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William Blackstone Quotes

Jurist

William Blackstone, a British jurist, was born on July 10, 1723, and died on February 14, 1780. He is a significant figure in the history of British law, known for his systematic compilation and exposition of the common law of England.

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Famous William Blackstone Quotes

“Of crimes injurious to the persons of private subjects, the most principal and important is the offense of taking away that life, which is the immediate gift of the great creator; and which therefore no man can be entitled to deprive himself or another of, but in some manner either expressly commanded in, or evidently deducible from, those laws which the creator has given us; the divine laws, I mean, of either nature or revelation.”

Men Mean Persons Important Law Given Subjects Crime Divine Creator Revelations Principal Entitled Offense Divine Law

Book:Commentaries on the laws of England: in four books, with an analysis of the work

Source: Commentaries on the laws of England: in four books, with an analysis of the work

“And these great natural rights may be reduced to three principal or primary articles: the right of personal security; the right of personal liberty; and the right of private property; because as there is no other known method of compulsion, or of abridging man's natural free will, but by an infringement or diminution of one or other of these important rights, the preservation of these, inviolate, may justly be said to include the preservation of our civil immunities in their largest and most extensive sense.”

Source: Blackstone's Commentaries systematically abridged and adapted to the existing state of the law and constitution, with great additions. By Samuel Warren

“Trial by jury is a privilege of the highest and most beneficial nature [and] our most important guardian both of public and private liberty. The liberties of England cannot but subsist so long as this palladium remains sacred and inviolate, not only from all open attacks, ... but also from all secret machinations, which may sap and undermine it.”

May Long Important Secret Liberty Highest England Remains Sacred Privilege Trials Guardian Beneficial Jury Sap Trial By Jury

Author:William Blackstone