Equity

Equity is as long as the chancellor's foot.

— Equity

He who seeks equity must do equity.

— Equity

A Court of equity ought to follow the law.

— Equity

Equity and common law are two distinct systems, unlike any existing in any foreign country.

— Equity

I do not think that Courts of equity ought to go otherwise than the Courts of law.

— Equity

Equity will go no further than the law.

— Equity

It is true that Courts of equity, in administering justice, sometimes go further than the Courts of law.

— Equity

A Court of equity can mould interests differently from a Court of law; and can give relief in cases where a Court of law cannot.

— Equity

Courts of equity make their decrees so as to arrive at the justice of the case without violating the rules of law.

— Equity

Nor doth the law of the land speak against him. But that and equity ought to join hand in hand, in moderating and restraining all extremities and hardships. . . . They both aim at one and the same end, which is, to do right.

— Equity

The course of equity is a part of the constitution of the law and judicial proceedings in this kingdom.

— Equity

It appears to me to be the duty of every Court, whether a Court of equity or a Court of law, to give effect to the plain meaning of the Legislature, whatever may be the views entertained of its policy or applicability in particular cases.

— Equity

The Chancellor hath power to moderate and temper the written law, and subjecteth himself only to the law of nature and reason.

— Equity

Law, without equity, though hard and disagreeable, is much more desirable for the public good, than equity without law.

— Equity

A Judge ought to prepare his way to a just sentence, as God useth to prepare his way, by raising valleys and taking down hills: so when there appeareth on either side a high hand, violent prosecution, cunning advantages taken, combination, power, great counsel, then is the virtue of a Judge seen to make inequality equal; that he may plant his judgment as upon even ground.

— Equity

A Court of equity knows its own province.

— Equity

A party who seeks equity must do equity.

— Equity

I do not pretend to dispense equity at large, but only by the consent of the parties, upon a rule of Court.

— Equity

Courts of equity in ancient times, were more in the habit of taking to themselves the decision of questions of fact than they have thought wise and discreet in later times. All the Judges have demonstrated their opinion, to send the question of fact to a jury, where any reasonable doubt is raised; and I cannot suppose there is any prejudice in a tribunal appointed according to the constitution of the country to try the fact.

— Equity

Courts of equity have always considered it of the greatest possible importance that parties should not sleep on their rights.

— Equity

We ought not to interpose in a matter which seems peculiarly to belong to the jurisdiction of a Court of equity.

— Equity

We are now Courts of equity, and must decide the thing according to all the rights.

— Equity

I have always thought that formerly there was too confined a way of thinking in the Judges of the common law Courts, and that Courts of equity have risen by the Judges not properly applying the principles of the common law, being too narrowly governed by old cases and maxims, which have too much prevented the public from having the benefit of the common law.

— Equity

Equity in its true and genuine meaning, is the soul and spirit of all law; positive law is construed, and rational law is made, by it. In this, equity is synonymous to justice; in that, to the true sense and sound interpretation of the rule.

— Equity

I cannot agree that the doctrines of this Court are to be changed with every succeeding Judge. Nothing would inflict on me greater pain in quitting this place, than the recollection that I had done anything to justify the reproach that the equity of this Court varies like the Chancellor's foot.

— Equity

I think that common law is better than equity.

— Equity

"Equity is a roguish thing : for law we have a measure ; know what to trust to. Equity is according to the conscience of him that is Chancellor; and, as that is larger or narrower, so is equity. 'Tis all one, as if they should make his foot the standard for the measure we call a foot 'a Chancellor's foot'; what an uncertain measure would this be! One Chancellor has a long foot. another a short foot, a third an indifferent foot; 'tis the same thing in the Chancellor's conscience.

— Equity

This Court should determine upon broad principles which will meet the common sense of mankind.

— Equity

A Court of equity may do great things, but cannot alter things, or make them to operate contrary to their essential natures and properties.

— Equity

Equity has not relieved against gross improvidence.

— Equity

A man must come into a Court of equity with clean hands.

— Equity

It is a rule that those who come into a Court of justice to seek redress, must come with clean hands, and must disclose a transaction warranted by law.

— Equity

When any one comes into a Court of equity to ask that which would not be granted in a Court of law, that person must come into Court with clean hands.

— Equity

In this case the plaintiff does not come into Coirrt with clean hands; he alleges his own turpitude, and is indictable for his fraud.

— Equity

The strict primary decree of this Court, as a Court of equity, is in personam.

— Equity

The paternal jurisdiction of Courts of equity.

— Equity

Though proceedings in equity are said to be seeundem discretkmem boni viri, yet when it is asked, "Vir bonus est quis?" the answer is, "Qui consulta patrum, qui leges juraque servat."

— Equity

When this is said, it does not mean a general depravity; it must have an immediate and necessary relation to the equity sued for ; it must be a depravity in a legal, as well as in a moral sense.

— Equity

He has been emphatically called 'the father of equity.'"

— Equity

A Court of equity interposes only according to conscience.

— Equity

A Court of equity which is never active in relief against conscience, or public convenience, has always refused its aid to stale demands where the party has slept upon his right, and acquiesced for a great length of time. Nothing can call forth this Court into activity, but conscience, good faith and reasonable diligence; where these are wanting, the Court is passive and does nothing.

— Equity

It is the constant practice of Courts of equity to discourage stale demands.

— Equity

Altho' the surety is not troubled or molested for the debt, yet at any time after the money becomes payable on the original bond, this Court will decree the principal to discharge the debt; it being unreasonable that a man shall always have such a cloud hang over him.

— Equity

Confederacies and combinations are very proper heads of relief.

— Equity

II est fort equitable et de publique convenience que gens ferront aide en recovery de lour duties (It is very agreeable to Equity, and of public convenience, that people should be aided in recovering their duties).

— Equity

It is not the function of a Court of justice to enforce or give effect to moral obligations which do not carry with them legal or equitable rights.

— Equity

It would not be correct to say that every moral obligation involves a legal duty; but every legal duty is founded on a moral obligation.

— Equity

All laws stand on the best and broadest basis which go to enforce moral and social duties.

— Equity