Lawyers spend a great deal of their time shoveling smoke.

In this quote, Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr., a prominent American jurist and Supreme Court justice, uses the metaphor of "shoveling smoke" to critique certain aspects of the legal profession. By comparing lawyers to individuals attempting to shovel smoke, Holmes implies that much of the work lawyers do, particularly in litigation and legal arguments, can often be futile, abstract, or ineffectual. It suggests that some parts of the profession involve arguing over matters that are insubstantial or ultimately don't lead to tangible results, much like trying to handle something as intangible as smoke.

Holmes' quote reflects his skepticism and pragmatism about the legal system. He was known for his realist approach to law, where he believed that the law should be viewed not as an idealistic or theoretical set of principles but as something that deals with the realities and complexities of human behavior. The idea that lawyers spend time "shoveling smoke" may be Holmes' way of highlighting the pointlessness of certain legal procedures or the complexity of legalese that can obscure justice rather than bring clarity to it.

The quote also hints at the bureaucratic nature of much of the legal profession, where paperwork, technicalities, and formalities sometimes take precedence over addressing the actual issues at hand. Holmes might have been critiquing the tendency of some lawyers to become entangled in minor details or abstract arguments that don't necessarily advance the cause of justice but are more about maintaining professionalism or advocacy for its own sake.

Ultimately, Holmes' quote serves as a critique of certain practices within the legal system, calling attention to the ways in which some aspects of law can feel unproductive or disconnected from the real world. It highlights his belief in the importance of making the law not just a theoretical exercise but a tool that has real-world impact, free from the distractions of empty arguments and superficial formalities.