Bob K

Many years ago, I read the following quote: Note: The actual words could be either (A) The essence of all law ... or (B) The essence of the law ... .

This quote was attributed to Thomas Jefferson, who referred to US law and who attributed it to a Jewish scholar, who referred to Jewish law.

Searches of Jefferson quotes have not provided Jefferson's quote, and, certainly, hence, not the Jewish scholar quote source.

An examination of this quote suggests that it is higholy accurate and is, in fact, the basis for any morality as well as a legal system.

For example, if injury is defined as the loss of life, limb, liberty, or property, then all categories of law are effectively covered.

And if 'innocent' is defined as not intending to injure/cause the loss of life/limb/liberty/property to someone who does not intend to injure another innocent individual, then we have a distinction between 'innocent' and 'criminal.' Self-defense and defense of others are therefore justified as the prevention of injury wherein an innocent individual can injure, if necessary, a criminal and yet, within the law, remain innocent.

Recasting the quote: The essence of all law is that no man [should be allowed to] injure [cause the loss of life/limb/liberty/property of] another [innocent individual]; all the rest [of the law] is commentary.

This topic has been placed in the Bib/Arch Forum in the hope that individuals who frequent this foruam and who research Jewish records might be familiar with the quote and its Jewish scholar source and thus be able to provde the source.

Amen-Moses

Could it be:

What is hateful to you, do not to your fellow men. That is the entire Law; all the rest is commentary. - The Talmud

From:

<a href="http://www.fragrant.demon.co.uk/golden.html" target="_blank">http://www.fragrant.demon.co.uk/golden.html</a>

Apparently attributed to Hillel around 50BCE.

Amen-Moses

Amen-Moses

Of course this:

Do not unto another that you would not have him do unto you. Thou needest this law alone. It is the foundation of all the rest. -- Confucius, 500 BCE

Sounds very similar.

Amen-Moses

Bob K

Amen-Moses:

Thanks for the suggestions.

The Hillel quote certainly seems close to the Jefferson quote. Especially "all the rest is commentary."

If Jefferson paraphrased Hillel, instead of copying him directly, then perhaps the Jewish source is Hillel, as you have suggested.

[ November 17, 2002: Message edited by: Bob K ]</p>