--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There is truth in the reply of a great…" description: "\"There is truth in the reply of a great lawyer when asked how the lawyers who formed the United States Constitution had such a mastery of legal principl..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e5/wallace-stevens-846_america-and-american_there-is-truth-in-the-reply-of-a-great-l_393446.jpg" --- # There is truth in the reply of a great lawyer when asked… ![“There is truth in the reply of a great lawyer when asked how the lawyers who formed the United States Constitution had such a mastery of legal principles: Why, they had so few books” quote by Wallace Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e5/wallace-stevens-846_america-and-american_there-is-truth-in-the-reply-of-a-great-l_393446.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e5/wallace-stevens-846_america-and-american_there-is-truth-in-the-reply-of-a-great-l_393446.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e5/wallace-stevens-846_america-and-american_there-is-truth-in-the-reply-of-a-great-l_393446.jpg) > “There is truth in the reply of a great lawyer when asked how the lawyers who formed the United States Constitution had such a mastery of legal principles: Why, they had so few books” [Wallace Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-stevens/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Great lawyers excel because they rely on deep reasoning rather than extensive reading, showing mastery through understanding, not volume. **In simple terms:** Lawyers succeed by thinking, not just reading. Key Takeaway Focus on deep comprehension over quantity. Themes law reasoning expertise Mood analytical thoughtful Type advisory educational When to use this quote - courtroom - academic study - policy drafting - legal education Key Concepts critical thinking legal mastery Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance study with experience? - What sources beyond books shape your expertise? A Different Perspective Relying solely on books can limit practical insight. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America and americans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america-and-americans/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Constitution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constitution/) [Law and lawyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law-and-lawyers/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) [United states constitution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/united-states-constitution/) ## Related quotes > [“The lawyer asked us to sit down. He was holding a copy of the will in his hands. I sat nearest him. He flipped…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-crawford/the-lawyer-asked-us-to-sit-down-he-was-holding-a-copy-of-the-will-in/) [Christina Crawford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-crawford/) > [When I became a lawyer, no one asked me if I had spent some time in special ed. 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