Reason Free From Passion

“’The law is reason free from passion,’ or so says Aristotle,” she said. “During the next three years I am going to teach you everything from the most extreme elements of litigation to the simplest methods of legal contracts; and while I do so, I want you to prove Aristotle wrong,” my professor paused and seemed to look straight at me, “I want you to put the most passion you possible can into the study of law and when you leave Harvard, I want you to practice a passion filled law.”

I remembered it as though it were yesterday, as I sat in the conference room; my first day of law school had been one of the most memorable days of my life. My life as a litigator was changed from the moment my professor spoke those unforgettable words. I had always taken my morals and self preservation above anything else, until now.

“This job could change your life forever,” they told me. I couldn’t stop to object as I thought of what my life could be like: a big house on the north shore, a few Mercedes parked in the garage, expensive Italian clothes, and a country club for relaxing.

I suddenly thought of my early case as a prosecutor for the Chicago DA’s office. I had to put away a man accused of premeditated murder; as I sat in that Illinois court room listening to the defense plead insanity before the grand jury, I looked into his eyes and saw the sanity and thought that there wasn’t enough money in the world to get me to represent that cold blooded killer. Next I was sitting in the office of one of the most reputable attorneys in the state as he tried to negotiate a plea bargain for a man charged with fraud who had ruined the life of an innocent old lady; my second chair did most of the talking because I was so disgusted by what the man had done.

“Are you with us?” I heard someone ask.

“Oh, yes; umm I don’t know how to put this but… I just can’t take this job.”

“What??? This could change your life forever.”
“Trust me, I know; I just can’t do this.”

“So what then?”

“You know what they say, as one door closes, another opens.” As I said that I got out of my seat and walked out the open door and thought to myself, Reason free from passion.

Yeah right Aristotle.