The letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life
CulturalDiscover More
The general sense is that strict observance of the letter of the law is far less important than being true to its spirit.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"Spirit of a law," is used to designate its intention; in this sense it has been said: "The letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life."
From Project Gutenberg
When St. Paul told the Christians of Corinth that "the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life,"* he was using inspiring language.
From Time Magazine Archive
Even in our field it may be true that 'the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.'
From Time Magazine Archive
It is one of the cases where 'the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.'
From Project Gutenberg
And it is easy to know which law we are obeying: for any law which we magnify and keep through pride, is always the law of the letter; but that which we love and keep through humility, is the law of the Spirit: And the letter killeth, but the Spirit giveth life.
From Project Gutenberg
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
