Laws are like cobwebs, which may catch small flies but which let wasps and hornets break through.

Laws are like cobwebs, which may catch small flies but which let wasps and hornets break through.

Let us repeat the two crucial negative premises as established firmly by all human experience: (1) Words are not the read more

Let us repeat the two crucial negative premises as established firmly by all human experience: (1) Words are not the things we are speaking about; and (2) There is no such thing as an object in absolute isolation.

Laws are only felt when the individual comes in conflict with them.

Laws are only felt when the individual comes in conflict with them.

…a few philosophers really do important work. This applies to the so called ‘critical philosophy’ and to the theory of read more

…a few philosophers really do important work. This applies to the so called ‘critical philosophy’ and to the theory of knowledge or epistemology. This class of workers I call epistemologists to avoid the disagreeable implications of the term ‘philosopher’.

Law cannot persuade where it cannot punish.

Law cannot persuade where it cannot punish.

Who to himself is law, no law doth need,
Offends no law, and is a king indeed.

Who to himself is law, no law doth need,
Offends no law, and is a king indeed.

A good parson once said that where mystery begins religion ends.
Cannot I say, as truly at least, of read more

A good parson once said that where mystery begins religion ends.
Cannot I say, as truly at least, of human laws, that where
mystery begins, justice ends?

The problem with any unwritten law is that you don't know where to go to erase it.

The problem with any unwritten law is that you don't know where to go to erase it.

To make laws that man cannot, and will not obey, serves to bring all laws into contempt.

To make laws that man cannot, and will not obey, serves to bring all laws into contempt.