William O. Douglas Quotes

American - Judge | October 16, 1898 - January 19, 1980

Marriage is a coming together for better or for worse, hopefully enduring, and intimate to the degree of being sacred.

William O. Douglas

MarriageAnniversaryTogetherBetter

Since when have we Americans been expected to bow submissively to authority and speak with awe and reverence to those who represent us?

William O. Douglas

SpeakAuthorityAweUsBowBeen

Common sense often makes good law.

William O. Douglas

GoodLawLegalCommon SenseSense

As nightfall does not come at once, neither does oppression. In both instances, there is a twilight when everything remains seemingly unchanged, and it is in such a twilight that we all must be most aware of change in the air - however slight - lest we become unwitting victims of darkness.

William O. Douglas

ChangeDarknessOppressionBecome

We who have the final word can speak softly or angrily. We can seek to challenge and annoy, as we need not stay docile and quiet.

William O. Douglas

ChallengeSpeakQuietNeedFinal

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

William O. Douglas

GovernmentPeopleConstitutionTake

No patent medicine was ever put to wider and more varied use than the Fourteenth Amendment.

William O. Douglas

MedicineMoreAmendmentPatentThan

The 5th Amendment is an old friend and a good friend. one of the great landmarks in men's struggle to be free of tyranny, to be decent and civilized.

William O. Douglas

GoodFriendGreatStruggleMenFree

One who comes to the Court must come to adore, not to protest. That's the new gloss on the 1st Amendment.

William O. Douglas

HistoryNewAmendmentProtestMust

At the constitutional level where we work, 90 percent of any decision is emotional. The rational part of us supplies the reasons for supporting our predilections.

William O. Douglas

WorkDecisionEmotionalLevelUs

The liberties of none are safe unless the liberties of all are protected.

William O. Douglas

SafeNoneUnlessLibertiesProtected

Free speech is not to be regulated like diseased cattle and impure butter. The audience that hissed yesterday may applaud today, even for the same performance.

William O. Douglas

TodayPoliticsPerformanceFreeSame

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