Citizenship is no light trifle to be jeopardized any moment Congress decides to do so under the name of one of its general or implied grants of power.
¶ Afroyim v. Rusk, 387 U.S. 267–68 (1967)
Quotations by ...
Justice Hugo Black (1886-1971) US Supreme Court Justice (1937-71)
An unconditional right to say what one pleases about public affairs is what I consider to be the minimum guarantee of the First Amendment.
¶ NY Times Co v Sullivan, 376 U.S. 254 (concurring opinion) (1964)
I think most Americans do not understand the Constitution. It's all because each one of them believes that the Constitution prohibits that which they think should be prohibited, and permits that which they think should be permitted.
¶ Newsweek, interview (9 Dec 1968)
The Framers [of the Constitution] knew that free speech is the friend of change and revolution. But they also knew that it is always the deadliest enemy of tyranny.
¶ Address at the New York University School of Law (1960)
The Founding Fathers gave the free press the protection it must have [to] bare the secrets of government and inform the people.
¶ Comment, New York Times (30 Jun 1971)
On the publication of the Pentagon Papers.
In revealing the workings of government that led to the Vietnam War, the newspapers nobly did precisely that which the Founders hoped and trusted they would do.
¶ Concurring opinion, New York Times Co. v. United States, 403 U.S. 713 (1971) (30 Jun 1971)
My view is, without deviation, without exception, without ifs, buts or whereases, that freedom of speech means that you shall not do something to people either for the views they have or the views they express or the words they speak or write.
¶ News conference in New York (1962)
The layman’s constitutional view is that what he likes is constitutional and that which he doesn’t like is unconstitutional.
¶ Quoted in NY Times (26 Feb 1971)
About WIST
WIST is my collection of quotations I find meaningful, moving, amusing (intended or not), well-phrased, and/or to which I just say I "Wish I'd Said That." But just because I quote it here doesn't mean I actually agree with it. If you have any comments, corrections, or suggestions, please don't hesitate to
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