It is better that ten guilty persons escape than one innocent suffer.
William BlackstoneRead
That the king can do no wrong is a necessary and fundamental principle of the English constitution.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote asserts that in the English legal system, the monarchy cannot commit a legal wrong, emphasizing the principle of sovereign immunity.
William Blackstone's quote highlights a core tenet of the English constitution, known as 'sovereign immunity.' This principle posits that the monarch is above the law, providing a foundation for the legal system where the king's decrees are unchallengeable in court. This concept has significant implications for the relationship between governance and law, influencing how authority is perceived in a constitutional framework.
Themes
SovereigntyLawMonarchyJusticeConstitutionPrinciple
In practice
Example use cases
During a lecture on constitutional law, a professor might use this quote to illustrate the concept of sovereign immunity.
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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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