Criminal law Quote by Richard Hughes
““Mathias shrugged. After all, a criminal lawyer is not concerned with facts. He is concerned with probabilities. It is the novelist who is concerned with facts, whose job it is to say what a particular man did do on a particular occasion: the lawyer does not, cannot be expected to go further than show what the ordinary man would be most likely to do under presumed circumstances.””
About This Quote
Source Book: A High Wind in Jamaica by Richard Hughes, 1949
Lawyers focus on likely outcomes rather than exact details, while novelists aim to depict precise events.
In simple terms: Lawyers deal with probabilities; novelists with facts.
Key Takeaway
Recognize the limits of legal reasoning.
Themes
law
probability
fiction
Mood
analytical
thoughtful
Type
explanatory
reflective
When to use this quote
- courtroom arguments
- legal advice
- creative writing
- historical analysis
Key Concepts
probability
narrative
epistemology
Questions to Reflect On
- How do lawyers balance probability with justice?
- When should a novelist prioritize factual accuracy?
A Different Perspective
Legal conclusions can be uncertain due to incomplete evidence.
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