Quote

The makers of our Constitution . . . conferred, as against the government, the right to be let alone - the most comprehensive of rights and the right most valued by civilized men.

Louis D. Brandeis

Change background

T
T
T

Change font

TAGS & TOPICS

Louis D. Brandeis
Age: 84 †
Born: 1856
Born: November 13
Died: 1941
Died: October 5
Judge
Lawyer
Louisville
Kentucky
Louis Dembitz Brandeis
Men
Makers
Civilized
Constitution
Liberty
Alone
Rights
Conferred
Government
Valued
Right
Comprehensive

More quotes by Louis D. Brandeis

Image
There are no shortcuts in evolution.
Louis D. Brandeis
Image
America has believed that in differentiation, not in uniformity, lies the path of progress. It acted on this belief it has advanced human happiness, and it has prospered.
Louis D. Brandeis
Image
Neutrality is at times a graver sin than belligerence.
Louis D. Brandeis
Image
Behind every argument is someone's ignorance.
Louis D. Brandeis
Image
Publicity is justly commended as a remedy for social and industrial diseases. Sunlight is said to be the best of disinfectants electric light the most efficient policeman.
Louis D. Brandeis
Image
What I have desired to do is to make the people of Boston realize that the most important office, and the one which all of us can and should fill, is that of private citizen.
Louis D. Brandeis
Image
Subtler and more far-reaching means of invading privacy have become available to the government. Discovery and invention have made it possible for the government, by means far more effective than stretching upon the rack, to obtain disclosure in court of what is whispered in the closet.
Louis D. Brandeis
Image
If you would only recognize that life is hard, things would be so much easier for you.
Louis D. Brandeis
Image
Fear of serious injury alone cannot justify oppression of free speech and assembly. Men feared witches and burnt women. It is the function of speech to free men from the bondage of irrational fears.
Louis D. Brandeis
Image
Our government... teaches the whole people by its example. If the government becomes the lawbreaker, it breeds contempt for law it invites every man to become a law unto himself it invites anarchy.
Louis D. Brandeis
Image
To be good Americans, we must be better Jews, and to be better Jews, we must become Zionists.
Louis D. Brandeis
Image
Crime is contagious....if the government becomes a lawbreaker, it breeds contempt for the law.
Louis D. Brandeis
Image
Men feared witches and burned women.
Louis D. Brandeis
Image
The logic of words should yield to the logic of realities.
Louis D. Brandeis
Image
If you would venture, let your mind be bold . . . not reckless but bold.
Louis D. Brandeis
Image
The most important thing we do is not doing.
Louis D. Brandeis
Image
At the foundation of our civil liberties lies the principle that denies to government officials an exceptional position before the law and which subjects them to the same rules of conduct that are commands to the citizen.
Louis D. Brandeis
Image
Sunshine is the greatest disinfectant
Louis D. Brandeis
Image
It is the function of speech to free men from the bondage of irrational fears.
Louis D. Brandeis
Image
To declare that in the administration of criminal law the end justifies the means to declare that the Government may commit crimes in order to secure conviction of a private criminal would bring terrible retribution.
Louis D. Brandeis