William Blackstone Professions : Jurist Born : July 10, 1723 Died : February 14, 1780 Browse All Authors Top 45 quotes by William Blackstone It is better that ten guilty persons escape than one innocent suffer. William Blackstone innocence suffering justice Those rights, then, which God and nature have established, and are therefore called natural rights, such as life and liberty, need not the aid of human laws to be more effectually invested in every man than they are; neither do they receive any additional strength when declared by the municipal laws to be inviolate. On the contrary, no human legislature has power to abridge or destroy them, unless the owner shall himself commit some act that amounts to a forfeiture. William Blackstone rights law men No enactment of man can be considered law unless it conforms to the law of God William Blackstone conform law men THIS law of nature, being co-eval with mankind and dictated by God himself, is of course superior in obligation to any other. It is binding over all the globe, in all countries, and at all times: no human laws are of any validity, if contrary to this; and such of them as are valid derive all their force, and all their authority, mediately or immediately, from this original. William Blackstone god law country Man must necessarily be subject to the laws of his Creator. This will of his Maker is called the Law of Nature. This Law of Nature is superior to any other. No human laws are of any validity if contrary to this. William Blackstone makers law men [Self-defense is] justly called the primary law of nature, so it is not, neither can it be in fact, taken away by the laws of society. William Blackstone taken self law The liberty of the press is indeed essential to the nature of a free state: but this consists in laying no previous restraints upon publications, and not in freedom from censure for criminal matter when published. Every freeman has an undoubted right to lay what sentiments he pleases before the public: to forbid this, is to destroy the freedom of the press: but if he publishes what is improper, mischievous, or illegal, he must take the consequence of his own temerity. William Blackstone criminals liberty matter Law is the embodiment of the moral sentiment of the people. William Blackstone embodiment law people So great moreover is the regard of the law for private property, that it will not authorize the least violation of it; no, not even for the general good of the whole community. William Blackstone violation community law Punishments of unreasonable severity, especially where indiscriminately afflicted, have less effect in preventing crimes, and amending the manners of a people, than such as are more merciful in general, yet properly intermixed with due distinctions of severity. William Blackstone punishment hell people Free men have arms; slaves do not. William Blackstone slave arms men If [the legislature] will positively enact a thing to be done, the judges are not at liberty to reject it, for that were to set the judicial power above that of the legislature, which would be subversive of all government. William Blackstone rejection government judging Trial by jury is a privilege of the highest and most beneficial nature [and] our most important guardian both of public and private liberty. The liberties of England cannot but subsist so long as this palladium remains sacred and inviolate, not only from all open attacks, ... but also from all secret machinations, which may sap and undermine it. William Blackstone important secret long The husband and wife are one, and that one is the husband. William Blackstone husband-and-wife wife husband The public good is in nothing more essentially interested, than in the protection of every individual's private rights. William Blackstone internet liberty rights No outward doors of a man's house can in general be broken open to execute any civil process; though in criminal cases the public safety supersedes the private. William Blackstone home doors men And, lastly, to vindicate these rights, when actually violated and attacked, the subjects of England are entitled, in the first place, to the regular administration and free course of justice in the courts of law; next to the right of petitioning the king and parliament for redress of grievances; and, lastly, to the right of having and using arms for self preservation and defense. William Blackstone kings self rights Upon these two foundations, the law of nature and the law of revelation, depend all human laws. William Blackstone god law two That the king can do no wrong is a necessary and fundamental principle of the English constitution. William Blackstone political government kings The Bible has always been regarded as part of the Common Law of England. 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