Edward Coke Quotes

One threatens the innocent who spares the guilty.

The King himself should be under no man, but under God and the Law.

Those who consent to the act and those who do it shall be equally punished.

There is no jewel in the world comparable to learning; no learning so excellent as knowledge of laws.

It is the worst oppression, that is done by colour of justice

The home to everyone is to him his castle and fortress, as well for his defence against injury and violence, as for his repose.

No man can be a compleat Lawyer by universalitie of knowledge without experience in particular cases, nor by bare experience without universalitie of knowledge; he must be both speculative & active, for the science of the laws, I assure you, must joyne hands with experience.

The Common lawes of the Realme should by no means be delayed for the law is the surest sanctuary, that a man should take, and the strongest fortresse to protect the weakest of all, lex et tutissima cassis.

There be three kinds of unhappie men. 1. Qui scit & non docet, Hee that hath knowledge and teacheth not. 2. Qui docet & non vivit, He that teacheth, and liveth not thereafter. 3. Qui nescit, & non interrogat, He that knoweth not, and doth not enquire to understand.

Force ought to follow justice and not to precede.

Reason is the life of the law; nay, the common law itself is nothing else but reasonThe law, which is perfection of reason.

He is not cheated who knows he is being cheated.

The law of the realm cannot be changed but by Parliament.

There is no jewel in the world comparable to learning; no learning so excellent both for Prince and subject, as knowledge of laws; and no knowledge of any laws so necessary for all estates and for all causes, concerning goods, lands or life, as the common laws of England.

Let us now peruse our ancient authors, for out of the old fields must come the new corn.

A corporation has no soul.

The house of every one is to him as his castle.

Though the bribe be small, yet the fault is great.

Magna Charta is such a fellow, that he will have no sovereign

Every libel, which is called famosus libellus, is made either against a private man, or against a public person. If it be against a private man, it deserves a severe punishment.

We should speak as the populace but think as the learned.

Trial by jury is a wise distribution of power which exceeds all other modes of trial.

Success in crime always invites to worse deeds

So as grave and learned men may doubt, without any imputation to them; for the most learned doubteth most, and the more ignorant for the most part are the more bold and peremptory.

The Law ... is perfection of reason.