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Quote by William Blackstone

“To deny the possibility, nay, the actual existence of witchcraft and sorcery, is at once flatly to contradict the revealed word of God in various passages both of the Old and New Testament, and the thing itself is a Truth to which every nation in the world hath, in its turn, borne testimony, by either example seemingly well attested or by prohibitory laws, which at least suppose the possibility of a commerce with evil spirits.”

Book:Commentaries on the Laws of England - Of Public Wrongs

Work

Commentaries on the Laws of England - Of Public Wrongs

This volume constitutes one of the four books comprising Sir William Blackstone's comprehensive analysis of English law. Of Public Wrongs addresses criminal law, focusing on crimes that harm society as a whole rather than individual persons or property. The text explores the nature and classification of public offenses, the principles of criminal punishment, and the mechanisms by which the crown prosecutes wrongdoing. Blackstone's work systematically examines various categories of crimes including felonies, misdemeanors, and offenses against the peace of the realm. The Commentaries represent a systematic attempt to organize and explain the body of English law as it existed in the eighteenth century, drawing upon statutory provisions, judicial decisions, and legal scholarship. This work has been influential in shaping legal education and understanding of common law principles, particularly in jurisdictions that inherited English legal traditions. more

Author

William Blackstone

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. more