“It's the temper of the time to resent nothing - to be mealy mouthed and mealy hearted. ...they are mealy mouthed verdicts, tending to equalize crime and innocence, to make men think that .... we cannot afford to hate dishonesty. It was a bad day for the commercial world, Mr. Wickerby, when forgery ceased to be capital. What with the joint stock working of companies, and the confusion between directors who know nothing and managers who know everything, and the dislike of juries to tread upon people's corns, you can't punish dishonest trading. Caveat Emptor is the only motto going, and that worst proverb that ever came from dishonest stony hearted Rome. With such a motto as that to guide us no man dare trust his brother. Caveat lex - and let the man who cheats cheat at his peril. ”
