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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

“There is nothing which so generally strikes the imagination, and engages the affections of mankind, as the right of property; or that sole and despotic dominion which one man claims and exercises over the external things of the world, in total exclusion of the right of any other individual in the universe. And yet there are very few, that will give themselves the trouble to consider the original and foundation of this right.”

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

“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

“The third absolute right, inherent in every Englishman, is that of . . . the sacred and inviolable rights of private property.”

Rights Thirds Absolutes Sacred Property Inherent Englishmen Private Property

Author:William Blackstone

“There is nothing which so generally strikes the imagination and engages the affections of mankind, as the right of property.”

Imagination Mankind Property Affection Strikes

Book:Commentaries on the Laws of England

Source: Commentaries on the Laws of England

“So great moreover is the regard of the law for private property, that it will not authorize the least violation of it; no, not even for the general good of the whole community.”

Whole Law Community Regard Property Violation Private Property Property Rights

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