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Common Law Quotes

Notes on the legal traditions that shaped modern law.

These quotes trace common law from its English roots through its documented influence on the U.S. Constitution, including the historical fact that Christianity was part of the Common Law of England.

No one familiar with the common law of England can read the Constitution of the United States without observing the great desire of the Convention which framed that instrument to make it conform as far as possible with that law.

Quotes by Samuel Freeman Miller

And of course we are familiar with the English common law rule of thumb that said a man could in fact use a stick no bigger than his thumb to discipline his wife and family.

Quotes by Patricia Ireland

Hanging may seem barbarous, but the greater barbarity lies in the slow abandonment of our common law traditions.

Quotes by Michael Gove

Christianity is part of the Common Law of England.

Quotes by Matthew Hale

Abandonment Quotes

Just as the common law derives from ancient precedents - judges' decisions - rather than statutes, baseball's codes are the game's distilled mores. Their unchanged purpose is to show respect for opponents and the game. In baseball, as in the...

Quotes by George Will

It cannot be assumed that equity was following common law whenever they agreed, any more than the converse.

Quotes by Frederick Pollock

Our lady the Common Law is a very wise old lady though she still has something to learn in telling what she knows.

Quotes by Frederick Pollock

'Pnin' by Vladimir Nabokov, which is a literally small book, fit right in my common law book. I would sit in class and read it.

Quotes by Elizabeth Strout

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

Quotes by Edward Coke

Frequently Asked Questions

What do these common law quotes cover?
The quotes trace common law from its English roots through its documented influence on the U.S. Constitution, including how closely the framers studied English legal tradition. They also touch on the historical fact that Christianity was part of the Common Law of England, presented as a matter of legal history. Together they offer a grounded look at where modern legal systems came from.
Is there a quote connecting common law to the Constitution?
Yes, one quote argues that no one familiar with English common law can read the U.S. Constitution without noticing how closely the framers tried to follow that tradition. It positions common law as a direct ancestor of American legal structure. The quote pairs well with other book-related entries on how legal history gets recorded.
What does the quote about hanging and barbarity mean?
One entry argues that abandoning common law traditions is a greater barbarity than hanging itself, a strong statement defending legal continuity over abrupt change. It's one of the more provocative entries in the collection, meant to spark reflection rather than settle the debate. The quote sits alongside others about abandonment of long-standing customs.
Is the 'rule of thumb' phrase addressed here?
Yes, one quote references the old, now-discredited idea that English common law once permitted a man to discipline his wife with a stick no wider than his thumb. It's included as a historical footnote rather than an endorsement, showing how legal tradition has shifted over time. This entry adds important context to the page's broader respect for legal history.
Why mention Christianity in a common law collection?
One quote states plainly that Christianity was part of the Common Law of England, a documented historical and legal fact rather than a religious argument. It's presented neutrally, alongside the page's other quotes about legal tradition and its origins. This grounds the collection in verifiable history rather than opinion.

One line even revisits the old, now-abandoned rule of thumb once attributed to English common law, a reminder that legal tradition isn't static; see also book quotes on how it's recorded.