Constitution Quotes by Learned Hand

Conservative political opinion in America cleaves to the tradition of the judge as passive interpreter, believing that his absolute loyalty to authoritative law is…

— Learned Hand

When I say that a thing is true, I mean that I cannot help believing it... But...I do not venture to assume that my…

— Learned Hand

'I beseech ye . . . , think that ye may be mistaken.' I should like to have that written over the portals of…

— Learned Hand

If the prosecution of crime is to be conducted with so little regard for that protection which centuries of English law have given to…

— Learned Hand

I beseech ye in the bowels of Christ, think that ye may be mistaken." I should like to have that written over the portals…

— Learned Hand

What seems fair enough against a squalid huckster of bad liquor may take on a different face, if used by government determined to suppress…

— Learned Hand

The spirit of liberty is the spirit of him who, near two thousand years ago, taught mankind that lesson it has never learned ... .

— Learned Hand

I had rather take my chance that some traitors will escape detection than spread abroad a spirit of general suspicion and distrust, which accepts…

— Learned Hand

The successful competitor, having been urged to compete, must not be turned upon when he wins.

— Learned Hand

Words are not pebbles in alien juxtaposition.

— Learned Hand

It is often hard to secure unanimity about the borders of legislative power, but that is much easier than to decide how far a…

— Learned Hand

Each one of us must in the end choose for himself how far he would like to leave our collective fate to the wayward…

— Learned Hand

It lies in the hearts of men and women; when it dies there, no constitution, no law, no court can save it. While it…

— Learned Hand

A self-made man may prefer a self-made name.

— Learned Hand

No doubt one may quote history to support any cause, as the devil quotes scripture; but modern history is not a very satisfactory side-arm…

— Learned Hand