Francis Bacon

Therefore if a man look sharply and attentively, he shall see Fortune; for though she be blind, yet she is not invisible.

There is a wisdom in this beyond the rules of physic: a man’s own observation what he finds good of and what he finds hurt of is the best physic to preserve health.

It is a strange desire, to seek power and lose liberty, or to seek power over others and to lose power over a man’s self. The rising unto place is laborious, and by pains men come to greater pains, and it is sometimes base; and by indignities men come to dignities. The standing is slippery, and the regress is either a downfall or at least an eclipse, which is a melancholy thing.

Suspicion amongst thoughts are like bats amongst birds, they never fly by twilight.

If a man be gracious and courteous to strangers, it shows he is a citizen of the world.

This is certain, that a man that studieth revenge keeps his wounds green, which otherwise would heal and do well.

Lawyers know life practically. A bookish man should always have them to converse with.

The highest law gives a thing to him who can use it.

Men are not governed by justice, but by law or persuasion. When they refuse to be governed by law or persuasion, they have to be governed by force or fraud, or both.

Are you threatening me? If you so much as touch me I’ll have you arrested!

Justice? – You get justice in the next world. In this one you have the law.

A jury consists of twelve persons chosen to decide who has the better lawyer.

If the machine of government is of such a nature that it requires you to be the agent of injustice to another, then, I say, break the law.

To live outside the law, you must be honest.

My focus now is to be the best justice I can be.

An incompetent attorney can delay a trial for months or years. A competent attorney can delay one even longer.

You get a lawyer whether you’re in a military tribunal or whether you’re in a federal court, number one. The attorney general decided that the court with the biggest – with the greatest venue, with the best jurisdiction was the New York court. That was the right decision to make.

The law will never make men free, it is men that have to make the law free.

It is not desirable to cultivate a respect for the law, so much as for the right.

When you go into court you are putting your fate into the hands of twelve people who weren’t smart enough to get out of jury duty.

In law, nothing is certain but the expense.