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John Selden Quotes

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John Selden (December 16, 1584 - November 30, 1654) was an English lawyer, historian, and philosopher. Limited information is available, but he is known for his contributions to the fields of law, history, and philosophy.

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All Men May Ifs Knows Should World Giving Reason Kings Law Religion Wit Firsts Made Pain People Preaching Thinking Wells Book

Famous John Selden Quotes

“Equity is a roguish thing. For Law we have a measure, know what to trust to; Equity is according to the conscience of him that is Chancellor, and as that is larger or narrower, so is Equity. 'T is all one as if they should make the standard for the measure we call a "foot" a Chancellor's foot; what an uncertain measure would this be! One Chancellor has a long foot, another a short foot, a third an indifferent foot. 'T is the same thing in the Chancellor's conscience.”

Ifs Knows Should Long Law Feet Standards Conscience Thirds Indifferent Uncertain Equity One Chance

Author:John Selden

“Preachers say, "Do as I say, not as I do." But if a physician had the same disease upon him that I have, and he should bid me do one thing and he do quite another, could I believe him?”

Ifs Should Believe I Believe One Thing Disease Preacher Preaching Physicians

Book:Table talk: being the discourses of John Selden, esq

Source: Table talk: being the discourses of John Selden, esq

“Men say they are of the same religion, for quietness' sake; but if the matter were well examined, you would scarce find three anywhere of the same religion on all points.”

Ifs Men Wells Matter Religion Three Sake Scarce Quietness

Book:English Belles-lettres: From A. D. 901 to 1834

Source: English Belles-lettres: From A. D. 901 to 1834

“A wise man should never resolve upon anything, at least, never let the world know his resolution, for if he cannot reach that he is ashamed.”

Ifs Knows Men World Should Wise Ashamed Resolve Resolution

Author:John Selden

“Prayer should be short, without giving God Almighty reasons why He should grant this or that; He knows best wheat is good for us. If your boy should ask you for a suit of clothes and give you reasons, would you endure it? You know his needs better than he; let him ask for a suit of clothes.”

Ifs Knows Needs Giving Should Reason Asks Prayer Boys Clothes Endure Suits Reason Why Grants Almighty Wheat

Author:John Selden

“They that are against Superstition oftentimes run into it of the wrong side. If I will wear all colours but black, then am I superstitious in not wearing black.”

Ifs Running Sides Black Color Superstitions Superstitious Wearing Black

Author:John Selden

“We pick out a text here and there to make it serve our turn; whereas , if we take it all together, and considered what went before and what followed after, we should find it meant no such thing.”

Ifs Should Together Turns Picks Hypocrisy Here And There

Book:Seldeniana: with a biographical preface

Source: Seldeniana: with a biographical preface

“If the prisoner should ask the judge whether he would be content to be hanged, were he in his case, he would answer no. Then, says the prisoner, do as you would be done to.”

Ifs Should Done Would Be Asks Answers Compassion Cases Judging Prisoner

Book:The table-talk of John Selden, with a biogr. preface and notes by S.W. Singer

Source: The table-talk of John Selden, with a biogr. preface and notes by S.W. Singer

“He that has not religion to govern his morality, is not a dram better than my mastiff-dog; so long as you stroke him, and please him, and do not pinch him, he will play with you as finely as may be, he is a very good moral mastiff; but if you hurt him, he will fly in your face, and tear out your throat.”

Ifs May Long Play Faces Hurt Moral Dog Tears Morality Please Very Good Your Face Throat Strokes Good Moral Mastiffs

Book:The Table-talk: Of John Selden, Esq. Being His Sense of Various Matters of Weight and High Consequence; Relating Especially to Religion and State

Source: The Table-talk: Of John Selden, Esq. Being His Sense of Various Matters of Weight and High Consequence; Relating Especially to Religion and State