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The law, which restrains a man from doing mischief to his fellow citizens, though it diminishes the natural, increases the civil liberty of mankind.

William Blackstone

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William Blackstone
Age: 56 †
Born: 1723
Born: July 10
Died: 1780
Died: February 14
Barrister
Judge
Jurist
Politician
University Teacher
Writer
the City
Sir William Blackstone
Increase
Restrains
Citizens
Diminishes
Mankind
Mischief
Liberty
Increases
Law
Diminish
Though
Fellow
Natural
Civil
Men
Fellows

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There is nothing which so generally strikes the imagination and engages the affections of mankind, as the right of property.
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Men was formed for society, and is neither capable of living alone, nor has the courage to do it.
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The law rarely hesitates in declaring its own meaning but the Judges are frequently puzzled to find out the meaning of others.
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Law is the embodiment of the moral sentiment of the people.
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Man must necessarily be subject to the laws of his Creator. This will of his Maker is called the Law of Nature. This Law of Nature is superior to any other. No human laws are of any validity if contrary to this.
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Trial by jury is a privilege of the highest and most beneficial nature [and] our most important guardian both of public and private liberty. The liberties of England cannot but subsist so long as this palladium remains sacred and inviolate, not only from all open attacks, ... but also from all secret machinations, which may sap and undermine it.
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That the king can do no wrong is a necessary and fundamental principle of the English constitution.
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Mankind will not be reasoned out of the feelings of humanity.
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Punishments of unreasonable severity, especially where indiscriminately afflicted, have less effect in preventing crimes, and amending the manners of a people, than such as are more merciful in general, yet properly intermixed with due distinctions of severity.
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The most universal and effectual way of discovering the true meaning of law, when the words are dubious, is by considering the reason and spirit of it or the cause which moved the legislator to enact it. for when this reason ceased, the law itself ought likewise to cease with it.
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The public good is in nothing more essentially interested, than in the protection of every individual's private rights.
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The Bible has always been regarded as part of the Common Law of England.
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In all tyrannical governments the supreme magistracy, or the right both of making and of enforcing the laws, is vested in one and the same man, or one and the same body of men and wherever these two powers are united together, there can be no public liberty.
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Upon these two foundations, the law of nature and the law of revelation, depend all human laws.
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The royal navy of England hath ever been its greatest defence and ornament it is its ancient and natural strength, - the floating bulwark of our island.
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Free men have arms slaves do not.
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No enactment of man can be considered law unless it conforms to the law of God
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[Self-defense is] justly called the primary law of nature, so it is not, neither can it be in fact, taken away by the laws of society.
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The sciences are of a sociable disposition, and flourish best in the neighborhood of each other nor is there any branch of learning but may be helped and improved by assistance drawn from other arts.
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Herein indeed consists the excellence of the English government, that all parts of it form a mutual check upon each other.
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