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There is in most Americans some spark of idealism, which can be fanned into a flame. It takes sometimes a divining rod to find what it is; but when found, and that means often, when disclosed to the owners, the results are often extraordinary.

— Louis Brandeis The Words of Justice Brandeis (1953)

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More quotes by Louis Brandeis

If we desire respect for the law, we must first make the law respectable.

If we would guide by the light of reason, we must let our minds be bold.

Publicity is justly commended as a remedy for social and industrial diseases. Sunlight is said to be the best of disinfectants; electric light the most efficient policeman.

Fear of serious injury cannot alone justify suppression of free speech and assembly. Men feared witches and burnt women. It is the function of speech to free men from the bondage of irrational fears.

We must make our choice. We may have democracy, or we may have wealth concentrated in the hands of a few, but we can't have both.

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Quote text and notes from Wikiquote: Louis Brandeis (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source quality and labels are our own summary of what Wikiquote records.