--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Civil liberties, good. Lawyers, bad." description: "\"Civil liberties, good. Lawyers, bad.\" — Richard Belzer" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d48/richard-belzer-14272_civil-liberties_civil-liberties-good-lawyers-bad-2991855_2991855.png" --- # Civil liberties, good. Lawyers, bad. ![“Civil liberties, good. Lawyers, bad.” quote by Richard Belzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d48/richard-belzer-14272_civil-liberties_civil-liberties-good-lawyers-bad-2991855_2991855.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d48/richard-belzer-14272_civil-liberties_civil-liberties-good-lawyers-bad-2991855_2991855.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d48/richard-belzer-14272_civil-liberties_civil-liberties-good-lawyers-bad-2991855_2991855.png) > “Civil liberties, good. Lawyers, bad.” [Richard Belzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-belzer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A cynical view that civil liberties are beneficial while lawyers, who protect them, are problematic. **In simple terms:** Liberties good, lawyers bad. Key Takeaway Question the role of legal advocates. Themes cynicism law civil liberties Mood sarcastic analytical Type satire political When to use this quote - courtroom - political debate - media analysis Key Concepts political satire social commentary Questions to Reflect On - Are lawyers always detrimental? - How do liberties depend on legal defense? A Different Perspective Legal professionals are essential for protecting freedoms. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Civil liberties](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civil-liberties/) [Lawyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lawyer/) [Lawyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lawyers/) [Liberty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberty/) ## Related quotes > [I do not say that all lawyers are bad, but I do maintain that the general tendency is bad: standing up in a court…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-o-brian/i-do-not-say-that-all-lawyers-are-bad-but-i-do-maintain-that-the/) [Patrick O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-o-brian/) > [“Reenie never went in much for God. There was mutual respect, and if you were in trouble naturally you’d call on him, as with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/reenie-never-went-in-much-for-god-there-was-mutual-respect-and-if-you/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [It's when the lawyers themselves become bad guys that you begin to have a serious problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-pollack/it-s-when-the-lawyers-themselves-become-bad-guys-that-you-begin-to/) [Sydney Pollack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-pollack/) > [I've talked to a lot of pretty good lawyers around the world. I'm non-extraditable. That's the real reason the US government was pissed off,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/i-ve-talked-to-a-lot-of-pretty-good-lawyers-around-the-world-i-m-non/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [It is a pleasant world we live in, sir, a very pleasant world. There are bad people in it, Mr. Richard, but if there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/it-is-a-pleasant-world-we-live-in-sir-a-very-pleasant-world-there-are/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [I may have been prejudiced against lawyer members of Congress, having run against one or two and having been threatened politically by a few…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-mccarthy/i-may-have-been-prejudiced-against-lawyer-members-of-congress-having/) [Eugene McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-mccarthy/) > [Virtually all big law firms have good to super-good lawyers. All big law firms don't have great litigators.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-pena/virtually-all-big-law-firms-have-good-to-super-good-lawyers-all-big/) [Dan Pena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-pena/) > [I played a lawyer once, and I had about three or four weeks before we shot, so I was able to go to court…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-bass/i-played-a-lawyer-once-and-i-had-about-three-or-four-weeks-before-we/) [Ben Bass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-bass/) > [If there were no bad people, there would be no good lawyers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/if-there-were-no-bad-people-there-would-be-no-good-lawyers/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [We aRe a GooD lAwYeRs 4 oUr OwN mIsTaKeS, aNd a VErY good JuDgE 4 oThErS mIsTaKeS !!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-cchan/we-are-a-good-lawyers-4-our-own-mistakes-and-a-very-good-judge-4/) [AaRon CcHan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-cchan/) > [Good lawyers win so-so lawsuits. Great lawyers can win lawsuits in which you have little or no chance to win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-pena/good-lawyers-win-so-so-lawsuits-great-lawyers-can-win-lawsuits-in/) [Dan Pena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-pena/) > [“Emotions are reserved for juries and, in that case, a good lawyer can really lay them on when the time is right, better than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-eade/emotions-are-reserved-for-juries-and-in-that-case-a-good-lawyer-can/) [Kenneth Eade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-eade/) > [It troubled me that we had these reports of torture of detainees, we had people jailed at Guantanamo Bay who couldn't even talk to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-larson/it-troubled-me-that-we-had-these-reports-of-torture-of-detainees-we/) [Erik Larson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-larson/) > [. We Are Very Good Lawyers For Our Mistakes & Very Good Judges For Others Mistakes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-are-very-good-lawyers-for-our-mistakes-very-good-judges-for-others/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We are very good lawyers for our mistake; but a very good judge for others mistake.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-are-very-good-lawyers-for-our-mistake-but-a-very-good-judge-for/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Richard Belzer > [The reason I wrote 'Hit List' is the 50 mysterious deaths of witnesses to the JFK assassination. We're talking about CIA agents, FBI agents,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-belzer/the-reason-i-wrote-hit-list-is-the-50-mysterious-deaths-of-witnesses/) [Richard Belzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-belzer/) > [The truth will set you free...unless you want to know the truth about who killed JFK.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-belzer/the-truth-will-set-you-free-unless-you-want-to-know-the-truth-about/) [Richard Belzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-belzer/) > [I've been cast as myself so many times, I guess I should catch on and figure out if it's a compliment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-belzer/i-ve-been-cast-as-myself-so-many-times-i-guess-i-should-catch-on-and/) [Richard Belzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-belzer/) > [The Kennedy assassination is one of the ghostliest parts of our history. The Kennedy family - that's our royalty. It's fascinating and tragic and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-belzer/the-kennedy-assassination-is-one-of-the-ghostliest-parts-of-our/) [Richard Belzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-belzer/) > [I was thrown out of every school I ever went to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-belzer/i-was-thrown-out-of-every-school-i-ever-went-to/) [Richard Belzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-belzer/) > [Most people cherish their very existence and try their best to live a life worth living. In spite of the seemingly insurmountable obstacles in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-belzer/most-people-cherish-their-very-existence-and-try-their-best-to-live-a/) [Richard Belzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-belzer/) > [In 1985, I was the host of a talk show, 'Hot Properties on Lifetime.' Hulk Hogan was on the show. He put me in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-belzer/in-1985-i-was-the-host-of-a-talk-show-hot-properties-on-lifetime-hulk/) [Richard Belzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-belzer/) > [There's a lot of children that go to bed every night hungry in New York City, and it's shameful. That's really disturbing to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-belzer/there-s-a-lot-of-children-that-go-to-bed-every-night-hungry-in-new/) [Richard Belzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-belzer/) > [One person, one vote sounds so reasonable and - dare I say it - democratic. But the voting process in America is anything but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-belzer/one-person-one-vote-sounds-so-reasonable-and-dare-i-say-it-democratic/) [Richard Belzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-belzer/) > [I've found you don't have to make anything up. Reality is so complex and fascinating and horrible and beautiful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-belzer/i-ve-found-you-don-t-have-to-make-anything-up-reality-is-so-complex/) [Richard Belzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-belzer/) > [You remember France, it's the country that financed the American Revolution... OK, it was in their self-interest, but still, they made it happen. Let's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-belzer/you-remember-france-it-s-the-country-that-financed-the-american/) [Richard Belzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-belzer/) > [As I got older, I was able to articulate why I was rebelling against authority - because their motives were much more forceful and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-belzer/as-i-got-older-i-was-able-to-articulate-why-i-was-rebelling-against/) [Richard Belzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-belzer/) > [When members of a certain party concoct various devious schemes to suppress votes, purposely misinform potential voters, spread vile untrue filth about certain candidates,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-belzer/when-members-of-a-certain-party-concoct-various-devious-schemes-to/) [Richard Belzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-belzer/) > [I was taught the truth will set you free... unless, of course, you want the truth about who killed JFK.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-belzer/i-was-taught-the-truth-will-set-you-free-unless-of-course-you-want/) [Richard Belzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-belzer/) > [To be able to work for 20 years as an actor in an industry that is not so predictable, I'm grateful every day. I'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-belzer/to-be-able-to-work-for-20-years-as-an-actor-in-an-industry-that-is/) [Richard Belzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-belzer/) [Explore all 47 Richard Belzer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-belzer/) ## More Civil liberties quotes > [I can say across Europe that many principles that have been taken for granted here around free speech, and around civil liberties and an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-can-say-across-europe-that-many-principles-that-have-been-taken-for/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Using a broad brushstroke, I think Libertarian - most of America are socially accepting and fiscally responsible. I'm in that category. I think, broadly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-johnson/using-a-broad-brushstroke-i-think-libertarian-most-of-america-are/) [Gary Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-johnson/) > [As long as I have any choice in the matter, I shall live only in a country where civil liberty, tolerance and equality of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/as-long-as-i-have-any-choice-in-the-matter-i-shall-live-only-in-a/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [It is aspiring tyrants who say that 'civil liberties end when an attack on our safety begins.' Conversely, leaders who wish to preserve the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-d-snyder/it-is-aspiring-tyrants-who-say-that-civil-liberties-end-when-an/) [Timothy D. Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-d-snyder/) > [Since I became chairman, I've tried to turn EFF into civil liberties and responsibilities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-dyson/since-i-became-chairman-i-ve-tried-to-turn-eff-into-civil-liberties/) [Esther Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-dyson/) > [For the hundreds of thousands of Californians in gay and lesbian households who are managing their day-to-day lives, this decision affirms the full legal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-schwarzenegger/for-the-hundreds-of-thousands-of-californians-in-gay-and-lesbian/) [Arnold Schwarzenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-schwarzenegger/) > [“It's almost hard to imagine anything more undemocratic than the view that political officials should not debate American wars in public, but only express…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-greenwald/it-s-almost-hard-to-imagine-anything-more-undemocratic-than-the-view/) [Glenn Greenwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-greenwald/) > [Critics have stepped up their attacks on the President for authorizing the National Security Agency to listen to international communications of known al Qaeda…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-mcclellan/critics-have-stepped-up-their-attacks-on-the-president-for/) [Scott McClellan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-mcclellan/) > [I was on the state board of directors of the American Civil Liberties Union.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-hill/i-was-on-the-state-board-of-directors-of-the-american-civil-liberties/) [Betty Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-hill/) > [George W. Bush and his administration embarked on a full-scale assault on civil liberties, human rights and the rule of law, walking away from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bianca-jagger/george-w-bush-and-his-administration-embarked-on-a-full-scale-assault/) [Bianca Jagger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bianca-jagger/) > [I have very real concerns about the civil liberties implications of ultimately requiring every resident to submit themselves for compulsory fingerprinting or some other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-hewitt/i-have-very-real-concerns-about-the-civil-liberties-implications-of/) [Patricia Hewitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-hewitt/) > [I think when people talk about civil liberties, they sometimes forget that action taken to protect the citizen against physical violence and physical attack…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-howard/i-think-when-people-talk-about-civil-liberties-they-sometimes-forget/) [John Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-howard/) > [“Fugitive Peace (Sonnet 2219) In the opera of war, peace is fugitive - thinking soldiers are no good to state, either you kill without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/fugitive-peace-sonnet-2219-in-the-opera-of-war-peace-is-fugitive/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [It is no response to assert that the Patriot Act has been useful; what you need to explain is how any particular safeguard would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-sanchez/it-is-no-response-to-assert-that-the-patriot-act-has-been-useful-what/) [Julian Sanchez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-sanchez/) > [Funny, for all surveillance, Osama bin Laden is still free—and we're not. Guess who's winning the "war on terror?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-doctorow/funny-for-all-surveillance-osama-bin-laden-is-still-free-and-we-re/) [Cory Doctorow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-doctorow/) [Browse all 325 Civil liberties quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civil-liberties/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Civil liberties, good. 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