“Every injury imports a damage, though it does not cost the party one farthing, and it is impossible to prove the contrary; for a damage is not merely pecuniary, but an injury imports a damage, when a man is hereby hindered of his right. As in an action for slanderous words, though a man does not lose a penny by reason of the speaking them, yet he shall have an action. So if a man give another a cuff on the ear, though it cost him nothing, no, not so much as a little diachylon, yet he shall have his action, for it is a personal injury.”

—  John Holt (Lord Chief Justice)

2 Raym. Rep. 955.
Ashby v. White (1703)

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John Holt (Lord Chief Justice) photo
John Holt (Lord Chief Justice) 36
English lawyer and Lord Chief Justice of England 1642–1710

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