---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Hollow then produced Kobel’s tax returns…"
description: "\"“Hollow then produced Kobel’s tax returns for the past three years. When Ringling objected, Hollow said to Judge Rollins, “Your Honor, a man who files ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c1/jeffery-deaver-2663_three-years_hollow-then-produced-kobel-s-tax-returns_1983812.jpg"
---

#  Hollow then produced Kobel’s tax returns for the past…

![“Hollow then produced Kobel’s tax returns for the past three years. When Ringling objected, Hollow said to Judge Rollins, “Your Honor, a man who files a tax return is of sound mind.” “That’s debatable,” said the ultraconservative judge, drawing laughter from the courtroom.” quote by Jeffery Deaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c1/jeffery-deaver-2663_three-years_hollow-then-produced-kobel-s-tax-returns_1983812.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c1/jeffery-deaver-2663_three-years_hollow-then-produced-kobel-s-tax-returns_1983812.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c1/jeffery-deaver-2663_three-years_hollow-then-produced-kobel-s-tax-returns_1983812.jpg)

> ““Hollow then produced Kobel’s tax returns for the past three years. When Ringling objected, Hollow said to Judge Rollins, “Your Honor, a man who files a tax return is of sound mind.” “That’s debatable,” said the ultraconservative judge, drawing laughter from the courtroom.””

[Jeffery Deaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffery-deaver/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

A judge dismisses a defendant’s sanity based on tax filing, highlighting how legal reasoning can be absurdly simplistic.

**In simple terms:** Legal logic can be overly simplistic and humorous.

Key Takeaway

Question assumptions in legal arguments.

Themes

law justice absurdity

Mood

critical ironic

Type

fiction legal thriller

When to use this quote

- courtroom
- tax law
- defense strategy
- media coverage

Key Concepts

legal reasoning judicial bias procedural fairness

Questions to Reflect On

- What other evidence should be considered?
- How does humor affect courtroom seriousness?

A Different Perspective

Reliance on a single criterion may ignore broader mental health evidence.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Constitution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constitution/) [Hollow Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hollow-said-1408066/) [Judge Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judge-rollins-3402855/) [Ringling Objected](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ringling-objected-3402853/) [Said Judge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said-judge-740917/) [Three years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/three-years/) [Ultraconservative Judge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ultraconservative-judge-3402854/)

## Related quotes

> [“I could see her biting the inside of her cheek hollow while she said that last bit. It was easier to ache than grieve.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-larnerd/i-could-see-her-biting-the-inside-of-her-cheek-hollow-while-she-said/)

[Frank Larnerd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-larnerd/)

> [“The judge watched him. He began to point out various men in the room and to ask if these men were here for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cormac-mccarthy/the-judge-watched-him-he-began-to-point-out-various-men-in-the-room/)

[Cormac McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cormac-mccarthy/)

> [“As one judge said to another judge: be just. And if you can’t be just, be arbitrary”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-s-burroughs/as-one-judge-said-to-another-judge-be-just-and-if-you-can-t-be-just/)

[William S. Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-s-burroughs/)

> [The hour of noon has passed,' said Judge Fang. 'Let us go and get some Kentucky Fried Chicken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/the-hour-of-noon-has-passed-said-judge-fang-let-us-go-and-get-some/)

[Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/)

> [“The arc of circling bodies is determined by the length of their tether, said the judge. Moons,coins,men.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cormac-mccarthy/the-arc-of-circling-bodies-is-determined-by-the-length-of-their/)

[Cormac McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cormac-mccarthy/)

> [I said all along, you judge your quarterback in his third year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-shanahan/i-said-all-along-you-judge-your-quarterback-in-his-third-year/)

[Mike Shanahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-shanahan/)

> [“Judge Jesus I said, “You can’t judge me. Only Jesus can!” He said, “Well I can ’cause I’m a judge and ’cause you just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bo-burnham/judge-jesus-i-said-you-can-t-judge-me-only-jesus-can-he-said-well-i/)

[Bo Burnham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bo-burnham/)

> [“Books lie, he said. God dont lie. No, said the judge. He does not. And these are his words. He held up a chunk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cormac-mccarthy/books-lie-he-said-god-dont-lie-no-said-the-judge-he-does-not-and-2/)

[Cormac McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cormac-mccarthy/)

> [Books lie, he said. God dont lie. No, said the judge. He does not. And these are his words. He held up a chunk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cormac-mccarthy/books-lie-he-said-god-dont-lie-no-said-the-judge-he-does-not-and/)

[Cormac McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cormac-mccarthy/)

> [“A few would quote him scripture to confound his ordering up of eons out of the ancient chaos and other apostate supposings. The judge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cormac-mccarthy/a-few-would-quote-him-scripture-to-confound-his-ordering-up-of-eons/)

[Cormac McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cormac-mccarthy/)

> [“When I said I would be the judge of your worth, I did not mean that I owned your life, Rowan Jun." --Garyn Kei”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamara-henson/when-i-said-i-would-be-the-judge-of-your-worth-i-did-not-mean-that-i/)

[Tamara Henson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamara-henson/)

> [“If he hesitate to open his heart, it is said, 'Is it because he (the judge) doeth the wrong that no entreaties are made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ptahhotep/if-he-hesitate-to-open-his-heart-it-is-said-is-it-because-he-the/)

[Ptahhotep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ptahhotep/)

> [Ball-tampering. There, I've said it. Things that shouldn't be said: the judge in the Saddam trial appears to be wearing comedy specs and moustache.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-mair/ball-tampering-there-i-ve-said-it-things-that-shouldn-t-be-said-the/)

[Eddie Mair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-mair/)

> [“That’s so, said the judge. They do not have to have a reason. But order is not set aside because of their indifference.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cormac-mccarthy/that-s-so-said-the-judge-they-do-not-have-to-have-a-reason-but-order/)

[Cormac McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cormac-mccarthy/)

> [“And the answer, said the judge. If God meant to interfere in the degeneracy of mankind would he not have done so by now?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cormac-mccarthy/and-the-answer-said-the-judge-if-god-meant-to-interfere-in-the/)

[Cormac McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cormac-mccarthy/)

## More by Jeffery Deaver

> [Trying to write books with a subject matter or in a genre or style you're not familiar with is the best way to find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffery-deaver/trying-to-write-books-with-a-subject-matter-or-in-a-genre-or-style/)

[Jeffery Deaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffery-deaver/)

> [“I realized finally what the problem was,” I told Maree. “It wasn’t him. It was my wife. She was treating him like a normal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffery-deaver/i-realized-finally-what-the-problem-was-i-told-maree-it-wasn-t-him-it/)

[Jeffery Deaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffery-deaver/)

> [“But then someday the truth would come out. It always did. Repress what you will, someday the truth comes out.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffery-deaver/but-then-someday-the-truth-would-come-out-it-always-did-repress-what/)

[Jeffery Deaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffery-deaver/)

> [“Stanton clawed his way to the bedside table and managed to grab his knife. He jabbed it into Rhyme. Once, twice. But the only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffery-deaver/stanton-clawed-his-way-to-the-bedside-table-and-managed-to-grab-his/)

[Jeffery Deaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffery-deaver/)

> [Hardcover books are fairly expensive these days and to read one requires a significant commitment of time in our busy society. So I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffery-deaver/hardcover-books-are-fairly-expensive-these-days-and-to-read-one/)

[Jeffery Deaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffery-deaver/)

> [“You’re sure it was Loving?” “Yes. That’s exactly the kind of strategy he’d choose. There’s no doubt it was him.” I was aware of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffery-deaver/you-re-sure-it-was-loving-yes-that-s-exactly-the-kind-of-strategy-he/)

[Jeffery Deaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffery-deaver/)

> [“Maree opened her eyes wide. “Wait, wait . . . I know you.” She regarded me with a frown. I must have blinked in surprise. Had we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffery-deaver/maree-opened-her-eyes-wide-wait-wait-i-know-you-she-regarded-me-with/)

[Jeffery Deaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffery-deaver/)

> [The best way to learn about writing is to study the work of other writers you admire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffery-deaver/the-best-way-to-learn-about-writing-is-to-study-the-work-of-other/)

[Jeffery Deaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffery-deaver/)

> [“eager’ and ‘anxious’ aren’t the same, or how ‘disinterested’ doesn’t mean ‘uninterested.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffery-deaver/eager-and-anxious-aren-t-the-same-or-how-disinterested-doesn-t-mean/)

[Jeffery Deaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffery-deaver/)

> [The recent fascination, I think, reflects the shift in approach by law enforcement officials to embrace technology as wholeheartedly as the rest of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffery-deaver/the-recent-fascination-i-think-reflects-the-shift-in-approach-by-law/)

[Jeffery Deaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffery-deaver/)

> [“DuBois’s observations were back. She’d largely recovered from the Graham ignominy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffery-deaver/dubois-s-observations-were-back-she-d-largely-recovered-from-the/)

[Jeffery Deaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffery-deaver/)

> [“Maree may have noted that I said “wife” and not “ex,” which imparted some information to her. She was smarter than the package suggested.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffery-deaver/maree-may-have-noted-that-i-said-wife-and-not-ex-which-imparted-some/)

[Jeffery Deaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffery-deaver/)

> [“You see tumbleweeds? You see cowpokes? Indians? This isn’t the streets of Laredo.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffery-deaver/you-see-tumbleweeds-you-see-cowpokes-indians-this-isn-t-the-streets/)

[Jeffery Deaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffery-deaver/)

> [“The young woman shrugged, walked to her computer, picked it up. She flopped down on the couch and scanned through it. This was something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffery-deaver/the-young-woman-shrugged-walked-to-her-computer-picked-it-up-she/)

[Jeffery Deaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffery-deaver/)

> [“As a matter of fact, yeah, they were foolproof. The problem is that you don't have to protect yourself against fools. You have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffery-deaver/as-a-matter-of-fact-yeah-they-were-foolproof-the-problem-is-that-you/)

[Jeffery Deaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffery-deaver/)

[Explore all 154 Jeffery Deaver quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffery-deaver/)

## 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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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": "“Hollow then produced Kobel’s tax returns for the past three years. When Ringling objected, Hollow said to Judge Rollins, “Your Honor, a man who files a tax return is of sound mind.” “That’s debatable,” said the ultraconservative judge, drawing laughter from the courtroom.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Jeffery Deaver"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffery-deaver/hollow-then-produced-kobel-s-tax-returns-for-the-past-three-years/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Constitution"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffery-deaver/hollow-then-produced-kobel-s-tax-returns-for-the-past-three-years/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c1/jeffery-deaver-2663_three-years_hollow-then-produced-kobel-s-tax-returns_1983812.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c1/jeffery-deaver-2663_three-years_hollow-then-produced-kobel-s-tax-returns_1983812.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c1/jeffery-deaver-2663_three-years_hollow-then-produced-kobel-s-tax-returns_1983812.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Hollow then produced Kobel’s tax returns for the past three years. When Ringling objected, Hollow said to…” — Jeffery Deaver",
                "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": "Jeffery Deaver",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffery-deaver/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“Hollow then produced Kobel’s tax returns...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffery-deaver/hollow-then-produced-kobel-s-tax-returns-for-the-past-three-years/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffery-deaver/hollow-then-produced-kobel-s-tax-returns-for-the-past-three-years/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
