Need a good philosophical quote to open paper, "What is Law?"

[scott8]

Any ideas would be appreciated.

[Thythe]

I was always partial to the Roscoe Pound quote "the law should be stable, but it must not stand still." I'm not sure if this would work as an opener or not, but is good nonetheless.

[Skipbidder]

Give me some idea of what you will be saying in the paper.
For example, John Locke in the late 17th Century, beleived that humans had access to moral laws even without having been taught them. (They existed in the "state of nature".)

"Reason, which is that law, teaches all mankind who will but consult it, that, being all equal and independent, no one ought to harm another in his life, health, liberty or profession."

If you don't like this, I can probably give you something from between 1600-1900 British philosophers. Once again, giving me the basic argument from your paper would allow me to tailor the quote.

[Popinjay]

Socrates from Plato's Phaedrus

“If anyone means to deliberate successfully about anything […] he must know what it is he is deliberating about”

[Blarg]

"The law, in its majestic equality, forbids the rich as well as the poor to steal bread...and sleep under bridges."

There's another phrase in the middle that I forget. It's by some French dude...I saw it in a book called The Curmudgeon's Companion or something like that. Damn, wish I could remember the whole thing.

[Skipbidder]

[ QUOTE ]
"The law, in its majestic equality, forbids the rich as well as the poor to steal bread...and sleep under bridges."

There's another phrase in the middle that I forget. It's by some French dude...I saw it in a book called The Curmudgeon's Companion or something like that. Damn, wish I could remember the whole thing.

[/ QUOTE ]

The Law, in its majestic equality, forbids the rich, as well as the poor, to sleep under the bridges, to beg in the streets, and to steal bread.
-- Anatole France (1844-1924)

[jesusarenque]

The law, in its majestic equality, forbids the rich as well as the poor to sleep under bridges, to beg in the streets, and to steal bread.

--Anatole France

[Blarg]

Ah, beautiful, thanks so much! It always bugged me that I forgot that one section of that great quote. It's a real keeper.

[lucas9000]

there are some good ones here

[istewart]

Opening papers with quotes is -EV.