Lawyer

Explore 167 quotes by Lawyers

Our dangers, as it seems to me, are not from the outrageous but from the conforming; not from those who rarely and under the lurid glare of obloquy upset our moral complaisance, or shock us with unaccustomed conduct, but from those, the mass of us, who take their virtues and their tastes, like their shirts and their furniture, from the limited patterns which the market offers.

Learned Hand

More information about this quote

Topic

Conformity The masses

Speaker

Learned Hand

Source

Speeches of Learned Hand

Medium

Speech

Language

English

Time

1927 1920s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Hand, Learned. "The Preservation of Personality." Commencement. 2 June 1927, Bryn Mawr College, Byrn Mawr, PA, USA.

It was framed upon the theory that the peoples of the several states must sink or swim together, and that, in the long run, prosperity and salvation are in union, and not division.

Benjamin Cardozo

Baldwin v. G. A. F. Seelig

On the U.S. Constitution.

Read this opinion at supreme.justia.com.

More information about this quote

Topic

Constitutional theory

Author

Benjamin Cardozo

Source

Baldwin v. G. A. F. Seelig

Medium

Supreme Court opinion Legal opinion

Genre

Legal writing

Language

English

Time

1935 1930s 20th century

Authentication Score 2

Citation

Cardozo, Benjamin Nathan. United States, Supreme Court. Baldwin v. G. A. F. Seelig. United States Reports, vol. 294, 4 Mar 1935, pp. 511-528. Justia, supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/294/511/.

The Court bows to the lessons of experience and the force of better reasoning, recognizing that the process of trial and error, so fruitful in the physical sciences, is appropriate also in the judicial function.

Louis Brandeis

Burnet v. Coronado Oil and Gas Co.

Read this opinion at supreme.justia.com.

More information about this quote

Topic

Legal theory Constitutional law

Author

Louis Brandeis

Source

Burnet v. Coronado Oil and Gas Co.

Medium

Supreme Court opinion Legal opinion

Genre

Legal writing

Language

English

Time

1932 1930s 20th century

Authentication Score 2

Citation

Brandeis, Louis. Dissenting Opinion. Burnet v. Coronado Oil and Gas Co. United States Reports, vol. 285, 11 Apr. 1932, pp. 393-413. Justia, supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/285/393/.

The chilling effect upon the exercise of First Amendment rights may derive from the fact of the prosecution, unaffected by the prospects of its success or failure.

William J. Brennan, Jr.

Dombrowski v. Pfister

More information about this quote

Topic

First Amendment Freedom of speech and expression

Author

William J. Brennan, Jr.

Source

Dombrowski v. Pfister

Medium

Supreme Court opinion Legal opinion

Genre

Legal writing

Language

English

Time

1965 1960s 20th century

Authentication Score 2

Citation

Brennan, William J, Jr. United States, Supreme Court. Dombrowski v. Pfister. United States Reports, vol. 380, 26 Apr. 1965, pp. 479-502. supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/380/479/.

When urgent considerations of the public safety require compromise with the normal principles constraining law enforcement, the normal principles may have to bend. The Constitution is not a suicide pact.

Richard Posner

Edmond v. Goldsmith

More information about this quote

Topic

Rule of law Constitutional law

Author

Richard Posner

Source

Edmond v. Goldsmith

Medium

Legal opinion

Genre

Legal writing

Language

English

Time

1999 1990s 20th century

Authentication Score 1

Citation

U.S. 7th Circuit Court of Appeals. Edmond v. Goldsmith. 98-4124. 7 July 1999. https://caselaw.findlaw.com/us-7th-circuit/1176380.html.

I do not believe there is any sort of distinction between the real moral conditions of the people in and out of jail. One is just as good as the other.... I do not believe that people are in jail because they deserve to be. They are in jail simply because they cannot avoid it on account of circumstances which are entirely beyond their control and for which they are in no way responsible.

Clarence S. Darrow

More information about this quote

Topic

Prison Moral theory

Speaker

Clarence S. Darrow

Medium

Speech

Language

English

Time

1902 1900s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Darrow, Clarence. "Crime and Criminals." 1902, Cook County Jail, Chicago, IL, USA.

Current Citation

Darrow, Clarence. "Crime and Criminals." Attorney for the Damned: Clarence Darrow in the Courtroom, edited by Arthur Weinberg. University of Chicago Press, 2012.

Is there not a casual connection between the development of these huge, indomitable trusts and the horrible crimes now under investigation?... Is it not irony to speak of the equality of opportunity in a country cursed with their bigness?

Louis Brandeis

More information about this quote

Topic

Big business Monopoly

Author

Louis Brandeis

Medium

Letter

Language

English

Time

1911 1910s 20th century

Authentication Score 1

Citation

Brandeis, Louis D. Letter to Paul Kellogg. 19 Dec. 1911.

If you were to say of these men that they are not guilty, it would be as true to say there has been no war, there are no slain, there has been no crime.

Robert H. Jackson

More information about this quote

Topic

The Holocaust Accountability

Speaker

Robert H. Jackson

Medium

Courtroom speech Speech

Language

English

Time

1946 1940s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Jackson, Robert H. Summation for the prosecution. Nuremberg Trials. 26 July 1946, Palace of Justice, Nuremberg, Germany.

If there is any fixed star in our constitutional constellation, it is that no official, high or petty, can prescribe what shall be orthodox in politics, nationalism, religion, or other matters of opinion, or force citizens to confess by word or act their faith therein.

Robert H. Jackson

West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette

Read this opinion at supreme.justia.com.

More information about this quote

Topic

Dissent Freedom of thought Constitutional law

Author

Robert H. Jackson

Source

West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette

Medium

Supreme Court opinion Legal opinion

Genre

Legal writing

Language

English

Time

1943 1940s 20th century

Authentication Score 2

Citation

Jackson, Robert H. United States, Supreme Court. West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette. United States Reports, vol. 319, 14 June 1943, pp. 624-671. Justia, supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/319/624/.

It is my belief that there are "absolutes" in our Bill of Rights, and that they were put there on purpose by men who knew what words meant, and meant their prohibitions to be "absolutes."

Hugo Black

More information about this quote

Topic

Bill of Rights Constitutional theory American politics

Speaker

Hugo Black

Medium

Lecture

Language

English

Time

1960 1960s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Black, Hugo L. James Madison lecture. 17 Feb. 1960, New York University School of Law, New York University, New York City, NY, USA.

I consider your crime worse than murder... Who knows but that millions more of innocent people may pay the price of your treason. Indeed, by your betrayal, you undoubtedly have altered the course of history to the disadvantage of our country.

Irving R. Kaufman

More information about this quote

Topic

Treason Cold War

Speaker

Irving R. Kaufman

Language

English

Time

1951 1950s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Kaufman, Irving R. Remarks sentencing Julius and Ethel Rosenberg to death for espionage of atomic bomb secrets. 5 Apr. 1951, New York, NY, USA.

The Fifth Amendment is an old friend and a good friend. It is one of the great landmarks in man's struggle to be free of tyranny, to be decent and civilized. It is our way of escape from the use of torture.

William O. Douglas

More information about this quote

Topic

Fifth Amendment

Author

William O. Douglas

Language

English

Time

1954 1950s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Douglas, William. An Almanac of Liberty. Doubleday & Co., 1954, p. 238.

That woman's physical structure and the performance of maternal functions place her at a disadvantage in the struggle for subsistence is obvious. This is especially true when the burdens of motherhood are upon her... As healthy mothers are essential to vigorous offspring, the physical wellbeing of woman becomes an object of public interest and care in order to preserve the strength and vigor of the race.

David J. Brewer

Muller v. Oregon

Read this opinion at supreme.justia.com.

More information about this quote

Topic

Women's rights Women

Author

David J. Brewer

Source

Muller v. Oregon

Medium

Supreme Court opinion Legal opinion

Genre

Legal writing

Language

English

Time

1908 1900s 20th century

Authentication Score 2

Citation

Brewer, David J. United States, Supreme Court. Muller v. Oregon. United States Reports, vol. 208, 24 Feb. 1908, pp. 412-423. Justia, supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/208/412/.

I would hope that a wise Latina woman with the richness of her experiences would more often than not reach a better conclusion than a white male who hasn't lived that life.

Sonia Sotomayor

More information about this quote

Speaker

Sonia Sotomayor

Medium

Speech

Language

English

Time

2001 2000s 21st century

Authentication Score 2

Citation

Sotomayer, Sonia. Speech at the University of California, Berkeley. Annual Mario G. Olmos Law and Cultural Diversity Lecture. 26 Oct. 2001, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA.

Women belong in all places where decisions are being made.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg

More information about this quote

Topic

Women's equality Women

Author

Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Source

USA Today

Medium

Interview Newspaper

Language

English

Time

2009 2000s 21st century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Ginsburg, Ruth Bader. "Ginsburg: Court Needs Another Woman." Interviewed by Joan Biskupic. USA Today, 5 May 2009, usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/washington/judicial/2009-05-05-ruthginsburg_N.htm.

So often in life, things that you regard as an impediment turn out to be great good fortune.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg

More information about this quote

Topic

In retrospect Connecting the dots

Speaker

Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Source

MAKERS

Medium

Interview

Language

English

Time

2012 2010s 21st century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Ginsburg, Ruth Bader. Interview with MAKERS. 12 June 2012, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldFUmU-OZ1U&t=70s

If men could get pregnant, abortion would be a sacrament.

Florynce Kennedy

More information about this quote

Topic

Abortion Oppression of women Women's rights Men and women

Speaker

Florynce Kennedy

Source

Ms. Magazine

Medium

Magazine

Language

English

Time

1973 1970s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Kennedy, Florynce. "The Verbal Karate of Florynce R. Kennedy, Esq." Ms. Magazine, Mar. 1973.

Certainty generally is illusion, and repose is not the destiny of man.

Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.

More information about this quote

Topic

Certainty

Author

Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.

Source

The Path of the Law

Medium

Essay

Language

English

Time

1897 1890s 19th century

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Holmes, Oliver Wendell, Jr. "The Path of the Law." Address to the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts at the dedication of the new hall of the Boston University School of Law. 8 Jan. 1897, Boston University School of Law, Boston, MA, USA.

Current Citation

Holmes, Oliver Wendell, Jr. "The Path of the Law." The Essential Holmes: Selections from the Letters, Speeches, Judicial Opinions, and Other Writings of Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr, edited by Richard A. Posner. University of Chicago Press, 1997.

That the king can do no wrong, is a necessary and fundamental principle of the English constitution.

William Blackstone

Commentaries on the Laws of England

Buy Commentaries on the Laws of England at Amazon Buy Commentaries on the Laws of England at Amazon

More information about this quote

Topic

Monarchy Sovereign immunity Legal theory

Author

William Blackstone

Source

Commentaries on the Laws of England

Medium

Treatise

Genre

Legal writing

Language

English

Time

1765 1760s 18th century

Era

Age of Enlightenment

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Blackstone, William. Commentaries on the Law of England: Book the Third. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1768, ch. 17.

Current Citation

Blackstone, William. Commentaries on the Laws of England: Book III Of Private Wrongs, edited by David Lemmings. Oxford University Press, 2016, ch. 17.

Magna Charta is such a fellow, that he will have no sovereign.

Edward Coke

More information about this quote

Speaker

Edward Coke

Medium

Speech

Genre

Political speech

Language

English

Time

1628 1620s 17th century

Authentication Score 2

Citation

Coke, Edward. Committee of the Whole House. 20 May 1628, Palace of Westminster, London, England, UK.