"When we lose the right to be different, we lose the privilege to be free."
Charles Evans Hughes
Politician, Lawyer
Charles Evans Hughes was a prominent American lawyer and politician who served as Chief Justice of the United States, advocating for justice and legal reform.
- Born
- April 11, 1862
- Died
- August 27, 1948
- Quotes
- 28
- Rank
- #3304
About Charles Evans Hughes
Charles Evans Hughes — Life and Legacy
Charles Evans Hughes was a significant figure in American law and politics, best known for his tenure as Chief Justice of the United States. His leadership on the Supreme Court was marked by a commitment to justice and the rule of law, particularly during a time of great social change. Hughes famously stated, 'The law is not a mere matter of rules,' reflecting his belief that the legal system should embody ethical principles and serve the public good. This perspective was evident in his rulings, which often emphasized the importance of balancing individual rights with societal needs. Hughes's approach to justice was not just about interpreting laws but also about understanding their moral implications. He once remarked on the necessity of an independent judiciary, asserting that it is essential for protecting citizens against potential government abuses. This belief in the judiciary's role as a guardian of democracy set him apart from many of his contemporaries. Today, Hughes's quotes and ideas continue to resonate, reminding us of the ongoing struggle for justice and the importance of ethical considerations in law. His legacy is a testament to the enduring relevance of principled leadership in the pursuit of a fair and just society.
Quote collection
Charles Evans Hughes quotes (page 1 of 2)
28 quotes — follow a thought to its full quote page.
"A man has to live with himself, and he should see to it that he always has good company"
"We are under a Constitution, but the Constitution is what the judges say it is, and the judiciary is the safeguard of our property and our liberty and our property under the Constitution."
"Each man begins with his own world to conquer, and his education is the measure of his conquest."
"The Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal will take care of themselves. Look after the courts of the poor, who stand most in need of justice. The security of the republic will be found in the treatment of the poor and the ignorant. In indifference to their misery and helplessness lies disaster."
"I believe in work, hard work, and long hours of work. Men do not breakdown from overwork, but from worry and dissipation."
"War should be made a crime, and those who instigate it should be punished as criminals."
"Selfishness and demagoguery take advantage of liberty. The selfish hand constantly seeks to control government, and every increase of governmental power, even to meet just needs, furnishes opportunity for abuse and stimulates the effort to bend it to improper uses."
"We [the Government] are here not as masters but as servants, we are not here to glory in power, but to attest our loyalty to the commands and restrictions laid down by our sovereign, the people of the United States, in whose name and by whose will we exercise our brief authority."
"The first lesson in civics is that efficient government begins at home."
"Every young man should aim at independence and should prepare himself for a vocation; above all, he should so manage his life that the steps of his progress are taken without improper aids; that he calls no one master, that he does not win or deserve the reputation of being a tool of others, and that if called to public service he may assume its duties with the satisfaction of knowing that he is free to rise to the height of his opportunity."
"The peril of this Nation is not in any foreign foe! We, the people, are its power, its peril, and its hope."
"Publicity is a great purifier because it sets in action the forces of public opinion, and in this country public opinion controls the courses of the nation"
"Our institutions were not devised to bring about uniformity of opinion; if they had we might well abandon hope. It is important to remember, as has well been said, 'the essential characteristic of true liberty is that under its shelter many different types of life and character and opinion and belief can develop unmolested and unobstructed.'"
"The liberty of the press is not confined to newspapers and periodicals. It necessarily embraces pamphlets and leaflets."
"Dissents are appeals to the brooding spirit of the law, to the intelligence of another day."
"The greater the importance to safeguarding the community from incitements to the overthrow of our institutions by force and violence, the more imperative is the need to preserve the constitutional rights of free speech, free press and free assembly in order to maintain the opportunity for free political discussion."
"While democracy must have its organizations and controls, its vital breath is individual liberty."
"In a number of cases dissenting opinions have in time become the law."
"When we deal with questions relating to principles of law and their applications, we do not suddenly rise into a stratosphere of icy certainty."