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In a perfectly new case—a case altogether primae impressionis—I think the Judges are bound to hold fast to the principles of the common law—to remember the maxim, "Salus reipublicae suprema lex," and if the condition be really in principle against the public good, to pronounce it in their judgment void.

— Sir Frederick Pollock, 1st Baronet Brownlow v. Egerton (1854)

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More quotes by Sir Frederick Pollock, 1st Baronet

Judges are philologists of the highest order.

Ex parte Davis (1857)

You have no right, for the purpose of justifying a libel, to inquire into a man's life and opinions.

Derby v. Ouseley (1856)

In criminal cases you always begin by proving the corpus delicti, and then connect the prisoner with it.

Queen v. Bernard (1858)

Arguments from the American statute are not of much force, because Englishmen are not bound to know it.

Attorney General v. Sillem and others (1864)

The Crown cannot ever be prejudiced by the misconduct or negligence of any of its officers.

Reg. v. Renton (1848)

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Quote text and notes from Wikiquote: Sir Frederick Pollock, 1st Baronet (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source quality and labels are our own summary of what Wikiquote records.