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Precedent indeed may serve to fix principles, which for certainty's sake are not suffered to be shaken, whatever might be the weight of the principle, independent of precedent. But precedent, though it be evidence of law, is not law in itself; much less the whole of the law.

— William Murray, 1st Earl of Mansfield

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More quotes by William Murray, 1st Earl of Mansfield

An estimated value is a precarious measure of justice, compared with the specific thing.

Fisher v. Prince (1762)

A man wants no protection when his conduct is strictly right.

Bird v. Gunston (1785)

No degree of antiquity can give sanction to a usage bad in itself.

The air of England has long been too pure for a slave, and every man is free who breathes it.

God forbid that the defendant should not be allowed the benefit of every advantage he is entitled to by law.

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