--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The chief-justice was rich, quiet, and…" description: "\"The chief-justice was rich, quiet, and infamous.\" — Thomas B. Macaulay" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa1/thomas-b-macaulay-1980_chief-justice_the-chief-justice-was-rich-quiet-and-inf_873667.png" --- # The chief-justice was rich, quiet, and infamous. ![“The chief-justice was rich, quiet, and infamous.” quote by Thomas B. Macaulay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa1/thomas-b-macaulay-1980_chief-justice_the-chief-justice-was-rich-quiet-and-inf_873667.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa1/thomas-b-macaulay-1980_chief-justice_the-chief-justice-was-rich-quiet-and-inf_873667.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa1/thomas-b-macaulay-1980_chief-justice_the-chief-justice-was-rich-quiet-and-inf_873667.png) > “The chief-justice was rich, quiet, and infamous.” [Thomas B. Macaulay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-b-macaulay/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A wealthy, silent chief‑justice is paradoxically notorious, suggesting power can breed infamy. **In simple terms:** Powerful judges can become infamous. Key Takeaway Beware silent authority. Themes power judiciary infamy silence wealth Mood critical analytical Type political ethical When to use this quote - court decisions - political appointments - media scrutiny - public trust Key Concepts political theory ethics social critique Questions to Reflect On - How does silence affect accountability? - What checks prevent abuse of judicial power? A Different Perspective Quiet influence can hide corruption. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Chief justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chief-justice/) [Chiefs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chiefs/) [Infamous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/infamous/) [Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/) [Justice Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice-rich-979859/) [Quiet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quiet/) [Quiet Infamous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quiet-infamous-979861/) [Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rich/) [Rich Quiet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rich-quiet-979860/) ## Related quotes > [A poor man has no need of justice and a rich man has no need of character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/a-poor-man-has-no-need-of-justice-and-a-rich-man-has-no-need-of/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Ask any real estate broker to name the three most important factors in buying a property, and he'll say: "Location, location, location." Now ask…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/ask-any-real-estate-broker-to-name-the-three-most-important-factors/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [In my opinion, Chief Justice Roberts put it best during his recent confirmation hearings. And he said, and I quote, "The framers were not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-dewine/in-my-opinion-chief-justice-roberts-put-it-best-during-his-recent/) [Mike DeWine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-dewine/) > [It's now up to the full Senate to move swiftly to confirm John Roberts so he can assume his duties and responsibilities as chief…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-s-now-up-to-the-full-senate-to-move-swiftly-to-confirm-john/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Got good news and bad news for you, Mr. President. The good news is that Chief Justice John Roberts just saved your legacy and,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-fournier/got-good-news-and-bad-news-for-you-mr-president-the-good-news-is-that/) [Ron Fournier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-fournier/) > [The Chief Justice's ... main point seemed to be that the references to God in the Pledge of Allegiance aren't really religious and therefore…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-buckner/the-chief-justice-s-main-point-seemed-to-be-that-the-references-to/) [Ed Buckner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-buckner/) > [Within the brain's most secret cells, A certain lord chief justice dwells, Of sov'reign power, whom one and all, With common voice we reason…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-churchill/within-the-brain-s-most-secret-cells-a-certain-lord-chief-justice/) [Charles Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-churchill/) > [On the whole, yes, I would rather be the Chief Justice of the United States, and a quieter life than that which becomes at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-howard-taft/on-the-whole-yes-i-would-rather-be-the-chief-justice-of-the-united/) [William Howard Taft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-howard-taft/) > [ It is extraordinary that each of the three individuals this president \[ George W. Bush\] has nominated for the Supreme Court - Chief Justice… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-kennedy/it-is-extraordinary-that-each-of-the-three-individuals-this-president/) [Edward Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-kennedy/) > [I have high respect for the Chief Justice and the institution he represents. But, I equally demand respect to the institution I represent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juan-ponce-enrile/i-have-high-respect-for-the-chief-justice-and-the-institution-he/) [Juan Ponce Enrile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juan-ponce-enrile/) > [The Stamp Act was a direct tax imposed on the colonies by King George III. This act inevitably led to the American Revolution. Just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/the-stamp-act-was-a-direct-tax-imposed-on-the-colonies-by-king-george/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [I never place limits on the potential success of my students. If they're going into acting, they're going to win the Oscar... If they're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-dershowitz/i-never-place-limits-on-the-potential-success-of-my-students-if-they/) [Alan Dershowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-dershowitz/) > [Even before the hearings that led to confirmation of Chief Justice Roberts, senators were saying they were reserving judgment on how they would vote…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-perino/even-before-the-hearings-that-led-to-confirmation-of-chief-justice/) [Dana Perino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-perino/) > [I was asked three times directly in the hearing before the board of the judiciary whether or not I would continue to acknowledge God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-moore/i-was-asked-three-times-directly-in-the-hearing-before-the-board-of/) [Roy Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-moore/) > [She wanted us to feel we were above everyone in the town. She really did tell us that we were related to Chief Justice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fay-wray/she-wanted-us-to-feel-we-were-above-everyone-in-the-town-she-really/) [Fay Wray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fay-wray/) ## More by Thomas B. Macaulay > [A beggarly people, A church and no steeple.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-b-macaulay/a-beggarly-people-a-church-and-no-steeple/) [Thomas B. Macaulay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-b-macaulay/) > [We must judge a government by its general tendencies and not by its happy accidents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-b-macaulay/we-must-judge-a-government-by-its-general-tendencies-and-not-by-its/) [Thomas B. Macaulay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-b-macaulay/) > [None of the modes by which a magistrate is appointed, popular election, the accident of the lot, or the accident of birth, affords, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-b-macaulay/none-of-the-modes-by-which-a-magistrate-is-appointed-popular-election/) [Thomas B. Macaulay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-b-macaulay/) > [Our estimate of a character always depends much on the manner in which that character affects our own interests and passions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-b-macaulay/our-estimate-of-a-character-always-depends-much-on-the-manner-in/) [Thomas B. Macaulay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-b-macaulay/) > [Re: Robert Montgomery's Poems His writing bears the same relation to poetry which a Turkey carpet bears to a picture. There are colours in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-b-macaulay/re-robert-montgomery-s-poems-his-writing-bears-the-same-relation-to/) [Thomas B. Macaulay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-b-macaulay/) > [Highest among those who have exhibited human nature by means of dialogue stands Shakespeare. His variety is like the variety of nature,--endless diversity, scarcely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-b-macaulay/highest-among-those-who-have-exhibited-human-nature-by-means-of/) [Thomas B. Macaulay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-b-macaulay/) > [The most beautiful object in the world, it will be allowed, is a beautiful woman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-b-macaulay/the-most-beautiful-object-in-the-world-it-will-be-allowed-is-a/) [Thomas B. Macaulay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-b-macaulay/) > [The passages in which Milton has alluded to his own circumstances are perhaps read more frequently, and with more interest, than any other lines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-b-macaulay/the-passages-in-which-milton-has-alluded-to-his-own-circumstances-are/) [Thomas B. Macaulay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-b-macaulay/) > [Oh, wherefore come ye forth in triumph from the north, With your hands, and your feet, and your raiment all red? And wherefore doth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-b-macaulay/oh-wherefore-come-ye-forth-in-triumph-from-the-north-with-your-hands/) [Thomas B. Macaulay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-b-macaulay/) > [It is, I believe, no exaggeration to say that all the historical information which has been collected in the Sanskrit language is less valuable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-b-macaulay/it-is-i-believe-no-exaggeration-to-say-that-all-the-historical/) [Thomas B. Macaulay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-b-macaulay/) > [Ambrose Phillips . . . who had the honor of bringing into fashion a species of composition which has been called, after his name, Namby Pamby.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-b-macaulay/ambrose-phillips-who-had-the-honor-of-bringing-into-fashion-a-species/) [Thomas B. Macaulay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-b-macaulay/) > [In the infancy of civilization, when our island was as savage as New Guinea, when letters and arts were still unknown to Athens, when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-b-macaulay/in-the-infancy-of-civilization-when-our-island-was-as-savage-as-new/) [Thomas B. Macaulay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-b-macaulay/) > [In truth it may be laid down as an almost universal rule that good poets are bad critics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-b-macaulay/in-truth-it-may-be-laid-down-as-an-almost-universal-rule-that-good/) [Thomas B. Macaulay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-b-macaulay/) > [He had a head which statuaries loved to copy, and a foot the deformity of which the beggars in the streets mimicked.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-b-macaulay/he-had-a-head-which-statuaries-loved-to-copy-and-a-foot-the-deformity/) [Thomas B. Macaulay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-b-macaulay/) > [The Spartan, smiting and spurning the wretched Helot, moves our disgust. But the same Spartan, calmly dressing his hair, and uttering his concise jests,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-b-macaulay/the-spartan-smiting-and-spurning-the-wretched-helot-moves-our-disgust/) [Thomas B. Macaulay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-b-macaulay/) [Explore all 193 Thomas B. Macaulay quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-b-macaulay/) ## More Chief justice quotes > [I was asked three times directly in the hearing before the board of the judiciary whether or not I would continue to acknowledge God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-moore/i-was-asked-three-times-directly-in-the-hearing-before-the-board-of/) [Roy Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-moore/) > [Even before the hearings that led to confirmation of Chief Justice Roberts, senators were saying they were reserving judgment on how they would vote…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-perino/even-before-the-hearings-that-led-to-confirmation-of-chief-justice/) [Dana Perino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-perino/) > [I never place limits on the potential success of my students. If they're going into acting, they're going to win the Oscar... If they're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-dershowitz/i-never-place-limits-on-the-potential-success-of-my-students-if-they/) [Alan Dershowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-dershowitz/) > [The Stamp Act was a direct tax imposed on the colonies by King George III. This act inevitably led to the American Revolution. Just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/the-stamp-act-was-a-direct-tax-imposed-on-the-colonies-by-king-george/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [She wanted us to feel we were above everyone in the town. She really did tell us that we were related to Chief Justice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fay-wray/she-wanted-us-to-feel-we-were-above-everyone-in-the-town-she-really/) [Fay Wray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fay-wray/) > [I have high respect for the Chief Justice and the institution he represents. But, I equally demand respect to the institution I represent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juan-ponce-enrile/i-have-high-respect-for-the-chief-justice-and-the-institution-he/) [Juan Ponce Enrile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juan-ponce-enrile/) > [ It is extraordinary that each of the three individuals this president \[ George W. Bush\] has nominated for the Supreme Court - Chief Justice… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-kennedy/it-is-extraordinary-that-each-of-the-three-individuals-this-president/) [Edward Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-kennedy/) > [The irony of the Supreme Court hearing on these cases last week and of the outright hostility that the Court has displayed against religion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cliff-stearns/the-irony-of-the-supreme-court-hearing-on-these-cases-last-week-and/) [Cliff Stearns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cliff-stearns/) > [On the whole, yes, I would rather be the Chief Justice of the United States, and a quieter life than that which becomes at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-howard-taft/on-the-whole-yes-i-would-rather-be-the-chief-justice-of-the-united/) [William Howard Taft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-howard-taft/) > [It is inexplicable as to why the Chief Justice or other judges of the Supreme Court are unwilling to disclose their assets, particularly when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prashant-bhushan/it-is-inexplicable-as-to-why-the-chief-justice-or-other-judges-of-the/) [Prashant Bhushan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prashant-bhushan/) > [Within the brain's most secret cells, A certain lord chief justice dwells, Of sov'reign power, whom one and all, With common voice we reason…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-churchill/within-the-brain-s-most-secret-cells-a-certain-lord-chief-justice/) [Charles Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-churchill/) > [The Chief Justice's ... main point seemed to be that the references to God in the Pledge of Allegiance aren't really religious and therefore…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-buckner/the-chief-justice-s-main-point-seemed-to-be-that-the-references-to/) [Ed Buckner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-buckner/) > [Got good news and bad news for you, Mr. President. The good news is that Chief Justice John Roberts just saved your legacy and,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-fournier/got-good-news-and-bad-news-for-you-mr-president-the-good-news-is-that/) [Ron Fournier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-fournier/) > [A chief justice's authority is really quite limited, and the dynamic among all the justices is going to affect whether he can accomplish much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-roberts/a-chief-justice-s-authority-is-really-quite-limited-and-the-dynamic/) [John Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-roberts/) > [It's now up to the full Senate to move swiftly to confirm John Roberts so he can assume his duties and responsibilities as chief…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-s-now-up-to-the-full-senate-to-move-swiftly-to-confirm-john/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 41 Chief justice quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chief-justice/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The chief-justice was rich, quiet, and infamous.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Thomas B. 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