It is better that ten guilty persons escape than one innocent suffer.
William BlackstoneRead
The public good is in nothing more essentially interested, than in the protection of every individual's private rights.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The protection of individual rights is crucial for the public good.
This quote by William Blackstone emphasizes the importance of safeguarding individual rights as a fundamental aspect of ensuring the welfare of society as a whole. It suggests that a just society must prioritize the protection of private rights, as this creates a foundation for peace, order, and collective well-being.
Themes
Public GoodIndividual RightsProtectionJusticeSociety
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a speech about the importance of civil liberties.
More from William Blackstone
All quotes βThat the king can do no wrong is a necessary and fundamental principle of the English constitution.
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There is nothing which so generally strikes the imagination and engages the affections of mankind, as the right of property.
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Law is the embodiment of the moral sentiment of the people.
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No enactment of man can be considered law unless it conforms to the law of God
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Herein indeed consists the excellence of the English government, that all parts of it form a mutual check upon each other.
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