Louis Brandeis

choice democracy wealth concentration

“We must make our choice. We may have democracy, or we may have wealth concentrated in the hands of a few, but we cannot have both.”

—Louis Brandeis (1856-1941)

worth doing declare impossible

“Most of the things worth doing in the world had been declared impossible before they were done.”

—Louis Brandeis (1856-1941)

sunlight disinfectant

“Sunlight is said to be the best of disinfectants.”

—Louis Brandeis (1856-1941)

publicity remedy social disease sunlight disinfectant electric p

“Publicity is justly commended as a remedy for social and industrial diseases. Sunlight is said to be the best of disinfectants; electric light the most efficient policeman.”

—Louis Brandeis (1856-1941)

respect law respectable

“If we desire respect for the law, we must first make the law respectable."

—Louis Brandeis (1856-1941)

government teach people example lawbreaker anarchy

“Our government teaches the whole people by its example. If the government becomes the lawbreaker, it breeds contempt for law; it invites every man to become a law unto himself; it invites anarchy.”

—Louis Brandeis (1856-1941)

frank expression opinion wisdom government suppress peril

“In frank expression of conflicting opinion lies the greatest promise of wisdom in governmental action; and in suppression lies ordinarily the greatest peril.”

—Louis Brandeis (1856-1941)

title democracy superior president citizen

"The only title in our democracy superior to that of President is the title of citizen."

—Louis Brandeis (1856-1941)

right human citizen civilized left alone

"The right most valued by all civilized men is the right to be left alone."

—Louis Brandeis (1856-1941)

menace freedom inert people

" The greatest menace to freedom is an inert people."

—Louis Brandeis (1856-1941)

experience liberty government purpose beneficient

“Experience should teach us to be most on our guard to protect liberty when the government's purposes are beneficent. Men born to freedom are naturally alert to repel invasion of their liberty by evil-minded rulers. The greatest dangers to liberty lurk in insidious encroachment by men of zeal, well-meaning but without understanding."

—Louis Brandeis (1856-1941)