Louis D. Brandeis Quotes

American - Judge November 13, 1856 - October 5, 1941

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

Louis D. Brandeis

Respect Legal Law Desire First

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

Louis D. Brandeis

Life You Life Is Hard Hard

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

Man People Government Law

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

Mother Clothes Important Way

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

Louis D. Brandeis

Politics Political Important Office

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

Democracy Great Hands Wealth

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

Women Alone History Fear

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

Best Light Sunlight Said

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

Louis D. Brandeis

History World Impossible Done

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

Good Democracy Justice Own

Top 10
Louis D. Brandeis
Quotes

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

Louis D. Brandeis

Light Bold Minds Reason

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

Life Myself Time Thought

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

Louis D. Brandeis

Men Understanding Meaning Without

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

May Government Law End

Neutrality is at times a graver sin than belligerence.

Louis D. Brandeis

Sin Than Neutrality Times

The logic of words should yield to the logic of realities.

Louis D. Brandeis

Words Logic Should Yield

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

Life Happiness Opportunity Men

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

Louis D. Brandeis

Experience Government Us Most

Behind every argument is someone's ignorance.

Louis D. Brandeis

Anger Ignorance Someone Argument

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

Louis D. Brandeis

Wisdom Action Expression Opinions

When those of Jewish blood exhibit moral or intellectual superiority, genius or special talent, we feel pride in them, even if they have abjured the faith like Spinoza, Marx, Disraeli or Heine. Despite the meditations of pundits or the decrees of council, our own instincts and acts, and those of others, have defined for us the term 'Jew.'

Louis D. Brandeis

Faith Talent Feel Genius

The difference between a nation and a nationality is clear, but it is not always observed. Likeness between members is the essence of nationality, but the members of a nation may be very different. A nation may be composed of many nationalities, as some of the most successful nations are.

Louis D. Brandeis

May Always Nation Difference

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

Louis D. Brandeis

Patriotism American Only Imagine

A man is a better citizen of the United States for being also a loyal citizen of his state and of his city; for being loyal to his family and to his profession or trade; for being loyal to his college or his lodge.

Louis D. Brandeis

Family Man City College

There are no shortcuts in evolution.

Louis D. Brandeis

Science Evolution Shortcuts

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

Happiness Path Progress Human

Loading...

Load more quotes

Related Authors

Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Sonia Sotomayor

Sandra Day O'Connor

Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.

Simon Greenleaf

Thurgood Marshall

BrainyQuote

BrainyQuote Desktop

BrainyQuote Mobile

Site

Quote Of The Day

Social

BQ on Pinterest

BQ on Instagram

Apps

iPhone/iPad app

Quote Of The Day Feeds

Javascript and RSS feeds

WordPress plugin

Quote of the Day Email

About

Copyright © 2001 - 2019 BrainyQuote

Language: Español | Français

Please disable your ad blocker

OK