He who sticks to the letter sticks to the bark; he who considers merely the letter of an instrument cannot comprehend its meaning.

Explanation

Bare literalism misses the substance of an instrument just as one who examines only the bark of a tree misses the wood within. (Duplicate maxim — see also 1.5.293.)

Where this applies

• Reading the contract too literally misses what it actually means.
• Focusing only on the letter of the law misses the substance entirely.
• A pure literalist reading sticks to the bark and never gets to the wood.

See also

• 1.5.293 He who adheres to the letter of the law adheres to its bark.
• 10.1.1 Liberal constructions of written instruments are to be made, on account of the simplicity of the common people, so that the thing may have effect rather than perish; and words should serve the intention, not the intention the words.
• 10.2.2 The meaning of the words is the spirit of the law.