Louis D. Brandeis Quotes

American - Judge November 13, 1856 - October 3, 1941

If we desire respect for the law, we must first make the law respectable. - Louis D. Brandeis

If we desire respect for the law, we must first make the law respectable. Louis D. Brandeis

Desire, Legal, Law

The most important political office is that of the private citizen. - Louis D. Brandeis

The most important political office is that of the private citizen. Louis D. Brandeis

Politics, Most, Important

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

Government, Unto, Law

We can have democracy in this country, or we can have great wealth concentrated in the hands of a few, but we can't have both. Louis D. Brandeis

Wealth, Country, Hands

What is Americanization? It manifests itself, in a superficial way, when the immigrant adopts the clothes, the manners and the customs generally prevailing here. Far more important is the manifestation presented when he substitutes for his mother tongue the English language as the common medium of speech. Louis D. Brandeis

Prevailing, Here, Tongue

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

Electric, Social, Efficient

There are no shortcuts in evolution. - Louis D. Brandeis

There are no shortcuts in evolution. Louis D. Brandeis

Science, Shortcuts

If you would only recognize that life is hard, things would be so much easier for you. Louis D. Brandeis

Hard Things, Recognize, Life

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

Free Speech, History, Feared

Democracy rests upon two pillars: one, the principle that all men are equally entitled to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness; and the other, the conviction that such equal opportunity will most advance civilization. Louis D. Brandeis

Entitled, Pillars, Principle

Most of the things worth doing in the world had been declared impossible before they were done. Louis D. Brandeis

History, Most, Doing

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

Differentiation, Advanced

What are the American ideals? They are the development of the individual for his own and the common good; the development of the individual through liberty; and the attainment of the common good through democracy and social justice. Louis D. Brandeis

Through, Development, Ideals

I abhor averages. I like the individual case. A man may have six meals one day and none the next, making an average of three meals per day, but that is not a good way to live. Louis D. Brandeis

Next, Average, Making

Those who won our independence... valued liberty as an end and as a means. They believed liberty to be the secret of happiness and courage to be the secret of liberty. Louis D. Brandeis

Independence, Means, Secret

Behind every argument is someone's ignorance. Louis D. Brandeis

Anger, Behind, Argument

The greatest dangers to liberty lurk in the insidious encroachment by men of zeal, well meaning but without understanding. Louis D. Brandeis

Dangers, Insidious, Liberty

During most of my life, my contact with Jews and Judaism was slight. I gave little thought to their problems, save in asking myself, from time to time, whether we were showing by our lives due appreciation of the opportunities which this hospitable country affords. My approach to Zionism was through Americanism. Louis D. Brandeis

Through, My Life, Country

If we would guide by the light of reason we must let our minds be bold. Louis D. Brandeis

Minds, Reason, Would

Experience teaches us to be most on our guard to protect liberty when the government's purposes are beneficent. Louis D. Brandeis

Guard, Experience, Our

Neutrality is at times a graver sin than belligerence. Louis D. Brandeis

Times, Than, Sin

The logic of words should yield to the logic of realities. Louis D. Brandeis

Yield, Words, Should

In the frank expression of conflicting opinions lies the greatest promise of wisdom in governmental action. Louis D. Brandeis

Frank, Conflicting, Opinions

Let no American imagine that Zionism is inconsistent with patriotism. Multiple loyalties are objectionable only if they are inconsistent. Louis D. Brandeis

Imagine, Zionism, Loyalties

Organisation can never be a substitute for initiative and for judgement. Louis D. Brandeis

Never, Judgement, Initiative

However great his outward conformity, the immigrant is not Americanized unless his interests and affections have become deeply rooted here. And we properly demand of the immigrant even more than this. He must be brought into complete harmony with our ideals and aspirations and cooperate with us for their attainment. Louis D. Brandeis

However, Here, Harmony

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