A recent conversation with a lawyer turned into a discussion of movie quotations, in particular those about the law. I noted that one of my favorite moments in a movie about lawyers comes when Tom Hanks’ character in “Philadelphia”—a lawyer suing a firm that fired him—is asked what he loves about the law.

His response: “It’s that every now and again—not often, but occasionally—you get to be a part of justice being done. That really is quite a thrill when that happens.”