Our law very often reminds one of those outskirts of cities where you cannot for a long time tell how the streets come to wind about in so capricious and serpent-like a manner. At last it strikes you that they grew up, house by house, on the devious tracks of the old green lanes; and if you follow on to the existing fields, you may often find the change half complete.

Summary

This quote by Charles Dickens is a metaphorical criticism of the complexities and inconsistencies found within the legal system. It compares the layout of city outskirts, where streets wind confusingly due to their development around old green lanes, to the convoluted nature of the law. Dickens suggests that laws have emerged over time, building upon old precedents and regulations, leading to a complicated and often unclear legal framework. The quote highlights the difficulties in comprehending and navigating the legal system, as well as the ongoing process of adaptation and change that it undergoes.

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