The critical point is that the Constitution places the right of silence beyond the reach of government.

Quote by William Orville Douglas

Topics: Government Quotes

Acceptance by government of a dissident press is a measure of the maturity of a...

Acceptance by government of a dissident press is a measure of the maturity of a...

Free speech is not to be regulated like diseased cattle and impure butter. The audience...

Free speech is not to be regulated like diseased cattle and impure butter. The audience...

We do not sit as a superlegislature to weigh the wisdom of legislation.

We do not sit as a superlegislature to weigh the wisdom of legislation.

I learned that the richness of life is found in adventure. . . . It...

I learned that the richness of life is found in adventure. . . . It...

If the government is in jeopardy, it is not because we are unable to cope...

If the government is in jeopardy, it is not because we are unable to cope...

The dominant purpose of the First Amendment was to prohibit the widespread practice of government...

The dominant purpose of the First Amendment was to prohibit the widespread practice of government...

The privacy and dignity of our citizens [are] being whittled away by sometimes imperceptible steps....

The privacy and dignity of our citizens [are] being whittled away by sometimes imperceptible steps....

Government should be concerned with anti-social conduct, not with utterances.

Government should be concerned with anti-social conduct, not with utterances.

Honorable retreats are no ways inferior to brave charges, as having less fortune, more of...

Honorable retreats are no ways inferior to brave charges, as having less fortune, more of...

The Constitution is not neutral. It was designed to take the government off the backs...

The Constitution is not neutral. It was designed to take the government off the backs...

The search of the young today is more specific than the ancient search for the...

The search of the young today is more specific than the ancient search for the...

Common sense often makes good law.

Common sense often makes good law.

Marriage is a coming together for better or for worse, hopefully enduring, and intimate to...

Marriage is a coming together for better or for worse, hopefully enduring, and intimate to...

The Constitution is not neutral. It was designed to take the government off the backs...

The Constitution is not neutral. It was designed to take the government off the backs...

Tell the FBI that the kidnappers should pick out a judge that Nixon wants back.

Tell the FBI that the kidnappers should pick out a judge that Nixon wants back.

Violence has no constitutional sanction; and every government from the beginning has moved against it....

Violence has no constitutional sanction; and every government from the beginning has moved against it....

The critical point is that the Constitution places the right of silence beyond the reach...

The critical point is that the Constitution places the right of silence beyond the reach...

Ignorance and illiteracy are obviously not synonymous; even illiterate masses can cast their ballots with...

Ignorance and illiteracy are obviously not synonymous; even illiterate masses can cast their ballots with...

In the fight against terrorism, national agencies keep full control over their police forces, security...

In the fight against terrorism, national agencies keep full control over their police forces, security...

... the use of our intelligence quite properly gives us pleasure. In this respect the...

... the use of our intelligence quite properly gives us pleasure. In this respect the...