Home / Authors / William Blackstone

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.

Filter quotes by topic

All Law Men Liberty Laws Of Nature Humans Mankind Property Rights Subjects Contrary England Government Ifs May Natural Creator Depends Foundation Important Individual

Famous William Blackstone Quotes

“Law, in its most general and comprehensive sense, signifies a rule of action; and is applied indiscriminately to all kinds of action, whether animate, or inanimate, rational or irrational. Thus we say, the laws of motion, of gravitation, of optics, or mechanics, as well as the laws of nature and of nations. And it is that rule of action, which is prescribed by some superior, and which the inferior is bound to obey.”

Wells Kind Action Law Nations Bounds Superiors Rational All Kinds Inferiors Irrational Mechanic Laws Of Nature Comprehensive Gravitation Optics Laws Of Motion

Book:Commentaries on the Laws of England

Source: Commentaries on the Laws of England

“[Self-defense is] justly called the primary law of nature, so it is not, neither can it be in fact, taken away by the laws of society.”

Self Facts Law Taken Defense Primaries Laws Of Nature Self Defense

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

“The doctrines thus delivered we call the revealed or divine law, and they are to be found only in the holy scriptures.. are found upon comparison to be really part of the original law of nature. Upon these two foundations, the law of nature and the law of revelation, depend all human laws; that is to say, no human laws should be suffered to contradict these.”

Should Humans Two Law Found Divine Depends Holy Originals Foundation Scripture Doctrine Revelations Comparison Laws Of Nature Holy Scriptures Divine Law

Book:The Oxford Edition of Blackstone's: Commentaries on the Laws of England: Book I: Of the Rights of Persons

Source: The Oxford Edition of Blackstone's: Commentaries on the Laws of England: Book I: Of the Rights of Persons

“Man must necessarily be subject to the laws of his Creator. This will of his Maker is called the Law of Nature. This Law of Nature is superior to any other. No human laws are of any validity if contrary to this.”

Ifs Men Humans Law Subjects Creator Contrary Superiors Makers Laws Of Nature Validity

Author:William Blackstone

“THIS law of nature, being co-eval with mankind and dictated by God himself, is of course superior in obligation to any other. It is binding over all the globe, in all countries, and at all times: no human laws are of any validity, if contrary to this; and such of them as are valid derive all their force, and all their authority, mediately or immediately, from this original.”

Source: The Sovereignty of the Law: Selections from Blackstone’s Commentaries on the Laws of England

“Upon these two foundations, the law of nature and the law of revelation, depend all human laws.”

Humans Two God Law Depends Foundation Revelations Laws Of Nature

Book:Commentaries on the Laws of England

Source: Commentaries on the Laws of England