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

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...

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

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

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

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

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...

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...

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...

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.

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...

We are rapidly entering the age of no privacy, where everyone is open to surveillance...

We are rapidly entering the age of no privacy, where everyone is open to surveillance...

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....

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...

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...

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.

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...

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...

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.

Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character,...

Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character,...

It is strange how often a heart must be broken before the years can make...

It is strange how often a heart must be broken before the years can make...

No one wants to die. Even people who want to go to heaven don't want...

No one wants to die. Even people who want to go to heaven don't want...