Cases Quote by Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr
“General propositions do not decide concrete cases. The decision will depend on a judgment or intuition more subtle than any articulate major premise.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Common Law, 1881
General rules guide but cannot resolve every specific situation; judgment and intuition fill the gaps.
In simple terms: Rules need intuition for specifics.
Key Takeaway
Rely on nuanced judgment.
Themes
law
judgment
intuition
decision-making
Mood
thoughtful
analytical
Type
advice
philosophical
When to use this quote
- court rulings
- policy drafting
- ethical dilemmas
- personal choices
Key Concepts
Legal theory
pragmatism
epistemology
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you balance rules with gut feeling?
- When should intuition override precedent?
A Different Perspective
Intuition can be biased or inconsistent.
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