To summarize: Americans have one of the greatest legal systems, but not a monopoly of the sense of justice, which is universal; nor have we a permanent copyright on the means of securing justice, for it is the spirit and not the form of law that keeps justice alive.

Earl Warren

Categorized in : Mean Justice Law

When the rights of any individual or group are chipped away, the freedom of all erodes.

Earl Warren

erode groups rights

Many people consider the things government does for them to be social progress but they regard the things government does for others as socialism.

Earl Warren

eugenics government people

We are now at the point where we must decide whether we are to honour the concept of a plural society which gains strength through diversity, or whether we are to have bitter fragmentation that will result in perpetual tension and strife.

Earl Warren

bitter diversity gains

I'm very pleased with each advancing year. It stems back to when I was forty. I was a bit upset about reaching that milestone, but an older friend consoled me. "Don't complain about growing old - many, many people do not have that privilege."

Earl Warren

upset people years

Churchmen are quick to defend religious freedom; lawyers were never so universally aroused as by President Roosevelt's Court bill; newspapers are most alert to civil liberties when there is a hint of press censorship in the air. And educators become perturbed at every effort to curb academic freedom. But too seldom do all of these become militant when ostensibly the rights of only one group are threatened. They do not always react to the truism that when the rights of any individual or group are chipped away, the freedom of all erodes.

Earl Warren

religious rights air

Everything I did in my life that was worthwhile, I caught hell for.

Earl Warren

adoption determination life

In these days, it is doubtful that any child may reasonably be expected to succeed in life if he is denied the opportunity of an education.

Earl Warren

education opportunity children

It is doubtful that congress would pass the Bill of Rights if it were introduced today.

Earl Warren

bills rights today

To separate children from others of similar age and qualifications solely because of their race generates a feeling of inferiority as to their status in the community that may affect their hearts and minds in a way unlikely ever to be undone.

Earl Warren

heart birthday children

The abhorrence of society to the use of involuntary confessions does not turn alone on their inherent untrustworthiness. It also turns on the deep-rooted feeling that the police must obey the law while enforcing the law; that, in the end, life and liberty can be as much endangered from illegal methods used to convict those thought to be criminals as from the actual criminals themselves.

Earl Warren

police law feelings

It is the spirit and not the form of law that keeps justice alive.

Earl Warren

legal-system law justice

I hate banks. They do nothing positive for anybody except take care of themselves. They're first in with their fees and first out when there's trouble.

Earl Warren

money hate positive

Legislators represent people, not trees or acres. Legislators are elected by voters, not farms or cities or economic interests.

Earl Warren

cities tree people

To get what you want, STOP doing what isn't working.

Earl Warren

achievement focus change

It would indeed be ironic if, in the name of national defence, we would sanction the subversion of one of those liberties which make the defence of our nation worthwhile.

Earl Warren

ironic names inspirational

The success of any legal system is measured by its fidelity to the universal ideal of justice.

Earl Warren

legal-system law justice

A republic is not an easy form of government to live under, and when the responsibility of citizenship is evaded, democracy decays and authoritarianism takes over.

Earl Warren

democracy government responsibility

I believe no one can read the history of our country without realizing that the Good Book and the spirit of the Savior have from the beginning been our guiding geniuses.

Earl Warren

religious christian country

Legislatures represent people, not acres or trees.

Earl Warren

acres tree people

If it is a mistake of the head and not the heart don't worry about it, that's the way we learn.

Earl Warren

mistake worry heart