Cicero - Law Quotes

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Injustice often arises also through chicanery, that is, through an over-subtle and even fraudulent construction of the law. This it is that gave rise to the now familiar saw, "More law, less justice."

Cicero
For there is but one essential justice which cements society, and one law which establishes this justice. This law is right reason, which is the true rule of all commandments and prohibitions. Whoever neglects this law, whether written or unwritten, is necessarily unjust and wicked.

Cicero
The first law for the historian is that he shall never dare utter an untruth. The second is that he shall suppress nothing that is true. Moreover, there shall be no suspicion of partiality in his writing, or of malice.

Cicero
Law is the highest reason implanted in Nature, which commands what ought to be done and forbids the opposite.

Cicero
For what people have always sought is equality before the law. For rights that were not open to all alike would be no rights.

Cicero
If nature does not ratify law, then all the virtues may lose their sway.

Cicero
For as the law is set over the magistrate, even so are the magistrates set over the people. And therefore, it may be truly said, "that the magistrate is a speaking law, and the law is a silent magistrate.

Cicero
There are certain minute particles, some smooth, others rough, some round, some angular, some curved or hookshaped, and others that heaven and earth were created from these, not by compulsion of any natural law but by a sort of accidental colliding.

Cicero
Who does not know history's first law to be that an author must not dare to tell anything but the truth? And its second that he must make bold to tell the whole truth? That there must be no suggestion of partiality anywhere in his writings? Nor of malice?

Cicero