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Quote by William O. Douglas

“It seemed to me that I had barely reached the Court when people were trying to get me off.”

Quote by William O. Douglas

Author

William O. Douglas

William O. Douglas was a former Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. Born on October 16, 1898, and passing away on January 19, 1980, he is renowned for his contributions to constitutional interpretation. During his tenure on the Supreme Court, Douglas advocated for liberal judgments, particularly in the areas of the First and Fifth Amendments, and had a profound impact on the American legal and judicial system. more

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“The struggle is always between the individual and his sacred right to express himself and the power structure that seeks conformity, suppression, and obedience.”

Individual Power Struggle Sacred Structure Obedience Conformity Suppression

Author:William O. Douglas

“The great and invigorating influences in American life have been the unorthodox: the people who challenge an existing institution or way of life, or say and do things that make people think.”

People Thinking Way Has Beens America Challenges Influence Institutions American Life Invigorating Unorthodox

Author:William O. Douglas

“Freedom of movement is the very essence of our free society -- once the right to travel is curtailed, all other rights suffer.”

Government Suffering Rights Movement Essence Free Society Curfew

Author:William O. Douglas

“Once the government can demand of a publisher the names of the purchasers of his publication, the free press as we know it disappears. Then the spectre of a government agent will look over the shoulder of everyone who reads. ... Fear of criticism goes with every person into the bookstall. The subtle, imponderable pressures of the orthodox lay hold. Some will fear to read what is unpopular, what the powers-that-be dislike. ... fear will take the place of freedom in the libraries, book stores, and homes in the land.”

“I do not know of any salvation for society except through eccentrics, misfits, dissenters, people who protest.”

People Knows Salvation Protest Misfits

Author:William O. Douglas

“We must realize that today's establishment is the new George III. Whether it will continue to adhere to his tactics, we do not know. If it does, the redress, honored in tradition, is also revolution.”

Ifs Knows Doe Today Realizing Revolution Tradition Establishment Honored Tactics Redress

Book:POINTS OF REBELLION

Source: POINTS OF REBELLION

“The Constitution and the Bill of Rights we designed to get the government off the backs of the people -- all the people. Those great documents guarantee to us all the rights to personal and spiritual self-fulfillment. But that guarantee is not self-executing. As nightfall does not come all 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 the change in the air -- however slight -- lest we become unwitting victims of the darkness.”

“As night-fall does not come at once, neither does oppression...It is in such twilight that we all must be aware of change in the air - however slight - lest we become victims of the darkness.”

Doe Night Fall Darkness Air Victim Oppression Twilight

Author:William O. Douglas

“I would rather create a precedent than find one.”

Author:William O. Douglas

“This freedom of movement is the very essence of our free society, setting us apart. Like the right of assembly and the right of association, it often makes all other rights meaningful-knowing, studying, arguing, exploring, conversing, observing and even thinking. Once the right to travel is curtailed, all other rights suffer, just as when curfew or home detention is placed on a person.”

Thinking Persons Home Law Suffering Knowing Study Rights Movement Essence Arguing Meaningful Setting Settings Association Exploring Observing Assembly Free Society Detention Curfew

Author:William O. Douglas