There is no surer way to misread any document than to read it literally. — Learned Hand Copy Share Image
For myself it would be most irksome to be ruled by a bevy of Platonic Guardians, even if I knew how to… — Learned Hand Copy Share Image
Skepticism is my only gospel, but I don't want to make a dogma out of it. — Learned Hand Copy Share Image
The spirit of liberty is the spirit that is not quite sure it is right. — Learned Hand Copy Share Image
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 Copy Share Image
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 Copy Share Image
'I beseech ye . . . , think that ye may be mistaken.' I should like to have that written over the portals of… — Learned Hand Copy Share Image
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 Copy Share Image
"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 Copy Share Image
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 Copy Share Image
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 Copy Share Image
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 Copy Share Image
The successful competitor, having been urged to compete, must not be turned upon when he wins. — Learned Hand Copy Share Image
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 Copy Share Image
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 Copy Share Image
