It is impossible for a man to be a
great lawyer, so far as the learning of his profession is concerned,
who has not saturated himself with the Bible. He may be a great
practitioner, but not a great lawyer. It illuminates all our law--is
the source of much of it. There is no more curious and fascinating
study than a comparison of the ordinances of the Hebrews with what we
think our modern statutes.
Read deeply in science. Read widely the _great_ novelists. They are
scientists of human nature, and you are dealing with human nature in
your profession. Read profoundly in history. A comprehensive knowledge
of history is absolutely indispensable to an understanding of our
Constitution. The _Federalist_, the constitutional debates, and all
the discussions that preceded and accompanied the adoption of our
organic law are bewilderingly full of historical references. If you
were to study every decision on constitutional questions made by every
court in this country, you could not understand the Constitution.
You must go back to the roots of it. Trace out the growth of our
institutions in Holland. Work out the modifications by these upon
institutions adopted from England.
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