 338 Coke quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coke/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Reason is the life of the law.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Edward Coke" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-coke/reason-is-the-life-of-the-law/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Coke" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-coke/reason-is-the-life-of-the-law/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e8/edward-coke-11376_coke_reason-is-the-life-of-the-law-1519090_1519090.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e8/edward-coke-11376_coke_reason-is-the-life-of-the-law-1519090_1519090.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e8/edward-coke-11376_coke_reason-is-the-life-of-the-law-1519090_1519090.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Reason is the life of the law.” — 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": "Reason is the life of the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-coke/reason-is-the-life-of-the-law/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-coke/reason-is-the-life-of-the-law/#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 } } ] } ```