A phrase begins life as a literary expression; its felicity leads to its lazy repetition; and repetition soon establishes it as a legal formula, undiscriminatingly used to express different and sometimes contradictory ideas.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Phrases start as unique expressions but become cliches that lose precision over time.
- In plain terms
- Repetition turns smart words into vague formulas.
- What can you take from it?
- Watch out for overused legal terms.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- How does repetition change meaning?
Another view
Some repetition is necessary for clarity.
More from Felix Frankfurter
No court can make time stand still.
Permalink to quote #3 If one man can be allowed to determine for himself what is law, every man can. That means first chaos, then tyranny. Legal process is an essential part of the …
Permalink to quote #5 It must never be forgotten, however, that the Bill of Rights was the child of the Enlightenment. Back of the guarantee of free speech lay faith in the power of…
Permalink to quote #2
Related quotes
Ikke tusend ord sig prenter, som en gernings spor.
Henrik IbsenHenrik Ibsen quote #1 Long experience had taught me that absolute silence is the best way. Say something, and it can be misheard. Misunderstood. Misinterpreted. It can get you convi…
Lee ChildLee Child quote #1 Europa es dividite per le muros de 30 linguas. Felicemente, inter iste linguas national, circa 10.000 parolas de origine grec e latin son commun. Iste preciose…
Ric BergerRic Berger quote #1