--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Common-Law judges sometimes talk about…" description: "\"“Common-Law judges sometimes talk about the law, and schoolmasters talk about the latin tongue, in a way to make their hearers think they mean entities..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d4/william-james-228_latin_common-law-judges-sometimes-talk-about-t_611345.jpg" --- # Common-Law judges sometimes talk about the law, and… ![“Common-Law judges sometimes talk about the law, and schoolmasters talk about the latin tongue, in a way to make their hearers think they mean entities pre-existent to the decisions or the words and syntax, determining them unequivocally and requiring them to obey. But the slightest exercise of…” quote by William James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d4/william-james-228_latin_common-law-judges-sometimes-talk-about-t_611345.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d4/william-james-228_latin_common-law-judges-sometimes-talk-about-t_611345.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d4/william-james-228_latin_common-law-judges-sometimes-talk-about-t_611345.jpg) > ““Common-Law judges sometimes talk about the law, and schoolmasters talk about the latin tongue, in a way to make their hearers think they mean entities pre-existent to the decisions or the words and syntax, determining them unequivocally and requiring them to obey. But the slightest exercise of reflection makes us see that, instead of being principles of this kind, both law and latin are results. \[...\] Truth grafts itself on previous truth, modifying it in the process, just as idiom grafts itself on previous idiom, and law on previous law.”” [William James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Law and language are not fixed entities but evolving results shaped by human reflection and usage. **In simple terms:** Law and language evolve through human use. Key Takeaway Recognize that rules are adaptable. Themes philosophy language law reflection evolution Mood thoughtful analytical Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - academic debate - legal analysis - language teaching - policy drafting Key Concepts constructivism hermeneutics semantic change Questions to Reflect On - How does reflection alter your view of authority? - What role does tradition play in shaping rules? A Different Perspective Assuming static foundations ignores cultural context. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Idiom Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idiom-law-4963532/) [Latin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/latin/) [Latin Tongue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/latin-tongue-4963531/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Law Latin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law-latin-4963530/) [Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy/) [Pragmatism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pragmatism/) [Talk Latin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talk-latin-2112392/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) ## Related quotes > [Every time I talk to Latin players coming up in the system, I tell them, 'You need to learn English. 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