American government Quotes by William O. Douglas

The First Amendment makes confidence in the common sense of our people and in the maturity of their judgement the great postulate of our…

— William O. Douglas

Common sense often makes good law.

— William O. Douglas

Any test that turns on what is offensive to the community's standards is too loose, too capricious, too destructive of freedom of expression to…

— William O. Douglas

I've often thought that if planners were botanists, zoologists, geologists, and people who know about the earth, we would have much more wisdom in…

— William O. Douglas

I have the same confidence in the ability of our people to reject noxious literature as I have in their capacity to sort out…

— William O. Douglas

The liberties of none are safe unless the liberties of all are protected.

— William O. Douglas

At the constitutional level where we work, 90 percent of any decision is emotional. The rational part of us supplies the reasons for supporting…

— William O. Douglas

To be whole and harmonious, man must also know the music of the beaches and the woods. He must find the thing of which…

— William O. Douglas

Sunlight is the best disinfectant.

— William O. Douglas

We deal with a right of privacy older than the Bill of Rights-older than our political parties, older than our school system.

— William O. Douglas