--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: True, we [lawyers] build no bridges. We…" description: "\"True, we [lawyers] build no bridges. We raise no towers. We construct no engines. We paint no pictures—unless as amateurs for our own principal amuseme..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ef/john-w-davis-32194_amusement_true-we-lawyers-build-no-bridges-we-rais_2415091.jpg" --- # True, we \[lawyers\] build no bridges. We raise no towers… ![“True, we [lawyers] build no bridges. We raise no towers. We construct no engines. We paint no pictures—unless as amateurs for our own principal amusement. There is little of all that we do which the eye of man can see. But we smooth out difficulties; we relieve stress; we correct mistakes; we take…” quote by John W. Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ef/john-w-davis-32194_amusement_true-we-lawyers-build-no-bridges-we-rais_2415091.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ef/john-w-davis-32194_amusement_true-we-lawyers-build-no-bridges-we-rais_2415091.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ef/john-w-davis-32194_amusement_true-we-lawyers-build-no-bridges-we-rais_2415091.jpg) > “True, we \[lawyers\] build no bridges. We raise no towers. We construct no engines. We paint no pictures—unless as amateurs for our own principal amusement. There is little of all that we do which the eye of man can see. But we smooth out difficulties; we relieve stress; we correct mistakes; we take up other men's burdens and by our efforts we make possible the peaceful life of men in a peaceful state.” [John W. Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-davis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Lawyers contribute invisible yet essential work that eases society's burdens and enables peace. **In simple terms:** Lawyers do unseen helpful work. Key Takeaway Recognize and value behind‑the‑scenes contributions. Themes service justice invisible work societal stability peacebuilding Mood reflective appreciative Type observational analytical When to use this quote - courtroom advocacy - policy drafting - conflict mediation - community counseling Key Concepts Legal ethics social infrastructure burden alleviation Questions to Reflect On - How does unseen work shape daily life? - What would happen if we ignored these contributions? A Different Perspective The impact of legal work is often intangible and hard to measure. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Amusement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amusement/) [Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bridges/) [Burden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/burden/) [Constructs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constructs/) [Difficulty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/difficulty/) [Effort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/effort/) [Engines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/engines/) [Eye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eye/) [Lawyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lawyer/) [Lawyers Build](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lawyers-build-6092927/) [Life Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-men/) [Littles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/littles/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Men Burdens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men-burdens-533253/) [Men Peaceful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men-peaceful-6092926/) [Mistake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistake/) [Paint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paint/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [Peaceful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peaceful/) [Peaceful life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peaceful-life/) [Principal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principal/) [Raises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/raises/) [Smooth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smooth/) [States](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/states/) [Stress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stress/) [Stress relieving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stress-relieving/) [Towers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/towers/) ## Related quotes > [And he said, Woe unto you also, ye lawyers! for ye lade men with burdens grievous to be borne, and ye yourselves touch not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-the-evangelist/and-he-said-woe-unto-you-also-ye-lawyers-for-ye-lade-men-with-burdens/) [Luke the Evangelist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-the-evangelist/) > [I have been meditating for many years now, but I think for quite a few years my relationship with meditation was very intellectual. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karan-bajaj/i-have-been-meditating-for-many-years-now-but-i-think-for-quite-a-few/) [Karan Bajaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karan-bajaj/) > [Running is a great way to relieve stress and clear the mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-van-ark/running-is-a-great-way-to-relieve-stress-and-clear-the-mind/) [Joan Van Ark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-van-ark/) > [While the Internet generally tends to have a stress-relieving function for adults - as long as they aren't inclined toward sex addiction - I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/volkmar-sigusch/while-the-internet-generally-tends-to-have-a-stress-relieving/) [Volkmar Sigusch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/volkmar-sigusch/) > [Naps are the key to relieving stress. When you are working on two hours of sleep, the fact that cheese comes on something when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keri-russell/naps-are-the-key-to-relieving-stress-when-you-are-working-on-two/) [Keri Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keri-russell/) > [Anytime I can go fly for a few hours, I go. It's stressful and stress-relieving at the same time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-hayes/anytime-i-can-go-fly-for-a-few-hours-i-go-it-s-stressful-and-stress/) [Hunter Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-hayes/) > [I personally hated working out when I first started, but then I noticed it was the one thing I did for myself. It gave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becky-g/i-personally-hated-working-out-when-i-first-started-but-then-i/) [Becky G](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becky-g/) > [With the increasing demand for holistic health care and the 'green revolution', the demand for aromatherapy will increase, and hopefully we will reach the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-tisserand/with-the-increasing-demand-for-holistic-health-care-and-the-green/) [Robert Tisserand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-tisserand/) > [You possess an intuitive intelligence so powerful it can help you heal, relieve stress, and find emotional freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-orloff/you-possess-an-intuitive-intelligence-so-powerful-it-can-help-you/) [Judith Orloff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-orloff/) > [The health benefits, both mental and physical, of humor are well documented. A good laugh can diffuse tension, relieve stress, and release endorphins into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cherie-carter-scott/the-health-benefits-both-mental-and-physical-of-humor-are-well/) [Cherie Carter-Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cherie-carter-scott/) > [Stress should be a powerful driving force, not an obstacle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-phillips/stress-should-be-a-powerful-driving-force-not-an-obstacle/) [Bill Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-phillips/) > [I think extreme sports are really good for relieving stress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-chappelle/i-think-extreme-sports-are-really-good-for-relieving-stress/) [Dave Chappelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-chappelle/) > [Humor is a great way to relieve stress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-maslach/humor-is-a-great-way-to-relieve-stress/) [Christina Maslach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-maslach/) > [As a skilled psychologist, Dr. Reznick draws from her wealth of experience to offer children and parents a treasure trove of skills to relieve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-orloff/as-a-skilled-psychologist-dr-reznick-draws-from-her-wealth-of/) [Judith Orloff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-orloff/) > [Our lives are full of stress. Some meditate, some walk, some sing and dance. Nature offers us garlic, maitake and hibiscus to relieve stress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gunter-pauli/our-lives-are-full-of-stress-some-meditate-some-walk-some-sing-and/) [Gunter Pauli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gunter-pauli/) ## More by John W. Davis > [When will we get done with the fool idea that the way to make a party grow is to scare away everybody who has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-davis/when-will-we-get-done-with-the-fool-idea-that-the-way-to-make-a-party/) [John W. Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-davis/) > [“Governor Barber, who may have understood these things also, undermined Angus’s plan. Because of the actions of the governor of Wyoming, it would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-davis/governor-barber-who-may-have-understood-these-things-also-undermined/) [John W. Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-davis/) > [“The shortage of information did not keep the Cheyenne Sun from taking some strong editorial positions. Indeed, the Sun’s impartiality, never more than a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-davis/the-shortage-of-information-did-not-keep-the-cheyenne-sun-from-taking/) [John W. Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-davis/) > [“To ensure that no men would be kept from the fray because they lacked equipment, the Buffalo merchant Robert Foote threw open all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-davis/to-ensure-that-no-men-would-be-kept-from-the-fray-because-they-lacked/) [John W. Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-davis/) > [“the Johnson County commissioners, who “talked very feelingly,” he said. “They resent the many slurs cast upon their county by the cattle barons who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-davis/the-johnson-county-commissioners-who-talked-very-feelingly-he-said/) [John W. Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-davis/) > [“The barn at the T. A. stands today, and one cannot help but notice perfectly circular holes in the side walls, about half an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-davis/the-barn-at-the-t-a-stands-today-and-one-cannot-help-but-notice/) [John W. Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-davis/) > [“For a time the invaders believed they would be rescued, if not by troops, then by reinforcements from other big cattlemen. But a message…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-davis/for-a-time-the-invaders-believed-they-would-be-rescued-if-not-by/) [John W. Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-davis/) > [“In sum, until April 12, Governor Barber, apparently assumed that his friends were faring well, and took no action whatsoever. Governor Barber’s friends, however,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-davis/in-sum-until-april-12-governor-barber-apparently-assumed-that-his/) [John W. Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-davis/) > [Above all, as the keynote of all Democratic policy, in passing upon any question, let the controlling aim and ambition be to keep the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-davis/above-all-as-the-keynote-of-all-democratic-policy-in-passing-upon-any/) [John W. Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-davis/) > [In the heart of every lawyer, worthy of the name, there burns a deep ambition so to bear himself that the profession may be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-davis/in-the-heart-of-every-lawyer-worthy-of-the-name-there-burns-a-deep/) [John W. Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-davis/) > [“went to the White House and got the President out of bed. Carey and President Harrison were said to be old Senate friends, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-davis/went-to-the-white-house-and-got-the-president-out-of-bed-carey-and/) [John W. Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-davis/) > [“Suddenly, in the far distance, a bugle was heard, heralding the troops from Fort McKinney. The fighting at the T. A. did not stop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-davis/suddenly-in-the-far-distance-a-bugle-was-heard-heralding-the-troops/) [John W. Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-davis/) > [“For the first few days of the invasion, only the most general of news filtered back from the north. On Saturday, April 9 (the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-davis/for-the-first-few-days-of-the-invasion-only-the-most-general-of-news/) [John W. Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-davis/) > [“deep-seated hatred between the cattlemen and the settler.”40 This should come as no shock; the only surprise is that the big cattlemen would sometimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-davis/deep-seated-hatred-between-the-cattlemen-and-the-settler-40-this/) [John W. Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-davis/) [Explore all 15 John W. Davis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-davis/) ## More Amusement quotes > [Cultivate the habit of thinking ahead, and of anticipating the necessary and immediate consequences of all your actions… Likewise in your pleasures, ask yourself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/cultivate-the-habit-of-thinking-ahead-and-of-anticipating-the/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) > [Ancient eyes had stared at me, filled with ancient grief. And something more. Something so alien and unexpected that I'd almost burst into tears.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/ancient-eyes-had-stared-at-me-filled-with-ancient-grief-and-something/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [Every producer in Hollywood had set me down as a type. I was both amused and disappointed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bela-lugosi/every-producer-in-hollywood-had-set-me-down-as-a-type-i-was-both/) [Bela Lugosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bela-lugosi/) > [By amusing myself with all these games, all this nonsense, all these picture puzzles, I became famous... I am only a public entertainer who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/by-amusing-myself-with-all-these-games-all-this-nonsense-all-these/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) > [I just started writing for my own amusement and occasionally singing in little clubs around Los Angeles. Then I wrote 'The Rose,' and through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-mcbroom/i-just-started-writing-for-my-own-amusement-and-occasionally-singing/) [Amanda McBroom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-mcbroom/) > [Happiness does not consist in pastimes and amusements but in virtuous activities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/happiness-does-not-consist-in-pastimes-and-amusements-but-in-virtuous/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation. What is called resignation is confirmed desperation. From the desperate city you go into the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/the-mass-of-men-lead-lives-of-quiet-desperation-what-is-called/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Ordinary people simply don't know what books mean to us, shut up here. Reading, learning, and the radio are our amusements.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-frank/ordinary-people-simply-don-t-know-what-books-mean-to-us-shut-up-here/) [Anne Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-frank/) > [My first job was at an amusement park in Virginia. It was the worst. I loved the park but once I'd worked there all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-mcbride/my-first-job-was-at-an-amusement-park-in-virginia-it-was-the-worst-i/) [Danny McBride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-mcbride/) > [The Stoics say, "Retire within yourselves; it is there you will find your rest." And that is not true. Others say, "Go out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/the-stoics-say-retire-within-yourselves-it-is-there-you-will-find/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [I realized, "Gee, you're making the same film over and over here." I just kept making them for my own amusement, but also with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-jarmusch/i-realized-gee-you-re-making-the-same-film-over-and-over-here-i-just/) [Jim Jarmusch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-jarmusch/) > [I like these boots," I told Vayl. "Do you think they'd sell them to me cheap? I keep ruining mine." "Since when do you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-rardin/i-like-these-boots-i-told-vayl-do-you-think-they-d-sell-them-to-me/) [Jennifer Rardin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-rardin/) > [It has to be now,” he insisted, a flick of amusement in his voice. He nudged his burgeoning loins against her. “After all, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-kleypas/it-has-to-be-now-he-insisted-a-flick-of-amusement-in-his-voice-he/) [Lisa Kleypas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-kleypas/) > [Act as if the universe is a prodigious miracle created for your amusement and illumination. Assume that secret helpers are working behind the scenes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-brezsny/act-as-if-the-universe-is-a-prodigious-miracle-created-for-your/) [Rob Brezsny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-brezsny/) > [Amusement that is excessive and followed only for its own sake, allures and deceives us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/amusement-that-is-excessive-and-followed-only-for-its-own-sake/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) [Browse all 567 Amusement quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amusement/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "True, we [lawyers] build no bridges. We raise no towers. We construct no engines. We paint no pictures—unless as amateurs for our own principal amusement. There is little of all that we do which the eye of man can see. 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