--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Every lawyer of experience comes to know…" description: "\"Every lawyer of experience comes to know (more or less unconsciously) that in the great majority of cases, the precedents are none too good as bases of..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/612/jerome-frank-37624_bases_every-lawyer-of-experience-comes-to-know_586749.jpg" --- # Every lawyer of experience comes to know (more or less… ![“Every lawyer of experience comes to know (more or less unconsciously) that in the great majority of cases, the precedents are none too good as bases of prediction. Somehow or other, there are plenty of precedents to go around.” quote by Jerome Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/612/jerome-frank-37624_bases_every-lawyer-of-experience-comes-to-know_586749.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/612/jerome-frank-37624_bases_every-lawyer-of-experience-comes-to-know_586749.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/612/jerome-frank-37624_bases_every-lawyer-of-experience-comes-to-know_586749.jpg) > “Every lawyer of experience comes to know (more or less unconsciously) that in the great majority of cases, the precedents are none too good as bases of prediction. Somehow or other, there are plenty of precedents to go around.” [Jerome Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-frank/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Experienced lawyers recognize that legal precedents are often unreliable predictors, yet they are abundant and still used for guidance. **In simple terms:** Precedents are plentiful but imperfect guides for cases. Key Takeaway Use precedents wisely, aware of limits. Themes law prediction uncertainty experience Mood analytical critical Type legal practical When to use this quote - courtroom strategy - policy drafting - academic study Key Concepts legal theory decision making Questions to Reflect On - How do you assess precedent strength? - When should you deviate from precedent? A Different Perspective Overreliance on weak precedents can lead to poor outcomes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Constitution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constitution/) [Lawyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lawyer/) [Precedent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/precedent/) [Predictions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/predictions/) ## Related quotes > [It is found by experience that admirable laws and right precedents among the good have their origin in the misdeeds of others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tacitus/it-is-found-by-experience-that-admirable-laws-and-right-precedents/) [Tacitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tacitus/) > [When I went to law school, which after all was back in the dark ages, we never looked beyond our borders for precedents. As…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-day-o-connor/when-i-went-to-law-school-which-after-all-was-back-in-the-dark-ages/) [Sandra Day O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-day-o-connor/) > [The error of those who reason by precedents drawn from antiquity, respecting the rights of man, is that they do not go far enough…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/the-error-of-those-who-reason-by-precedents-drawn-from-antiquity-2/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [Precedents are the disgrace of legislation. They are not wanted to justify right measures, are absolutely insufficient to excuse wrong ones. They can only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-sterne/precedents-are-the-disgrace-of-legislation-they-are-not-wanted-to/) [Laurence Sterne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-sterne/) > [The glory of each generation is to make its own precedents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-glory-of-each-generation-is-to-make-its-own-precedents/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Precedents are treated by powerful minds as fetters with which to bind down the weak, as reasons with which to mistify the moderately informed,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-babbage/precedents-are-treated-by-powerful-minds-as-fetters-with-which-to/) [Charles Babbage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-babbage/) > [I would rather be accused of breaking precedents than breaking promises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/i-would-rather-be-accused-of-breaking-precedents-than-breaking/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [If you are strong enough, there are no precedents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/if-you-are-strong-enough-there-are-no-precedents/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [Stability means respecting precedents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlen-specter/stability-means-respecting-precedents/) [Arlen Specter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arlen-specter/) > [Precedents once established are so much positive power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/precedents-once-established-are-so-much-positive-power/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [Precedents deliberately established by wise men are entitled to great weight. They are evidence of truth, but only evidence...But a solitary precedent...which has never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-clay/precedents-deliberately-established-by-wise-men-are-entitled-to-great/) [Henry Clay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-clay/) > [As to precedents, to be sure they will increase in course of time; but the more precedents there are, the less occasion is there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/as-to-precedents-to-be-sure-they-will-increase-in-course-of-time-but/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Precedents are dangerous things; let the rein of government then be braced and held with a steady hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/precedents-are-dangerous-things-let-the-rein-of-government-then-be/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [What is today supported by precedents will hereafter become a precedent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tacitus/what-is-today-supported-by-precedents-will-hereafter-become-a/) [Tacitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tacitus/) > [We must follow the old authorities and precedents in criminal matters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/we-must-follow-the-old-authorities-and-precedents-in-criminal-matters/) [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) ## More by Jerome Frank > [Increasingly constructive doubt is the sign of advancing civilization. We must put question marks along many of our inherited legal dogmas, since they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-frank/increasingly-constructive-doubt-is-the-sign-of-advancing-civilization/) [Jerome Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-frank/) > [We want no dictatorship of physicists, as physicists. If our democracy is to realize its full promise, we want no dictatorship at all -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-frank/we-want-no-dictatorship-of-physicists-as-physicists-if-our-democracy/) [Jerome Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-frank/) > [To vest a few fallible men — prosecutors, judges, jurors — with vast powers of literary or artistic censorship, to convert them into what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-frank/to-vest-a-few-fallible-men-prosecutors-judges-jurors-with-vast-powers/) [Jerome Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-frank/) > [The test of the moral quality of a civilization is its treatment of the weak and powerless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-frank/the-test-of-the-moral-quality-of-a-civilization-is-its-treatment-of/) [Jerome Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-frank/) > [Any treatment of an illness that does not also minister to the human spirit is grossly deficient.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-frank/any-treatment-of-an-illness-that-does-not-also-minister-to-the-human/) [Jerome Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-frank/) > [The inexpressible is the only thing that is worthwhile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-frank/the-inexpressible-is-the-only-thing-that-is-worthwhile/) [Jerome Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-frank/) > [Increasingly constructive doubt is the sign of advancing civilization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-frank/increasingly-constructive-doubt-is-the-sign-of-advancing-civilization-2/) [Jerome Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-frank/) > [To the somnambulist, sleep-walking may seem more pleasant and less hazardous than wakeful walking, but the latter is the wiser mode of locomotion in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-frank/to-the-somnambulist-sleep-walking-may-seem-more-pleasant-and-less/) [Jerome Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-frank/) > [Only a very foolish lawyer will dare guess the outcome of a jury trial.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-frank/only-a-very-foolish-lawyer-will-dare-guess-the-outcome-of-a-jury-trial/) [Jerome Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-frank/) > [To say I removes a false impression of a Jovian aloofness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-frank/to-say-i-removes-a-false-impression-of-a-jovian-aloofness/) [Jerome Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-frank/) > [Justice is what the judge ate for breakfast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-frank/justice-is-what-the-judge-ate-for-breakfast/) [Jerome Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-frank/) [Explore all 12 Jerome Frank quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-frank/) ## More Bases quotes > [Self-respect and a clear conscience are powerful components of integrity and are the basis for enriching your relationships with others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/self-respect-and-a-clear-conscience-are-powerful-components-of/) [Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/) > [If my campaign is not in the debate, we will not be talking about how we really fix this problem of endless and expanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/if-my-campaign-is-not-in-the-debate-we-will-not-be-talking-about-how/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [I don't want to go into space because of war. 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