Life in a great society, or for that matter in a small, is a web of tangled relations of all sorts, whose adjustment so that it may be endurable is an extraordinarily troublesome matter. Learned Hand More Quotes by Learned Hand More Quotes From Learned Hand The mutual confidence on which all else depends can be maintained only by an open mind and a brave reliance upon free discussion. Learned Hand discussion brave mind If we are to keep our democracy, there must be one commandment: thou shalt not ration justice. Learned Hand democracy political justice Convention is like the shell to the chick, a protection till he is strong enough to break it through. Learned Hand shells protection strong The legal relations between the individual and the community which arise out of the production and distribution of property, comprise by far the greater, and more important, part of the law; subtract these and very little content would be left. Learned Hand community important law The use of history is to tell us what we are, for at our birth we are nearly empty vessels and we become what our tradition pours into us. Learned Hand empty-vessels use history There is nothing sinister in so arranging one's affairs as to keep taxes as low as possible. Learned Hand sinister affair lows There is no surer way to misread any document than to read it literally. Learned Hand documents inspirational way No doubt one may quote history to support any cause, as the devil quotes scripture; but modern history is not a very satisfactory side-arm in political polemics; it grows less and less so. Learned Hand support political doubt 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. Learned Hand eye reflection spring Heretics have been hated from the beginning of recorded time; they have been ostracized, exiled, tortured, maimed, and butchered; but it has generally proved impossible to smother them; and when it has not, the society that has succeeded has always declined. Learned Hand heretic hated impossible The spirit of liberty is the spirit that is not quite sure it is right. Learned Hand liberty freedom spirit Skepticism is my only gospel, but I don't want to make a dogma out of it. Learned Hand skepticism dogma want Words are chameleons, which reflect the color of their environment. Learned Hand environment color reflection 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. Learned Hand done real winning Any one may so arrange his affairs that his taxes shall be as low as possible; he is not bound to choose that pattern which will best pay the Treasury; there is not even a patriotic duty to increase ones taxes. Learned Hand patriotic advice pay The judge's authority depends upon the assumption that he speaks with the mouth of others. That is to say, the momentum of his utterances must be greater than any which his personal reputation and character can command, if it is to do the work assigned to it - if it is to stand against the passionate resentments arising out of the interests he must frustrate - for while a judge must discover some composition with the dominant trends of his times, he must preserve his authority by cloaking himself in the majesty of an overshadowing past. Learned Hand judging character past Every smallest step of modern industry depends upon a cooperation whose maintenance and regulation is the very stuff of law. Learned Hand maintenance regulation law When I say that a thing is true, I mean that I cannot help believing it... But...I do not venture to assume that my inabilities in the way of thought are inabilities of the universe. I therefore define truth as the system of my limitations, and leave absolute truth for those who are better equipped. Learned Hand inability mean believe The profession of the law of which he [a judge] is a part is charged with the articulation and final incidence of the successive efforts towards justice; it must feel the circulation of the communal blood or it will wither and drop off, a useless member. Learned Hand law justice blood Liberty lies in the hearts of men and women; when it dies there, no constitution, no law, no court can save it; no constitution, no law, no court can even do much to help it. Learned Hand freedom hate love
