"All injury is either of the person, the fortune, or the fame. Now it is a certain thing, it is proverbially known that a jest breaks no bones. They have never gained half-a-crown less in the whole profession since this mischievous paragraph has appeared; and, as to their reputation, What is their reputation but an instrument of getting money? If, therefore, they have lost no money, the question upon reputation may be answered by a very old position,–De minimis non curat Praetor."

Dr. Samuel Johnson's commentary on the Edinburgh solicitors' legal battle against a newspaper humorously underscores the triviality of their complaint. He deftly categorizes injuries as affecting one’s person, fortune, or fame, and dismisses the solicitors' claims of harm by noting that a joke, being non-physical, "breaks no bones." Johnson argues that since the solicitors suffered no financial loss, their reputation, a mere means for profit, remains intact. He concludes with the Latin maxim "De minimis non curat Praetor," suggesting the law should not concern itself with trifles. This quote highlights Johnson's wit and rationality, emphasizing the absurdity of prioritizing vanity over substantive harm. His insight reflects broader views on social pretension and the folly of lawsuits grounded in superficial grievances.