“And when it come to character, warn’t it Compeyson as had been to the school, and warn’t it his schoolfellows as was in this position and in that, and warn’t it him as had been know’d by witnesses in such clubs and societies, and nowt to his disadvantage? And warn’t it me as had been tried afore, and as had been know’d up hill and down dale in Bridewells and Lock-Ups? And when it come to speech-making, warn’t it Compeyson as could speak to ’em wi’ his face dropping every now and then into his white pocket-handkercher – ah! and wi’ verses in his speech, too – and warn’t it me as could only say, ‘Gentlemen, this man at my side is a most precious rascal’? And when the verdict come, warn’t it Compeyson as was recommended to mercy on account of good character and bad company, and giving up all the information he could agen me, and warn’t it me as got never a word but Guilty?” ~ Great Expectations
Law Quotes
We hope you enjoy this collection of quotes about the law written by Charles Dickens.
Lawyers hold that there are
Lawyers hold that there are two kinds of particularly bad witnesses–a reluctant witness, and a too-willing witness. ~ The Pickwick Papers
In mind, she was of
In mind, she was of a strong and vigorous turn, having from her earliest youth devoted herself with uncommon ardour to the study of law; not wasting her speculations upon its eagle flights, which are rare, but tracing it attentively through all the slippery and eel-like crawlings in which it commonly pursues its way. ~ The Old Curiosity Shop
Battledore and shuttlecock’s a wery
"Battledore and shuttlecock’s a wery good game, vhen you ain’t the shuttlecock and two lawyers the battledores, in which case it gets too excitin’ to be pleasant." ~ The Pickwick Papers
So, Mr. Chadband–of whom the
So, Mr. Chadband–of whom the persecutors say that it is no wonder he should go on for any length of time uttering such abominable nonsense, but that the wonder rather is that he should ever leave off, having once the audacity to begin–retires into private life until he invests a little capital of supper in the oil-trade. ~ Bleak House
The One Great Principle
The one great principle of the English law is to make business for itself. There is no other principle distinctly, certainly, and consistently maintained through all its narrow turnings. ~ Bleak House
If there were no bad
If there were no bad people, there would be no good lawyers. ~ The Old Curiosity Shop
Take nothing on its looks;
"Take nothing on its looks; take everything on evidence. There’s no better rule." ~ Great Expectations
The simple fact was, that
The simple fact was, that Oliver, instead of possessing too little feeling, possessed rather too much; and was in a fair way of being reduced, for life, to a state of brutal stupidity and sullenness by the ill usage he had received. ~ Oliver Twist
I record predictions
I am . . . joined with eleven others in reporting the debates in Parliament for a Morning Newspaper. Night after night, I record predictions that never come to pass, professions that are never fulfilled, explanations that are only meant to mystify. I wallow in words. ~ David Copperfield
