Edward Coke, fully Sir Edward Coke

It is better, saith the law, to suffer a mischief that is peculiar to one, than an inconvenience that may prejudice many

The gladsome light of jurisprudence.

It is commonly said, that three things be favored in law; life, liberty, and dower.

The home to everyone is to him his castle and fortress, as well for his defense against injury and violence, as for his repose.

It is therefore necessary that memorable things should be committed to writing, and not wholly betaken i. e., committed to slippery memory which seldom yields a certain reckoning.

The King himself should be under no man, but under God and the Law.

Law is the safest helmet.

The Law ... is perfection of reason.

Magna Charta is such a fellow, that he will have no sovereign.

The law compells no man to impossible things. The argument ab impossibili is forcible in law. The home to everyone is to him his castle and fortress, as well for his defence against injury and violence, as for his repose.

Of every custom there be two essential parts, time and usage; time out of mind, (as shall be said hereafter) and continual and peaceable usage without lawful interruption.

The reason of the law is the life of the law; for though a man can tell the law, yet if he know not the reason thereof, he shall soone forget his superficial knowledge. But when he findeth the right reason of the law, and so bringeth it to his natural reason, that he comprehendeth it as his own, this will not only serve him for the understanding of that particular case, but of many others; for cognitio legis est copulata et complicata; and this knowledge will long remaine with him.

Often do the spirits of great events stride on before the events, and in to-day already walks to-morrow.

There be three kinds of unhappie men. 1. He that hath knowledge and teacheth not. 2. He that teacheth, and liveth not thereafter. 3. He that knoweth not, and doth not enquire to understand.

One threatens the innocent who spares the guilty.

There is no jewel in the world comparable to learning; no learning so excellent both for Prince and subject, as knowledge of laws; and no knowledge of any laws so necessary for all estates and for all causes, concerning goods, lands or life, as the common laws of England.

Only this incident inseparable every custom must have, viz., that it be consonant to reason; for how long soever it hath continued, if it be against reason, it is of no force in law.

Things are worth what they will fetch at a sale.

Ratio est anima legis; for then are we said to know the law, when we apprehend the reason of the law; that is, when we bring the reason of the law so to our owne reason, that wee perfectly understand it as our owne; and then, and never before, we have such an excellent and inseparable propertie and ownership therein, as wee can neither lose it, nor any man take it from us, and will direct us (the learning of the law is so chained together) in many other cases. But if by your studie and industrie you make not the reason of the law your owne, it is not possible for you long to retaine it in youre memorie.

Those who consent to the act and those who do it shall be equally punished.

Reason is the life of the law; nay, the common law itself is nothing else but reason - the law which is perfection of reason.

Though the bribe be small, yet the fault is great.

Fraud and deceit abound in these days more than in former times.

Seven hours to law, to soothing slumber seven; Ten to the world allot, and all to heaven

We have a maxim in the House of Commons, and written on the walls of our houses, that old ways are the safest and surest ways.