--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Knowing the law is not much help for an…" description: "\"Knowing the law is not much help for an advocate. In fact, it's a bit of a disadvantage, cramps your style.\" — John Mortimer" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/523/john-mortimer-7362_help_knowing-the-law-is-not-much-help-for-an_2175611.jpg" --- # Knowing the law is not much help for an advocate. In fact… ![“Knowing the law is not much help for an advocate. In fact, it's a bit of a disadvantage, cramps your style.” quote by John Mortimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/523/john-mortimer-7362_help_knowing-the-law-is-not-much-help-for-an_2175611.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/523/john-mortimer-7362_help_knowing-the-law-is-not-much-help-for-an_2175611.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/523/john-mortimer-7362_help_knowing-the-law-is-not-much-help-for-an_2175611.jpg) > “Knowing the law is not much help for an advocate. In fact, it's a bit of a disadvantage, cramps your style.” [John Mortimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mortimer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Legal knowledge can hinder advocacy by making lawyers overly cautious and constrained. **In simple terms:** Knowing law can limit persuasive style. Key Takeaway Balance knowledge with flexibility. Themes law advocacy communication Mood reflective critical Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - courtroom defense - policy drafting - client counseling Key Concepts strategic thinking ethical limits Questions to Reflect On - How can you use law as a tool, not a cage? - When should you bend the rules? A Different Perspective Overreliance on rules may stifle creativity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Advocate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advocate/) [Advocate Fact](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advocate-fact-1733878/) [Help](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/help/) [Help Advocate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/help-advocate-4676595/) [Knowing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowing/) [Knowing Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowing-law-2572937/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Law Help](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law-help-4676596/) [Style](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/style/) [Your](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/your/) ## Related quotes > [I'm a huge advocate for the fact that there's no one way to be Latina.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-zegler/i-m-a-huge-advocate-for-the-fact-that-there-s-no-one-way-to-be-latina/) [Rachel Zegler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-zegler/) > [Knowing medicine is not enough to be a great doctor. knowing language is not enough to be a great translator. knowing the law is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-bassam/knowing-medicine-is-not-enough-to-be-a-great-doctor-knowing-language/) [Ali Bassam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-bassam/) > [I'm not a banner, I am an encourager and a persuader and an advocate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-howard/i-m-not-a-banner-i-am-an-encourager-and-a-persuader-and-an-advocate/) [John Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-howard/) > [I believe it is my responsibility to be the staunchest advocate for people out there that also have pre-existing conditions, and I will be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-mast/i-believe-it-is-my-responsibility-to-be-the-staunchest-advocate-for/) [Brian Mast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-mast/) > [I am a big advocate of the role of the bookstore in the community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graeme-simsion/i-am-a-big-advocate-of-the-role-of-the-bookstore-in-the-community/) [Graeme Simsion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graeme-simsion/) > [I'm such an advocate for animal rights and environmental rights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beau-garrett/i-m-such-an-advocate-for-animal-rights-and-environmental-rights/) [Beau Garrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beau-garrett/) > [If I'm an advocate for anything, it's to move. As far as you can, as much as you can. Across the ocean, or simply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-bourdain/if-i-m-an-advocate-for-anything-it-s-to-move-as-far-as-you-can-as/) [Anthony Bourdain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-bourdain/) > [“The judicial wheel is rounded with equality, oiled with honour and functions smoothly with honesty – principally when both members of the Bench and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/munindra-misra/the-judicial-wheel-is-rounded-with-equality-oiled-with-honour-and/) [Munindra Misra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/munindra-misra/) > [I'm, in general, an advocate of moderate ticket prices.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jupp-heynckes/i-m-in-general-an-advocate-of-moderate-ticket-prices/) [Jupp Heynckes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jupp-heynckes/) > [It's very difficult to advocate for yourself while you're in excruciating pain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chandra-wilson/it-s-very-difficult-to-advocate-for-yourself-while-you-re-in/) [Chandra Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chandra-wilson/) > [I'm a big advocate of a work-for-pay setup rather than an allowance that isn't attached to chores - it's a great way to impart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suze-orman/i-m-a-big-advocate-of-a-work-for-pay-setup-rather-than-an-allowance/) [Suze Orman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suze-orman/) > [I'm an advocate of 'it's not what you are, it's who you are.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sia-furler/i-m-an-advocate-of-it-s-not-what-you-are-it-s-who-you-are/) [Sia Furler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sia-furler/) > [Throughout my career I have been an advocate for women, in all aspects of their lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/throughout-my-career-i-have-been-an-advocate-for-women-in-all-aspects/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [I stayed in the astronaut program until 1993. People ask me why I left. I thought I had a lot of things to contribute…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-jemison/i-stayed-in-the-astronaut-program-until-1993-people-ask-me-why-i-left/) [Mae Jemison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-jemison/) > [“Why do we apologize for advocating for ourselves? Why do we apologize for taking up space that we are entitled to? Why do we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-tambascio/why-do-we-apologize-for-advocating-for-ourselves-why-do-we-apologize/) [Elizabeth Tambascio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-tambascio/) ## More by John Mortimer > [“Take sex, for instance.' 'What do you want me to do with it?' 'Try to be serious for a moment. Take the sex life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mortimer/take-sex-for-instance-what-do-you-want-me-to-do-with-it-try-to-be/) [John Mortimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mortimer/) > [I knew nothing about farce until I read Puce a l'Oreille, and had no idea what a deadly serious business it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mortimer/i-knew-nothing-about-farce-until-i-read-puce-a-l-oreille-and-had-no/) [John Mortimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mortimer/) > [Do we want blanks, asterisks and exclamation marks which people can fill in with their own imaginations, or are we prepared and strong enough…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mortimer/do-we-want-blanks-asterisks-and-exclamation-marks-which-people-can/) [John Mortimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mortimer/) > [Voting Liberal is a non-thing. Historically, it might be a good idea to have a Conservative government, because change is a good thing. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mortimer/voting-liberal-is-a-non-thing-historically-it-might-be-a-good-idea-to/) [John Mortimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mortimer/) > [“I sent out words like soldiers to battle and they never returned.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mortimer/i-sent-out-words-like-soldiers-to-battle-and-they-never-returned/) [John Mortimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mortimer/) > [Dying is a matter of slapstick and pratfalls. The ageing process is not gradual or gentle. It rushes up, pushes you over and runs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mortimer/dying-is-a-matter-of-slapstick-and-pratfalls-the-ageing-process-is/) [John Mortimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mortimer/) > [No brilliance is required in law, just common sense and relatively clean fingernails.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mortimer/no-brilliance-is-required-in-law-just-common-sense-and-relatively/) [John Mortimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mortimer/) > [The people look forbidding, solemn, marked by that impossible ideal, Communism, which, like Christianity, seemed to demand too much of humanity and, falling into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mortimer/the-people-look-forbidding-solemn-marked-by-that-impossible-ideal/) [John Mortimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mortimer/) > [There is always time for failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mortimer/there-is-always-time-for-failure/) [John Mortimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mortimer/) > [Irritable Judges suffer from a bad case of premature adjudication.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mortimer/irritable-judges-suffer-from-a-bad-case-of-premature-adjudication/) [John Mortimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mortimer/) > [I try and treat my children from the age of ten months as if they were totally grown up, which I think is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mortimer/i-try-and-treat-my-children-from-the-age-of-ten-months-as-if-they/) [John Mortimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mortimer/) > [Check-ups are, in my experience, a grave mistake; all they do is allow the quack of your choice to tell you that you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mortimer/check-ups-are-in-my-experience-a-grave-mistake-all-they-do-is-allow/) [John Mortimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mortimer/) > [I don't believe in children's books. I think after you've read Kidnapped, Treasure Island, and Huckleberry Finn, you're ready for anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mortimer/i-don-t-believe-in-children-s-books-i-think-after-you-ve-read/) [John Mortimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mortimer/) > [“The main aim of education should be to send children out into the world with a reasonably sized anthology in their heads so that,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mortimer/the-main-aim-of-education-should-be-to-send-children-out-into-the/) [John Mortimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mortimer/) > [On the three pigs he and his wife own: "We acquired the pigs last year. My wife was born on a pig farm and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mortimer/on-the-three-pigs-he-and-his-wife-own-we-acquired-the-pigs-last-year/) [John Mortimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mortimer/) [Explore all 92 John Mortimer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mortimer/) ## More Advocate quotes > [“Why do we apologize for advocating for ourselves? Why do we apologize for taking up space that we are entitled to? Why do we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-tambascio/why-do-we-apologize-for-advocating-for-ourselves-why-do-we-apologize/) [Elizabeth Tambascio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-tambascio/) > [I stayed in the astronaut program until 1993. People ask me why I left. I thought I had a lot of things to contribute…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-jemison/i-stayed-in-the-astronaut-program-until-1993-people-ask-me-why-i-left/) [Mae Jemison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-jemison/) > [Throughout my career I have been an advocate for women, in all aspects of their lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/throughout-my-career-i-have-been-an-advocate-for-women-in-all-aspects/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [I'm an advocate of 'it's not what you are, it's who you are.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sia-furler/i-m-an-advocate-of-it-s-not-what-you-are-it-s-who-you-are/) [Sia Furler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sia-furler/) > [I'm a big advocate of a work-for-pay setup rather than an allowance that isn't attached to chores - it's a great way to impart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suze-orman/i-m-a-big-advocate-of-a-work-for-pay-setup-rather-than-an-allowance/) [Suze Orman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suze-orman/) > [It's very difficult to advocate for yourself while you're in excruciating pain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chandra-wilson/it-s-very-difficult-to-advocate-for-yourself-while-you-re-in/) [Chandra Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chandra-wilson/) > [I'm, in general, an advocate of moderate ticket prices.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jupp-heynckes/i-m-in-general-an-advocate-of-moderate-ticket-prices/) [Jupp Heynckes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jupp-heynckes/) > [“The judicial wheel is rounded with equality, oiled with honour and functions smoothly with honesty – principally when both members of the Bench and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/munindra-misra/the-judicial-wheel-is-rounded-with-equality-oiled-with-honour-and/) [Munindra Misra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/munindra-misra/) > [If I'm an advocate for anything, it's to move. As far as you can, as much as you can. Across the ocean, or simply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-bourdain/if-i-m-an-advocate-for-anything-it-s-to-move-as-far-as-you-can-as/) [Anthony Bourdain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-bourdain/) > [I'm such an advocate for animal rights and environmental rights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beau-garrett/i-m-such-an-advocate-for-animal-rights-and-environmental-rights/) [Beau Garrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beau-garrett/) > [I am a big advocate of the role of the bookstore in the community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graeme-simsion/i-am-a-big-advocate-of-the-role-of-the-bookstore-in-the-community/) [Graeme Simsion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graeme-simsion/) > [I believe it is my responsibility to be the staunchest advocate for people out there that also have pre-existing conditions, and I will be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-mast/i-believe-it-is-my-responsibility-to-be-the-staunchest-advocate-for/) [Brian Mast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-mast/) > [I'm not a banner, I am an encourager and a persuader and an advocate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-howard/i-m-not-a-banner-i-am-an-encourager-and-a-persuader-and-an-advocate/) [John Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-howard/) > [“Just because you talk about it or advocate for one position doesn't mean you care more. Just because someone doesn't talk about it and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-lynn-hope/just-because-you-talk-about-it-or-advocate-for-one-position-doesn-t/) [Donna Lynn Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-lynn-hope/) > [It's nearly impossible to believe just how provincial the wine world was in 1978, the year I launched my journal, 'The Wine Advocate.' There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-parker-jr/it-s-nearly-impossible-to-believe-just-how-provincial-the-wine-world/) [Robert M. Parker, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-parker-jr/) [Browse all 306 Advocate quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advocate/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Knowing the law is not much help for an advocate. 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