--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Trial by jury is a wise distribution of…" description: "\"Trial by jury is a wise distribution of power which exceeds all other modes of trial.\" — Edward Coke" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6dc/edward-coke-11376_constitution_trial-by-jury-is-a-wise-distribution-of_2765519.png" --- # Trial by jury is a wise distribution of power which… ![“Trial by jury is a wise distribution of power which exceeds all other modes of trial.” quote by Edward Coke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6dc/edward-coke-11376_constitution_trial-by-jury-is-a-wise-distribution-of_2765519.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6dc/edward-coke-11376_constitution_trial-by-jury-is-a-wise-distribution-of_2765519.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6dc/edward-coke-11376_constitution_trial-by-jury-is-a-wise-distribution-of_2765519.png) > “Trial by jury is a wise distribution of power which exceeds all other modes of trial.” [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. A jury distributes power more wisely than other trial methods. **In simple terms:** Juries balance power effectively. Key Takeaway Trust collective judgment. Themes law justice power distribution trial methods Mood formal institutional Type legal educational When to use this quote - courtroom - public policy - civil rights - criminal justice Key Concepts democracy legal theory Questions to Reflect On - How can we ensure jury impartiality? - What alternatives improve fairness? A Different Perspective Juries can be swayed by bias. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Constitution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constitution/) [Distribution of power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/distribution-of-power/) [Trial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trial/) [Trial by jury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trial-by-jury/) [Trials](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trials/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) [Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wise/) ## Related quotes > [Loyalty is that for the lack of which your gang will shoot you without benefit of trial by jury.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-frost/loyalty-is-that-for-the-lack-of-which-your-gang-will-shoot-you/) [Robert Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-frost/) > [Trial by jury is the palladium of our liberties. I do not know what a palladium is, but I am sure it is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/trial-by-jury-is-the-palladium-of-our-liberties-i-do-not-know-what-a/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [Trial by jury must and shall be preserved! Amidst the throng of crude sacrilegisms ... that assail us nowadays in the legal sanctuary, none…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-henry-wigmore/trial-by-jury-must-and-shall-be-preserved-amidst-the-throng-of-crude/) [John Henry Wigmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-henry-wigmore/) > [Trial by jury must be preserved. It is the best system ever invented for a free people in the world's history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-henry-wigmore/trial-by-jury-must-be-preserved-it-is-the-best-system-ever-invented/) [John Henry Wigmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-henry-wigmore/) > [The trial by jury is a trial by 'the country,' in contradistinction to a trial by the government. The jurors are drawn by lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lysander-spooner/the-trial-by-jury-is-a-trial-by-the-country-in-contradistinction-to-a/) [Lysander Spooner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lysander-spooner/) > [We are not living up to Thomas Jefferson's idea of what a trial by jury means.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenne-headly/we-are-not-living-up-to-thomas-jefferson-s-idea-of-what-a-trial-by/) [Glenne Headly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenne-headly/) > [In suits at common law, trial by jury in civil cases is as essential to secure the liberty of the people as any one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/in-suits-at-common-law-trial-by-jury-in-civil-cases-is-as-essential/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [Trial by jury is part of the bright constellation which leads to peace, liberty and safety.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/trial-by-jury-is-part-of-the-bright-constellation-which-leads-to/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Trial by jury is part of that bright constellation which has gone before us and guided our steps through an age of revolution and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/trial-by-jury-is-part-of-that-bright-constellation-which-has-gone/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [The wisdom of our ages and the blood of our heroes has been devoted to the attainment of trial by jury. It should be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-wisdom-of-our-ages-and-the-blood-of-our-heroes-has-been-devoted/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [The humorist who invented trial by jury played a colossal practical joke upon the world, but since we have the system we ought to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/the-humorist-who-invented-trial-by-jury-played-a-colossal-practical/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [ Trial by jury is a privilege of the highest and most beneficial nature \[and\] our most important guardian both of public and private liberty.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-blackstone/trial-by-jury-is-a-privilege-of-the-highest-and-most-beneficial/) [William Blackstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-blackstone/) > [ \[T\]o preserve the republican form and principles of our Constitution and cleave to the salutary distribution of powers which that \[the Constitution\] has established… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/t-o-preserve-the-republican-form-and-principles-of-our-constitution/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Historically the great movements for human liberation have always been movements to change institutions and not to preserve them intact. It follows from what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/historically-the-great-movements-for-human-liberation-have-always/) [John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/) > [If I were doing the Security Council today, I'd have one permanent member, the United States, because that's the real reflection of the distribution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bolton/if-i-were-doing-the-security-council-today-i-d-have-one-permanent/) [John Bolton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bolton/) ## 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 Constitution quotes > [ Next came the Patent laws. These began in England in 1624; and, in this country, with the adoption of our constitution. Before then \[these?\],… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/next-came-the-patent-laws-these-began-in-england-in-1624-and-in-this/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/) [Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/) > [In this choice of inheritance we have given to our frame of polity the image of a relation in blood; binding up the constitution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/in-this-choice-of-inheritance-we-have-given-to-our-frame-of-polity/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [As for doing good; that is one of the professions which is full. Moreover I have tried it fairly and, strange as it may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/as-for-doing-good-that-is-one-of-the-professions-which-is-full/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [While not widely reported, our victories in Iraq are plentiful. National elections, a democratic parliament and the drafting of a constitution are just some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-gillmor/while-not-widely-reported-our-victories-in-iraq-are-plentiful/) [Paul Gillmor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-gillmor/) > [In a recent decision of the Supreme Court, not made, however, by the full court, and concurred in by only four justices, it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bates-clark/in-a-recent-decision-of-the-supreme-court-not-made-however-by-the/) [John Bates Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bates-clark/) > [The judiciary must not take on the coloration of whatever may be popular at the moment. We are guardian of rights, and we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-bird/the-judiciary-must-not-take-on-the-coloration-of-whatever-may-be/) [Rose Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-bird/) > [There is not a revolution that succe Women are suffering because they are being excluded. The high military council excluded women from the committee…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nawal-el-saadawi/there-is-not-a-revolution-that-succe-women-are-suffering-because-they/) [Nawal El Saadawi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nawal-el-saadawi/) > [Free government is founded in jealousy, and not in confidence; it is jealousy, and not confidence, which prescribes limited constitutions, to bind down those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/free-government-is-founded-in-jealousy-and-not-in-confidence-it-is/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [The American Constitution declares 'All men are born equal.' The British Socialist Party add: 'All men must be kept equal'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/the-american-constitution-declares-all-men-are-born-equal-the-british/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [“The Court has a special responsibility to ensure that the Constitution works in practice. While education, including the transmission of our civic values from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-breyer/the-court-has-a-special-responsibility-to-ensure-that-the/) [Stephen Breyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-breyer/) > [The Constitution is very clear on the - on the declaration of war or reacting to international crimes - crimes against nations. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-pitts/the-constitution-is-very-clear-on-the-on-the-declaration-of-war-or/) Joe Pitts > [Nothing from man's hands, nor law, nor constitution, can be final. Truth alone is final.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-sumner/nothing-from-man-s-hands-nor-law-nor-constitution-can-be-final-truth/) [Charles Sumner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-sumner/) > [“I am apprehensive, Sir, that in the warmth of my feelings, I may have uttered expressions, which were too vehement. If such has been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/i-am-apprehensive-sir-that-in-the-warmth-of-my-feelings-i-may-have/) [Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/) > [Conservative political opinion in America cleaves to the tradition of the judge as passive interpreter, believing that his absolute loyalty to authoritative law is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/learned-hand/conservative-political-opinion-in-america-cleaves-to-the-tradition-of/) [Learned Hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/learned-hand/) [Browse all 4,507 Constitution quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constitution/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Trial by jury is a wise distribution of power which exceeds all other modes of trial.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Edward Coke" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-coke/trial-by-jury-is-a-wise-distribution-of-power-which-exceeds-all-other/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Constitution" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-coke/trial-by-jury-is-a-wise-distribution-of-power-which-exceeds-all-other/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6dc/edward-coke-11376_constitution_trial-by-jury-is-a-wise-distribution-of_2765519.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6dc/edward-coke-11376_constitution_trial-by-jury-is-a-wise-distribution-of_2765519.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6dc/edward-coke-11376_constitution_trial-by-jury-is-a-wise-distribution-of_2765519.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Trial by jury is a wise distribution of power which exceeds all other modes of trial.” — 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": "Trial by jury is a wise...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-coke/trial-by-jury-is-a-wise-distribution-of-power-which-exceeds-all-other/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-coke/trial-by-jury-is-a-wise-distribution-of-power-which-exceeds-all-other/#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 } } ] } ```