"As an instrument for practical action, law is responsive to the wisdom of its time, which may be wrong, but it carries forward, sometimes in opposition to this wisdom or passion, a memory of received values"
- Edward Levi
About this Quote
This quote by Edward Levi speaks to the power of law as an instrument for useful action. He suggests that law is reflective of the wisdom of its time, which may not constantly be proper. Nevertheless, he likewise recommends that law continues a memory of received values, even if it is in opposition to the wisdom or passion of the time. This recommends that law is not only a reflection of the existing worths of society, however also a tool to protect worths from the past. This quote speaks with the value of law in maintaining worths and customs, even when they are not popular or accepted by the bulk. It likewise speaks to the significance of understanding the history of law and its function in maintaining values, even when they are not popular.
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