The only simplicity for which I would give a straw is that which is on the other side of the complex.
Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr.
The Only Simplicity
Topic: Wisdom & Understanding
The only simplicity for which I would give a straw is that which is on the other side of the complex—not that which never has divined it.
Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. (1841-1935) was an American jurist who served as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States from 1902 to 1932. Renowned for his sharp wit and broad legal insight, Holmes is one of the most widely cited United States Supreme Court justices in history. His tenure on the bench was marked by his clear and often epigrammatic opinions, and he played a pivotal role in the shifting interpretations of the U.S. Constitution in the early 20th century, emphasizing the importance of legal realism and the evolving nature of the law.
Born in Boston to a prominent family, Holmes was the son of Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr., a renowned physician and writer. After serving in the Civil War, Holmes, Jr. studied at Harvard Law School, and went on to teach there as well. He authored "The Common Law" in 1881, which highlighted the evolutionary and changing nature of the law, setting the stage for his later judicial philosophies. As a justice, he often emphasized the importance of freedom of speech, paving the way for future First Amendment jurisprudence.
Holmes had a knack for articulating profound ideas with remarkable clarity and brevity. One of his most notable quotes, "The only simplicity for which I would give a straw is that which is on the other side of the complex," speaks to his belief in the value of grappling with complexity in order to arrive at deeper, more nuanced understandings. This sentiment reflects much of his approach to jurisprudence; he did not shy away from the complexities of the law, but instead sought to delve deep into them, believing that true simplicity and understanding lay just beyond.
Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. [Holmes-Pollock Letters : The Correspondence of Mr. Justice Holmes and Sir Frederick Pollock, 1874-1932" (2nd ed., 1961)] p. 109.
Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr.
Theme: Wisdom
Commentary About This Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. Quote [Brief]
Commentary About This Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. Quote [Longer]
The Wisdom of True Simplicity
Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.—Quote Attribution Issues
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