--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is a maxim among these lawyers, that…" description: "\"“It is a maxim among these lawyers, that whatever hath been done before may legally be done again: and therefore they take special care to record all t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d4a/jonathan-swift-433_justice_it-is-a-maxim-among-these-lawyers-that-w_3040803.jpg" --- # It is a maxim among these lawyers, that whatever hath been… ![“It is a maxim among these lawyers, that whatever hath been done before may legally be done again: and therefore they take special care to record all the decisions formerly made against common justice and the general reason of mankind. These, under the name of precedents, they produce as…” quote by Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d4a/jonathan-swift-433_justice_it-is-a-maxim-among-these-lawyers-that-w_3040803.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d4a/jonathan-swift-433_justice_it-is-a-maxim-among-these-lawyers-that-w_3040803.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d4a/jonathan-swift-433_justice_it-is-a-maxim-among-these-lawyers-that-w_3040803.jpg) > ““It is a maxim among these lawyers, that whatever hath been done before may legally be done again: and therefore they take special care to record all the decisions formerly made against common justice and the general reason of mankind. These, under the name of precedents, they produce as authorities, to justify the most iniquitous opinions; and the judges never fail of decreeing accordingly.”” [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Lawyers treat past rulings as immutable authority, justifying unjust opinions through precedent. **In simple terms:** Legal precedent can be misused to support injustice. Key Takeaway Question the authority of past decisions. Themes law justice precedent authority Mood critical analytical Type philosophical observational When to use this quote - court rulings - policy making - historical analysis Key Concepts legal theory political philosophy ethics Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance respect for precedent with moral progress? - When should precedent be challenged? A Different Perspective Precedent also provides stability and predictability. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/) ## Related quotes > [It is a maxim among these lawyers, that whatever hath been done before, may legally be done again: and therefore they take special care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/it-is-a-maxim-among-these-lawyers-that-whatever-hath-been-done-before/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) > [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. 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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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [I think the thing that you've seen with Donald Trump is that he doesn't - he doesn't look to the past and say, 'I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-spicer/i-think-the-thing-that-you-ve-seen-with-donald-trump-is-that-he-doesn/) [Sean Spicer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-spicer/) > [Every lawyer of experience comes to know (more or less unconsciously) that in the great majority of cases, the precedents are none too good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-frank/every-lawyer-of-experience-comes-to-know-more-or-less-unconsciously/) [Jerome Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-frank/) > [Precedents deliberately established by wise men are entitled to great weight. 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