Abraham Lincoln wrote a law lecture around the year 1850. In it he stated:

"Discourage litigation. Persuade your neighbors to compromise whenever you can. Point out to them how the nominal winner is often a real loser... in fees, expenses, and waste of time. As a peacemaker the lawyer has a superior opportunity of being a good man...

Never stir up litigation, A worse man can scarcely be found than one who does this. Who can be more nearly a fiend than he who habitually overhauls the register of deeds in search of defects in titles, whereon to stir up strife, and put money in his pocket?"

Wise words for today's litigious American society.