A search is a search, even if it happens to disclose nothing but the bottom of a turntable. Antonin Scalia More Quotes by Antonin Scalia More Quotes From Antonin Scalia Yeah, I have to get a better word then 'dead'. Antonin Scalia politics As a general rule, I do not think it appropriate for judges to heap either praise or censure upon a legislative measure that comes before them, lest it be thought that their validation, invalidation, or interpretation of it is driven by their desire to expand or constrict what they personally approve or disapprove as a matter of policy. Antonin Scalia thought think praise matter It's absolutely clear that whatever cruel and unusual punishments may - may mean with regard to future things, such as death by injection or the electric chair, it's clear that - that the death penalty, in and of itself, is not considered cruel and unusual punishment. Antonin Scalia death-penalty punishment future death The American people have determined that the good to be derived from capital punishment - in deterrence, and perhaps most of all in the meting out of condign justice for horrible crimes - outweighs the risk of error. Antonin Scalia good punishment justice people I attack ideas. I don't attack people. And some very good people have some very bad ideas. And if you can't separate the two, you gotta get another day job. You don't want to be a judge. At least not a judge on a multi-member panel. Antonin Scalia day good you people The Constitution that I interpret and apply is not living, but dead, or as I prefer to call it, enduring. It means, today, not what current society, much less the court, thinks it ought to mean, but what it meant when it was adopted. Antonin Scalia dead constitution society today Until the courts put a stop to it, public debate over same-sex marriage displayed American democracy at its best. Individuals on both sides of the issue passionately, but respectfully, attempted to persuade their fellow citizens to accept their views. Antonin Scalia best debate marriage democracy Some people are inherently likeable. If you're not - work on it. It may even improve your social life. Antonin Scalia you work life people I think Thomas Jefferson would have said the more speech, the better. Antonin Scalia better think speech said The main business of a lawyer is to take the romance, the mystery, the irony, the ambiguity out of everything he touches. Antonin Scalia everything lawyer mystery business Being a good person begins with being a wise person. Then, when you follow your conscience, will you be headed in the right direction. Antonin Scalia good you good-person wise There exists in some parts of the world sanctimonious criticism of America's death penalty, as somehow unworthy of a civilized society. Antonin Scalia death-penalty society death world If there's anything you absolutely hate, why, it must be unconstitutional. Or, if there's anything you absolutely have to have, it must be required by the Constitution. That's where we are. That is utterly mindless. Antonin Scalia why you constitution hate But I'm not pro death penalty. I - I'm just anti the notion that it is not a matter for democratic choice, that it has been taken away from the democratic choice of the people by a provision of the Constitution. Antonin Scalia constitution matter death people A man who has made no enemies is probably not a very good man. Antonin Scalia enemies good man good-man A good, hard-hitting dissent keeps you honest. Antonin Scalia good you dissent honest I'm an originalist and a textualist, not a nut. Antonin Scalia nut I do accept that, with - with respect to those vague terms in the Constitution such as equal protection of the laws, due process of law, cruel and unusual punishments. I fully accept that those things have to apply to new phenomena that didn't exist at the time. Antonin Scalia constitution respect law time Originalism is sort of subspecies of textualism. Textualism means you are governed by the text. That's the only thing that is relevant to your decision, not whether the outcome is desirable, not whether legislative history says this or that. But the text of the statute. Antonin Scalia your you decision history The court makes an amazing amount of decisions that ought to be made by the people. Antonin Scalia decisions amazing court people
