He did his primary education at the Nilo Peçanha Public School, in São Cristóvão, and junior high at the 28 de Setembro Gymnasium.
He took further degrees, in philosophy in 1949, as well as a PhD in law in 1953 and in social sciences two years later.
In 1986 he was part of the Afonso Arinos Commission to draft the Brazilian Constitution.
He was part of numerous cultural and legal associations in Brazil and abroad, and also held many teaching posts.
40 at the Brazilian Academy, to which he was elected on March 15, 1984, in succession to Alceu Amoroso Lima.