John Bruce Norton

“ The scholar who studies merely for himself, pursues but a selfish aim, scarcely worthy even of praise or of approval: nay, it may be that he is but unconsciously wasting his invaluable, irrevocable time in another form of laborious idleness. He is like a fountain, the waters of which fall back unproductive into the basin of its own reservoir; while the scholar who labours for his fellow-men is like an abounding river, which gladdens and fertilizes the country through which it runs. ”

“ Mental relaxation, bodily exercise are necessary to all men; they are essential to the cheerful and efficient performance of our daily duties: but let me caution you not to throw away these opportunities of leisure, the only ones you will have left, in idleness or folly, for I will not stoop to add, vice. It is by inculcating the habit of improving your leisure, that you will promote your self- education: and this is all the more indispensable; because all special occupations have a tendency to narrow, however they may sharpen, the intellect. ”

“ The more you learn, the more you will discover you have to learn; the more you will fathom your own ignorance; the more illimitable you will find the regions of knowledge; the more you will become diffident and modest; the greater forbearance and deference you will exercise and pay towards your fellows; the more you will be conscious of your own insignificance and the vanity of all human affairs ”

“ He is never to seek to mislead or to puzzle the Court. He is there to aid, not to embarrass the Judge; he must never mis-state a fact; and always base his arguments upon and confine them to the facts as they stand proved by the evidence. ”

“ If we are ever poring over the same page, the sphere of vision is bounded by the four corners of our book; if we will never lift our eyes, we may shut out even the glories of Nature and the light of Heaven, until we come insensibly to forget them. ”

“ Most earnestly we invite and call upon all Bachelors of Law to ponder well upon the duties of an Advocate. Entitled as the Advocate is to a fair remuneration for Duties of an Advocate.his services, he should never let the acquisition of wealth be the main end or object of his actions. He should seek to compose and to restrain, not to foment and foster, the evil passions of those who consult him. His first duty to his client is, if possible, to save him from litigation. ”

“ It is absolutely necessary therefore for every man immersed in business, to keep his mind open and enlarged, if he would escape the reproach of having sunk into a mere drudge; if he hopes to hold his place in cultivated society; if he aspires to achieve aught for his own fame, for the benefit of his own countrymen, or of mankind at large. Thus Results of self-education.it is, that you will be ever advancing on the path of self-education, making yourselves practically more useful in your professions, more agreeable members of the society in which you move ”

“ The relations between Judge and Counsel in a properly constituted Court, should be those of mutual reliance and esteem. There should neither be arrogance on the one hand, nor subservience on the other. ”

“ As you will thus educate yourselves, so we expect you to be mindful of your duty Further the education of others.in forwarding the education of others. You may not be able to do much; some may have it in their power to do more than others; but if you are well satisfied of the pleasures and the profits of knowledge in your own case, you ought to seek to impart the same benefits to your fellows. Every educated man who like you has been stamped by the University, may become the centre of a fresh circle of educational activity and action. ”

“ Labour, it has often been remarked, makes the difference between man and man: Improve your leisure.and there is no doubt that honest regular plodding does almost invariably lead to a certain success in life. ”

“ Remember that he who aspires to the honors of the profession, and advancement by the State, must rest his claims at least as much on the worth of his moral character, as on the brilliancy of his reputation for intellectual achievements. ”

“ His eagerness for his client's cause must never lead him into any measure that is dishonest or dishonorable: should a client venture to suggest such measures, the Advocate may justly spurn him from his door. ”

“ I am far from imputing to every individual Native a want of truthfulness in all Why Perjury has grown.his ordinary dealings with his fellow-men. We know too little of Native society to justify any so sweeping conclusion; and indeed, society could not hold together under such conditions. Truth, as Bentham has well remarked, is easier and more natural to man than falsehood. ”