Beautiful Quote by Fred Rodell
“Exceptions to the traditions of dumpy dignity and fake learnedness in law review writing are as rare as they are beautiful. Once in a while a Thomas Reed Powell gets away with an imaginary judicial opinion that gives a real twist to the lion's tail. Once in a while a Thurman Arnold forgets his footnotes as though to say that if people do not believe or understand him that is their worry and not his. But even such mild breaches of etiquette as these are tolerated gingerly and seldom, and are likely to be looked at a little askance by the writers' more pious brethren.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: "The Law Review and the Tradition of Formality", 1935
The author critiques rigid academic conventions, celebrating occasional creative breaches that inject life into legal writing.
In simple terms: Breaking rules can revitalize stale scholarship.
Key Takeaway
Embrace occasional boldness in scholarly work.
Themes
tradition
creativity
scholarship
Mood
critical
wry
Type
academic
satirical
When to use this quote
- law school essays
- journal article drafts
- conference presentations
Key Concepts
legal theory
academic freedom
irony
Questions to Reflect On
- When is it appropriate to bend academic norms?
- What risks accompany creative rebellion?
A Different Perspective
Too much deviation can undermine credibility.
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