The King himself should be under no man, but under God and the Law.
Edward CokeRead
The agreement of the parties cannot make that good which the law maketh void.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Laws cannot be overridden by personal agreements if those agreements contradict legal rules.
Edward Coke's quote emphasizes the supremacy of law over personal agreements. It suggests that no matter how much two parties might agree on certain terms, if those terms are in violation of existing law, they hold no legal standing. This highlights the importance of respecting legal frameworks and the limitations they impose on private arrangements.
Themes
LawAgreementVoidLegalSupremacy
In practice
Example use cases
Citing this quote in a legal seminar to emphasize contractual obligations.
More from Edward Coke
All quotes βFor a man's house is his castle, et domus sua cuique tutissimum refugium [and one's home is the safest refuge to everyone].
Edward CokeRead
There be three kinds of unhappie men. 1. Qui scit & non docet, Hee that hath knowledge and teacheth not. 2. Qui docet & non vivit, He that teacheth, and liveth not thereafter. 3. Qui nescit, & non interrogat, He that knoweth not, and doth not enquire to understand.
Edward CokeRead
No man can be a compleat Lawyer by universalitie of knowledge without experience in particular cases, nor by bare experience without universalitie of knowledge; he must be both speculative & active, for the science of the laws, I assure you, must joyne hands with experience.
Edward CokeRead
It is the worst oppression, that is done by colour of justice
Edward CokeRead
So as grave and learned men may doubt, without any imputation to them; for the most learned doubteth most, and the more ignorant for the most part are the more bold and peremptory.
Edward CokeRead
Similar quotes
The task of a judge is not to make the law - it is to apply the law.
Sonia SotomayorRead
The critical point is that the Constitution places the right of silence beyond the reach of government.
William O. DouglasRead
The constitution controls any legislative act repugnant to it.
John MarshallRead
In the last analysis, our every right is only worth what our lawyer makes it worth.
Robert KennedyRead
The Sixth Amendment secures to persons charged with crime the right to be tried by an impartial jury reflecting a fair cross-section of the community.
Ruth Bader GinsburgRead
I will not say with Lord Hale, that "The Law will admit of no rival" . . . but I will say that it is a jealous mistress, and requires a long and constant courtship. It is not to be won by trifling favors, but by lavish homage.
Joseph StoryRead