Quoted for Truth

Over at Prawfsblawg, Brooks Holland passes along an interesting quote from Elihu Root, about one of the realities of the law:

About half the practice of a decent lawyer consists of telling would-be clients that they are damn fools and should stop.

Very true, to a point. For criminal defense attorneys, of course, we generally come in after our clients (many of whom are, indeed, damn fools) have "stopped." Or been stopped, rather.

Root had a rather long and distinguished career, which included winning the 1912 Nobel Peace Prize.