Home / Authors / Joseph Story

Joseph Story Quotes

Former Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States

Joseph Story was a distinguished figure in the early history of the United States. He served as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States from 1812 to 1845. His contributions to American law and legal thought were significant, and he is remembered for his influential writings on constitutional law and his role in shaping the early decisions of the Supreme Court.

Filter quotes by topic

All Government States Constitution Liberty People Law Duty Men Wells Amendments Christianity May Objects Rights Citizens Common Federalism Humans Ifs Religious

Famous Joseph Story Quotes

“Let the American youth never forget, that they possess a noble inheritance, bought by the toils, and sufferings, and blood of their ancestors; and capacity, if wisely improved, and faithfully guarded, of transmitting to their latest posterity all the substantial blessings of life, the peaceful enjoyment of liberty, property, religion, and independence.”

Ifs America Suffering Forget Liberty Blood Youth Blessing Capacity Independence Property Noble Peaceful Enjoyment Never Forget Ancestor Toil Inheritance Posterity Guarded American Youth

Author:Joseph Story

“The true test is, whether the object be of a local character, and local use; or, whether it be of general benefit to the states. If it be purely local, congress cannot constitutionally appropriate money for the object. But, if the benefit be general, it matters not, whether in point of locality it be in one state, or several; whether it be of large, or of small extent.”

Ifs Matter States Character Use Objects Benefits Tests Congress Locals Appropriate Federalism Locality

Book:Commentaries on the Constitution of the United States: With a Preliminary Review of the Constitutional History of the Colonies and States, Before the Adoption of the Constitution

Source: Commentaries on the Constitution of the United States: With a Preliminary Review of the Constitutional History of the Colonies and States, Before the Adoption of the Constitution

“Without justice being freely, fully, and impartially administered, neither our persons, nor our rights, nor our property, can be protected. And if these, or either of them, are regulated by no certain laws, and are subject to no certain principles, and are held by no certain tenure, and are redressed, when violated, by no certain remedies, society fails of all its value; and men may as well return to a state of savage and barbarous independence.”

Source: Commentaries on the Constitution of the United States: With a Preliminary Review of the Constitutional History of the Colonies and States Before the Adoption of the Constitution

“At the time of the adoption of the constitution, and of the amendment to it, now under consideration [i.e., the First Amendment], the general, if not the universal sentiment in America was, that Christianity ought to receive encouragement from the state, so far as was not incompatible with the private rights of conscience, and the freedom of religious worship.”

Ifs Firsts States America Religious Christianity Rights Ought Worship Conscience Universal Constitution Encouragement Consideration Sentiments Amendments Adoption First Amendment

Author:Joseph Story

“If the Constitution is a compact, then the States have a right to secede.”

Ifs War States Constitution Civil War Compact

Author:Joseph Story