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

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 Speech Language

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

Louis D. Brandeis

Politics Political Important Office

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

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

Light Best Sunlight Said

Neutrality is at times a graver sin than belligerence.

Louis D. Brandeis

Sin Than Times Neutrality

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

Great Democracy Hands Country

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 Fear History

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 Social Justice

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

Louis D. Brandeis

History World Impossible Worth

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 Liberty

Behind every argument is someone's ignorance.

Louis D. Brandeis

Ignorance Anger Someone Argument

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

Louis D. Brandeis

Words Logic Should Yield

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 Appreciation

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 America

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

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

Government End Law May

There are no shortcuts in evolution.

Louis D. Brandeis

Science Evolution Shortcuts

It is not wealth, it is not station, it is not social standing and ambition which can make us worthy of the Jewish name, of the Jewish heritage. To be worthy of them, we must live up to and with them. We must regard ourselves their custodians.

Louis D. Brandeis

Live Ambition Name Heritage

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

Nation Always Difference May

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

Louis D. Brandeis

Light Bold Minds Reason

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

Louis D. Brandeis

Experience Government Liberty Us

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 Pride Feel

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

Great Harmony Immigrant More

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

Louis D. Brandeis

Patriotism Only American Imagine

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