Constitution Quote by Patrick Devlin, Baron Devlin
“The judges of England have rarely been original thinkers or great jurists. Many have been craftsmen rather than creators.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Judges, 1965
English judges often follow established craft rather than innovate.
In simple terms: Judges tend to be craftsmen, not creators.
Key Takeaway
Encourage judicial creativity and reform.
Themes
law
tradition
creativity
Mood
critical
analytical
Type
legal
philosophical
When to use this quote
- court reforms
- legal education
- policy drafting
- public debate
- academic research
Key Concepts
judicial philosophy
legal reform
innovation
Questions to Reflect On
- Should judges prioritize consistency over originality?
- How can innovation be balanced with precedent?
A Different Perspective
Legal stability may suffer with too much innovation.
![“Next came the Patent laws. These began in England in 1624; and, in this country, with the adoption of our constitution. Before then [these?], any man might instantly use what another had invented; so that the inventor had no special advantage from his own invention. The patent system changed this…” quote by Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/449/abraham-lincoln-88_adoption_next-came-the-patent-laws-these-began-in_1828.jpg)
