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

How long soever it hath continued, if it be against reason, it is of no force in law.

Even a dog distinguishes between being stumbled over and being kicked.

It is more important that innocence be protected than it is that guilt be punished, for guilt and crimes are so frequent in this world that they cannot all be punished.

But if innocence itself is brought to the bar and condemned, perhaps to die, then the citizen will say, 'whether I do good or whether I do evil is immaterial, for innocence itself is no protection,' and if such an idea as that were to take hold in the mind of the citizen that would be the end of security whatsoever.

Common sense often makes good law.

Law is nothing other than a certain ordinance of reason for the common good, promulgated by the person who has the care of the community.