In the end it is worse to suppress dissent than to run the risk of heresy.
About Learned Hand
Billings Learned Hand was an American jurist, lawyer, and judicial philosopher. He served as a federal trial judge on the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York from 1909 to 1924 and as a federal appellate judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit from 1924 to 1961.
More quotes from Learned Hand
What to an outsider will be no more than the vigorous presentation of a conviction, to an employee may be the manifestation of a determination which it is not safe to thwart.
American legal scholar, Court of Appeals judge
I shall ask no more than that you agree with Dean Inge that even though counting heads is not an ideal way to govern, at least it is better than breaking them.
American legal scholar, Court of Appeals judge
The art of publicity is a black art; but it has come to stay, and every year adds to its potency.
American legal scholar, Court of Appeals judge
If we are to keep democracy, there must be a commandment: Thou shalt not ration justice.
American legal scholar, Court of Appeals judge
A self-made man may prefer a self-made name.
American legal scholar, Court of Appeals judge
The aim of law is the maximum gratification of the nervous system of man.
American legal scholar, Court of Appeals judge
Liberty lies in the hearts of men and women; when it dies there, no constitution, no law, no court can save it.
American legal scholar, Court of Appeals judge
Thou shalt not ration justice.
American legal scholar, Court of Appeals judge
We may win when we lose, if we have done what we can; for by so doing we have made real at least some part of that finished product in whose fabrication we are most concerned: ourselves.
American legal scholar, Court of Appeals judge
It lies in the hearts of men and women; when it dies there, no constitution, no law, no court can save it. While it lies there, it needs no constitution, no law, no court to save it.
American legal scholar, Court of Appeals judge
In the end it is worse to suppress dissent than to run the risk of heresy.
American legal scholar, Court of Appeals judge
The mid-day sun is too much for most eyes; one is dazzled even with its reflection. Be careful that too broad and high an aim does not paralyze your effort and clog your springs of action.
American legal scholar, Court of Appeals judge
Words are chameleons, which reflect the color of their environment.
American legal scholar, Court of Appeals judge
Life is made up of a series of judgments on insufficient data, and if we waited to run down all our doubts, it would flow past us.
American legal scholar, Court of Appeals judge
You cannot raise the standard against oppression, or leap into the breach to relieve injustice, and still keep an open mind to every disconcerting fact, or an open ear to the cold voice of doubt.
American legal scholar, Court of Appeals judge
The spirit of liberty is the spirit which is not too sure that it is right.
American legal scholar, Court of Appeals judge
Words are not pebbles in alien juxtaposition.
American legal scholar, Court of Appeals judge
Life is made up of constant calls to action, and we seldom have time for more than hastily contrived answers.
American legal scholar, Court of Appeals judge
Right knows no boundaries, and justice no frontiers; the brotherhood of man is not a domestic institution.
American legal scholar, Court of Appeals judge
No doubt one may quote history to support any cause, as the devil quotes scripture.
American legal scholar, Court of Appeals judge
It is enough that we set out to mold the motley stuff of life into some form of our own choosing; when we do, the performance is itself the wage.
American legal scholar, Court of Appeals judge