--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Every man should know something of law…" description: "\"Every man should know something of law; if he knows enough to keep out of it, he is a pretty good lawyer.\" — Josh Billings" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/860/josh-billings-777_enough_every-man-should-know-something-of-law-i_577882.png" --- # Every man should know something of law; if he knows enough… ![“Every man should know something of law; if he knows enough to keep out of it, he is a pretty good lawyer.” quote by Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/860/josh-billings-777_enough_every-man-should-know-something-of-law-i_577882.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/860/josh-billings-777_enough_every-man-should-know-something-of-law-i_577882.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/860/josh-billings-777_enough_every-man-should-know-something-of-law-i_577882.png) > “Every man should know something of law; if he knows enough to keep out of it, he is a pretty good lawyer.” [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Understanding law enough to avoid it makes one effectively self‑protected, akin to a good lawyer. **In simple terms:** Know law enough to stay out of trouble. Key Takeaway Learn basics to protect yourself. Themes law self‑protection practical wisdom Mood pragmatic cautious Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - business contracts - personal disputes - daily decisions - community interactions Key Concepts legal literacy risk management Questions to Reflect On - What legal basics should everyone know? - How can you apply this knowledge daily? A Different Perspective Legal knowledge alone may not prevent all issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Enough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enough/) [Every man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/every-man/) [Good lawyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-lawyer/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Know Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-law-723665/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Law Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law-knows-4756805/) [Lawyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lawyer/) [Man Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-know/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Pretty good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pretty-good/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) ## Related quotes > [I am a pretty good lawyer, and I decided to close the office and to enter politics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tzipi-livni/i-am-a-pretty-good-lawyer-and-i-decided-to-close-the-office-and-to/) [Tzipi Livni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tzipi-livni/) > [Justice requires lawyers who are prepared, witnesses who tell the truth, judges who know the law, and jurors who stay awake. Justice is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-levine/justice-requires-lawyers-who-are-prepared-witnesses-who-tell-the/) [Paul Levine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-levine/) > [I think functioning as a business manager can be a hindrance to having a real dialogue with the artist. I do think that artists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-gagosian/i-think-functioning-as-a-business-manager-can-be-a-hindrance-to/) [Larry Gagosian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-gagosian/) > [The good lawyer is not the man who has an eye to every side and angle of contingency, and qualifies all his qualifications, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-good-lawyer-is-not-the-man-who-has-an-eye-to-every-side-and-angle/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [What's quote-unquote a 'good' lawyer, doctor, or whatever the profession is. And if you're a male who grew up professionally in a male-dominated profession…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-sotomayor/what-s-quote-unquote-a-good-lawyer-doctor-or-whatever-the-profession/) [Sonia Sotomayor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-sotomayor/) > [My dream job would be a lawyer. I can talk my way out of anything, and I love cross-examining people. I think I'd be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamara-ecclestone/my-dream-job-would-be-a-lawyer-i-can-talk-my-way-out-of-anything-and/) [Tamara Ecclestone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamara-ecclestone/) > [“A great lawyer listens first, speaks second, and always thinks strategically." "Effective lawyering is less about winning arguments and more about crafting solutions that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vorng-panha/a-great-lawyer-listens-first-speaks-second-and-always-thinks/) [Vorng Panha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vorng-panha/) > [A good lawyer is part con man, part priest -- promising riches, threatening hell. My ethical rules are simple. I won't lie to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-levine/a-good-lawyer-is-part-con-man-part-priest-promising-riches/) [Paul Levine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-levine/) > [“A good lawyer, just like a good poker player, must always keep his cards close to his chest.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mallika-nawal/a-good-lawyer-just-like-a-good-poker-player-must-always-keep-his/) [Mallika Nawal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mallika-nawal/) > [Like any good lawyer, I'm going to maintain a confidentiality of advice offered in confidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-melber/like-any-good-lawyer-i-m-going-to-maintain-a-confidentiality-of/) [Ari Melber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-melber/) > [The mole rat is the only rodent born without a fur coat. With a good lawyer, someone would pay for that little oversight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erma-bombeck/the-mole-rat-is-the-only-rodent-born-without-a-fur-coat-with-a-good/) [Erma Bombeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erma-bombeck/) > [As a peacemaker the lawyer has superior opportunity of being a good man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/as-a-peacemaker-the-lawyer-has-superior-opportunity-of-being-a-good/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Learn 2 chords and then get a good lawyer before learning the 3rd.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-iommi/learn-2-chords-and-then-get-a-good-lawyer-before-learning-the-3rd/) [Tony Iommi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-iommi/) > [“No, the Boss corrected, I'm not a lawyer. I know some law. ... but I'm not a lawyer. That's why I can see what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-penn-warren/no-the-boss-corrected-i-m-not-a-lawyer-i-know-some-law-but-i-m-not-a/) [Robert Penn Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-penn-warren/) > [You can know the law by heart without knowing the heart of it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-yancey/you-can-know-the-law-by-heart-without-knowing-the-heart-of-it/) [Philip Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-yancey/) ## More by Josh Billings > [It ain't because lovers are so sensitive that they quarrel so often; it is because there is so much fun n the making up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/it-ain-t-because-lovers-are-so-sensitive-that-they-quarrel-so-often/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [Man was created a little lower than the angels and has been getting a little lower ever since.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/man-was-created-a-little-lower-than-the-angels-and-has-been-getting-a/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [There is only one good substitute for the endearments of a sister, and that is the endearments of some other fellow's sister.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/there-is-only-one-good-substitute-for-the-endearments-of-a-sister-and/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [Life is a grindstone, and whether it grinds a man down or polishes him up depends on the stuff he's made of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/life-is-a-grindstone-and-whether-it-grinds-a-man-down-or-polishes-him/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [Its harly my dog A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than you love yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/its-harly-my-dog-a-dog-is-the-only-thing-on-earth-that-loves-you-more/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [Perseverance is king.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/perseverance-is-king/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [Unless we put heart and soul into our labor we but brutify our actions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/unless-we-put-heart-and-soul-into-our-labor-we-but-brutify-our-actions/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [A secret ceases to be a secret if it is once confided - it is like a dollar bill, once broken, it is never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/a-secret-ceases-to-be-a-secret-if-it-is-once-confided-it-is-like-a/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [If a man is right, he can't be too radical; if he is wrong, he can't be too conservative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/if-a-man-is-right-he-can-t-be-too-radical-if-he-is-wrong-he-can-t-be/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [As a general rule, if you want to get at the truth - hear both sides and believe neither.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/as-a-general-rule-if-you-want-to-get-at-the-truth-hear-both-sides-and/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [Economy is a savings-bank, into which men drop pennies, and get dollars in return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/economy-is-a-savings-bank-into-which-men-drop-pennies-and-get-dollars/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [Self-made men are most always apt to be a little too proud of the job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/self-made-men-are-most-always-apt-to-be-a-little-too-proud-of-the-job/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [Poverty is one of them kind of misfortunes that we all of us dread but none of us pity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/poverty-is-one-of-them-kind-of-misfortunes-that-we-all-of-us-dread/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [If the world despises a hypocrite, what must they think of him in heaven?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/if-the-world-despises-a-hypocrite-what-must-they-think-of-him-in/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [The man who gets bit twice by the same dog is better adapted for that kind of business than any other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/the-man-who-gets-bit-twice-by-the-same-dog-is-better-adapted-for-that/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) [Explore all 372 Josh Billings quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) ## More Enough quotes > [I guess at it's very core love is connection that just makes so much sense you wonder how you used to live before you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-stone/i-guess-at-it-s-very-core-love-is-connection-that-just-makes-so-much/) [Benjamin Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-stone/) > [Failures happen. You can't cry over them. You just take it in your stride because you know that you have done your best... Sometimes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divya-dutta/failures-happen-you-can-t-cry-over-them-you-just-take-it-in-your/) [Divya Dutta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divya-dutta/) > [I feel very grateful to be alive and well enough to make music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-ant/i-feel-very-grateful-to-be-alive-and-well-enough-to-make-music/) [Adam Ant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-ant/) > [I've been lucky enough to, for the most part, surround myself with a lot of people who are more talented than me and who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-franco/i-ve-been-lucky-enough-to-for-the-most-part-surround-myself-with-a/) [Dave Franco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-franco/) > [I love because there is not enough room in my heart to hate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rena-kornreich-gelissen/i-love-because-there-is-not-enough-room-in-my-heart-to-hate/) [Rena Kornreich Gelissen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rena-kornreich-gelissen/) > [We find few historians who have been diligent enough in their search for truth; it is their common method to take on trust what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/we-find-few-historians-who-have-been-diligent-enough-in-their-search/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [Sometimes it's just enough for me to have the idea. I don't need to see it through to the end. When it actually happens,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-sedaris/sometimes-it-s-just-enough-for-me-to-have-the-idea-i-don-t-need-to/) [Amy Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-sedaris/) > [The vast majority of organizations today have more than enough intelligence, experience and knowledge to be successful. What they lack is organizational health.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-lencioni/the-vast-majority-of-organizations-today-have-more-than-enough/) [Patrick Lencioni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-lencioni/) > [I'm an actor, so I'm never going to feel like I've done enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/italia-ricci/i-m-an-actor-so-i-m-never-going-to-feel-like-i-ve-done-enough/) [Italia Ricci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/italia-ricci/) > [I've been to Manchester enough to know it's a real place. It's not Factory Records and the Smiths bicycling around. I get it. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-murphy/i-ve-been-to-manchester-enough-to-know-it-s-a-real-place-it-s-not/) [James Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-murphy/) > [Lutherans, whose arguments and mistakes will not be difficult to contest or discover, do not want to attribute any value to works, and they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-servetus/lutherans-whose-arguments-and-mistakes-will-not-be-difficult-to/) [Michael Servetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-servetus/) > [Sam dropped me off. When she was too far away to see me, I started to cry again. Because she was my friend again.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-chbosky/sam-dropped-me-off-when-she-was-too-far-away-to-see-me-i-started-to/) [Stephen Chbosky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-chbosky/) > [I just worried about my weight. Worried about my appearance and thought I wan't pretty enough to be a pop star. It was very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-durham/i-just-worried-about-my-weight-worried-about-my-appearance-and/) [Judith Durham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-durham/) > [I don't want this to be a distraction. This has been distracting enough. I'm not going to rehash this going forward. I'm sure other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jayson-werth/i-don-t-want-this-to-be-a-distraction-this-has-been-distracting/) [Jayson Werth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jayson-werth/) > [New York is large, glamorous, easy-going, kindly and incurious, but above all it is a crucible - because it is large enough to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ford-madox-ford/new-york-is-large-glamorous-easy-going-kindly-and-incurious-but-above/) [Ford Madox Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ford-madox-ford/) [Browse all 23,898 Enough quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enough/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Every man should know something of law; if he knows enough to keep out of it, he is a pretty good lawyer.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Josh Billings" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/every-man-should-know-something-of-law-if-he-knows-enough-to-keep-out/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Enough" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/every-man-should-know-something-of-law-if-he-knows-enough-to-keep-out/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/860/josh-billings-777_enough_every-man-should-know-something-of-law-i_577882.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/860/josh-billings-777_enough_every-man-should-know-something-of-law-i_577882.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/860/josh-billings-777_enough_every-man-should-know-something-of-law-i_577882.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Every man should know something of law; if he knows enough to keep out of it, he is a pretty good lawyer.” — Josh Billings", "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": "Josh Billings", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Every man should know something of...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/every-man-should-know-something-of-law-if-he-knows-enough-to-keep-out/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/every-man-should-know-something-of-law-if-he-knows-enough-to-keep-out/#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 } } ] } ```