A handsome handbook of legal wisdom past and present, for students, prosecutors, partners, and litigators—Voltaire and Rousseau, Jefferson and Lincoln, Holmes and Ginsburg, and much more.

To be a lawyer or a politician or a judge, one must dedicate their lives to serving the public good. For anyone considering a career in law or anyone interested in philosophy, politics, and/or government, herein you will find an entertaining and educational collection of legal wisdom from some of history’s greatest thinkers. The road to justice is not always easy. It is fraught with conflict, scandal, adversity, and sleepless nights. It is a noble and necessary pursuit as society continues to progress and seek equality for all. Chapters include:


Some Premises of the Law
Society, the Individual, and the Law
The Machinery of the Law
The Practice of Law
Law, Money, and Power
Justice and Injustice
Cases and Judgments
Freedom and Censorship
Crime and Punishment
At the Expense of Lawyers: Quips, Jokes, and Scandalous Sayings


Words from renowned lawyers, judges, authors, politicians, philosophers, and preachers make up this diverse assortment of over two hundred memorable, bite-sized quotations about justice, philosophy, crime, the life of a lawyer, landmark cases, and more.

“Let all laws by clear, uniform, and precise; to interpret laws is almost always to corrupt them.” —Voltaire

“If in your own judgment you cannot be an honest lawyer, resolve to be honest without being a lawyer.” —President Abraham Lincoln

“The first duty of society is justice.” —Alexander Hamilton

“A system of justice is the richer for diversity of background and experience.” —U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg