Chase after the truth like all hell and you’ll free yourself, even though you never touch its coat tails.
Meaning of the quote
The quote means that you should try your hardest to find the truth, even if you can never fully understand or explain it. By doing this, you will free yourself from confusion and ignorance, even if you never fully grasp the complete truth.
About Clarence Darrow
Clarence Darrow was a renowned American lawyer who became famous for his high-profile legal cases, including the Leopold and Loeb murder trial and the Scopes ‘monkey’ trial. He was a leading member of the American Civil Liberties Union and a prominent advocate for Georgist economic reform, known for his wit, eloquence, and passion as a public speaker and writer.
More quotes from Clarence Darrow
As long as the world shall last there will be wrongs, and if no man objected and no man rebelled, those wrongs would last forever.
American lawyer and leading member of the American Civil Liberties Union (1857-1938)
When I was a boy I was told that anybody could become President; I’m beginning to believe it.
American lawyer and leading member of the American Civil Liberties Union (1857-1938)
I do not believe in God because I do not believe in Mother Goose.
American lawyer and leading member of the American Civil Liberties Union (1857-1938)
I do not consider it an insult, but rather a compliment to be called an agnostic. I do not pretend to know where many ignorant men are sure – that is all that agnosticism means.
American lawyer and leading member of the American Civil Liberties Union (1857-1938)
The law does not pretend to punish everything that is dishonest. That would seriously interfere with business.
American lawyer and leading member of the American Civil Liberties Union (1857-1938)
Justice has nothing to do with what goes on in a courtroom; Justice is what comes out of a courtroom.
American lawyer and leading member of the American Civil Liberties Union (1857-1938)
I have never killed a man, but I have read many obituaries with great pleasure.
American lawyer and leading member of the American Civil Liberties Union (1857-1938)
The only real lawyers are trial lawyers, and trial lawyers try cases to juries.
American lawyer and leading member of the American Civil Liberties Union (1857-1938)
I never wanted to see anybody die, but there are a few obituary notices I have read with pleasure.
American lawyer and leading member of the American Civil Liberties Union (1857-1938)
Some of you say religion makes people happy. So does laughing gas.
American lawyer and leading member of the American Civil Liberties Union (1857-1938)
Chase after the truth like all hell and you’ll free yourself, even though you never touch its coat tails.
American lawyer and leading member of the American Civil Liberties Union (1857-1938)
Lost causes are the only ones worth fighting for.
American lawyer and leading member of the American Civil Liberties Union (1857-1938)
You can only protect your liberties in this world by protecting the other man’s freedom.
American lawyer and leading member of the American Civil Liberties Union (1857-1938)
If you lose the power to laugh, you lose the power to think.
American lawyer and leading member of the American Civil Liberties Union (1857-1938)
Even if you do learn to speak correct English, whom are you going to speak it to?
American lawyer and leading member of the American Civil Liberties Union (1857-1938)
None meet life honestly and few heroically.
American lawyer and leading member of the American Civil Liberties Union (1857-1938)
The best that we can do is to be kindly and helpful toward our friends and fellow passengers who are clinging to the same speck of dirt while we are drifting side by side to our common doom.
American lawyer and leading member of the American Civil Liberties Union (1857-1938)
No other offense has ever been visited with such severe penalties as seeking to help the oppressed.
American lawyer and leading member of the American Civil Liberties Union (1857-1938)
True patriotism hates injustice in its own land more than anywhere else.
American lawyer and leading member of the American Civil Liberties Union (1857-1938)
I have suffered from being misunderstood, but I would have suffered a hell of a lot more if I had been understood.
American lawyer and leading member of the American Civil Liberties Union (1857-1938)
There is no such thing as justice – in or out of court.
American lawyer and leading member of the American Civil Liberties Union (1857-1938)
I don’t like spinach, and I’m glad I don’t, because if I liked it I’d eat it, and I just hate it.
American lawyer and leading member of the American Civil Liberties Union (1857-1938)
You can only be free if I am free.
American lawyer and leading member of the American Civil Liberties Union (1857-1938)
The pursuit of truth will set you free; even if you never catch up with it.
American lawyer and leading member of the American Civil Liberties Union (1857-1938)
I am an agnostic; I do not pretend to know what many ignorant men are sure of.
American lawyer and leading member of the American Civil Liberties Union (1857-1938)
Working people have alot of bad habits, but the worst of these is work.
American lawyer and leading member of the American Civil Liberties Union (1857-1938)
Depressions may bring people closer to the church but so do funerals.
American lawyer and leading member of the American Civil Liberties Union (1857-1938)
History repeats itself, and that’s one of the things that’s wrong with history.
American lawyer and leading member of the American Civil Liberties Union (1857-1938)
I am a friend of the working man, and I would rather be his friend, than be one.
American lawyer and leading member of the American Civil Liberties Union (1857-1938)
To think is to differ.
American lawyer and leading member of the American Civil Liberties Union (1857-1938)
The origin of the absurd idea of immortal life is easy to discover; it is kept alive by hope and fear, by childish faith, and by cowardice.
American lawyer and leading member of the American Civil Liberties Union (1857-1938)
Laws should be like clothes. They should be made to fit the people they serve.
American lawyer and leading member of the American Civil Liberties Union (1857-1938)
Someday I hope to write a book where the royalties will pay for the copies I give away.
American lawyer and leading member of the American Civil Liberties Union (1857-1938)
The trouble with law is lawyers.
American lawyer and leading member of the American Civil Liberties Union (1857-1938)
Just think of the tragedy of teaching children not to doubt.
American lawyer and leading member of the American Civil Liberties Union (1857-1938)
I do not pretend to know where many ignorant men are sure – that is all that agnosticism means.
American lawyer and leading member of the American Civil Liberties Union (1857-1938)
Calvin Coolidge was the greatest man who ever came out of Plymouth Corner, Vermont.
American lawyer and leading member of the American Civil Liberties Union (1857-1938)
If a man is happy in America, it is considered he is doing something wrong.
American lawyer and leading member of the American Civil Liberties Union (1857-1938)
In spite of all the yearnings of men, no one can produce a single fact or reason to support the belief in God and in personal immortality.
American lawyer and leading member of the American Civil Liberties Union (1857-1938)
The world is made up for the most part of morons and natural tyrants, sure of themselves, strong in their own opinions, never doubting anything.
American lawyer and leading member of the American Civil Liberties Union (1857-1938)
The first half of our lives are ruined by our parents and the second half by our children.
American lawyer and leading member of the American Civil Liberties Union (1857-1938)