Grocott & Ward, comps. Grocott’s Familiar Quotations, 6th ed. 189-?.
Lawyers
Thou son of parchment—that may’st call The pen thy father, and the ink thy mother, The sand thy brother, and the wax thy sister, And the good pillory thy cousin removed; I say, learn reverence to thy betters. Cartwright.—The Ordinary, Act III. Scene 5.
Never fear a lawyer in lace— The lawyer that sets out in lace, always ends in rags. Fielding.—Rape upon Rape, Act II. Scene 2.
I know you lawyers can, with ease, Twist your words and meanings as you please; That language, by your skill made pliant, Will bend to favour every client; That ’tis the fee directs the sense, To make out either side’s pretence. Gay.—Fable I. Part II.
The plainest case in many words entangling. Baillie.—Legend of Lady Griseld.
The first thing we do, let’s kill all the lawyers. Shakespeare.—King Henry VI., Part II. Act IV. Scene 2. (Dick to Cade.)
A lawyer’s dealings should be just and fair, Honesty shines with great advantage there. Cowper.—Hope, Line 401.
But who shall act the honest lawyer? ’Tis a hard part that. Suckling.—The Sad One, Act III. Scene 4.