There is no surer way to misread any document than to read it literally. Learned Hand More Quotes by Learned Hand More Quotes From Learned Hand Seldom, if ever, does wisdom come, shall we punish it if it comes late? Learned Hand lateifsdoe 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 discussionbravemind If we are to keep our democracy, there must be one commandment: thou shalt not ration justice. Learned Hand democracypoliticaljustice Convention is like the shell to the chick, a protection till he is strong enough to break it through. Learned Hand shellsprotectionstrong 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 communityimportantlaw 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-vesselsusehistory There is nothing sinister in so arranging one's affairs as to keep taxes as low as possible. Learned Hand sinisteraffairlows 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 supportpoliticaldoubt 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 eyereflectionspring 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 heretichatedimpossible The spirit of liberty is the spirit that is not quite sure it is right. Learned Hand libertyfreedomspirit Skepticism is my only gospel, but I don't want to make a dogma out of it. Learned Hand skepticismdogmawant Words are chameleons, which reflect the color of their environment. Learned Hand environmentcolorreflection 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 donerealwinning 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 patrioticadvicepay 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 judgingcharacterpast Every smallest step of modern industry depends upon a cooperation whose maintenance and regulation is the very stuff of law. Learned Hand maintenanceregulationlaw 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 inabilitymeanbelieve 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 lawjusticeblood 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 freedomhatelove
