Louis D. Brandeis

The greatest dangers to liberty lurk in the insidious encroachment by men of zeal, well meaning but without understanding.

We can have democracy in this country, or we can have great wealth concentrated in the hands of a few, but we can't have both.

It is not wealth, it is not station, it is not social standing and ambition which can make us worthy of the Jewish name, of the Jewish heritage. To be worthy of them, we must live up to and with them. We must regard ourselves their custodians.

The most important political office is that of the private citizen.

The difference between a nation and a nationality is clear, but it is not always observed. Likeness between members is the essence of nationality, but the members of a nation may be very different. A nation may be composed of many nationalities, as some of the most successful nations are.

A man is a better citizen of the United States for being also a loyal citizen of his state and of his city; for being loyal to his family and to his profession or trade; for being loyal to his college or his lodge.

The world presents enough problems if you believe it to be a world of law and order; do not add to them by believing it to be a world of miracles.

If you would only recognize that life is hard, things would be so much easier for you.

Experience teaches us to be most on our guard to protect liberty when the government's purposes are beneficent.

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.

In the frank expression of conflicting opinions lies the greatest promise of wisdom in governmental action.

Democracy rests upon two pillars: one, the principle that all men are equally entitled to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness; and the other, the conviction that such equal opportunity will most advance civilization.