Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr., (1841-1935) US Supreme Court Justice, also known as "The Great Dissenter" Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Comment on this quote Share via Email Print this Page Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. Quote “I think that we should be eternally vigilant against attempts to check the expression of opinions that we loathe and believe to be fraught with death, unless they so imminently threaten immediate interference with the lawful and pressing purposes of the law that an immediate check is required to save the country... Only the emergency that makes it immediately dangerous to leave the correction of evil counsels to time warrants making any exception to the sweeping command, 'Congress shall make no law... abridging the freedom of speech.'”Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. ~ Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. (1841-1935) US Supreme Court Justice, also known as "The Great Dissenter"Abrams et al v. United States, 1919 Censorship , Commitment , Congress , Constitution , Death , Justice , Law , Press , Propaganda , Speech , Vigilance Ratings and Comments Reply KS 8/1/05 Yes,Now what is the next step for the "Defenders of Liberty" to take? Reply Joe, Rochester, MI 8/1/05 Make people aware of the way congress infringes our rights. When enough people are mad enough a civil war will occur to get the bastards out of office. Reply RBE, Anywhere in Europe 9/1/16 1 Reply Mike, Norwalk 9/1/16 The Justice hides his intent with throwing out the sound bite; Congress shall make no law ⋯ abridging freedom of speech Through a stare decisis, the Justice broadened the opening of tyranny and other despotic censorship with his " interference with the lawful and pressing purposes of the law " What law? The law he is referencing is carnal gods tyrannical legal positivism (vs the laws of nature and of nature's God - that which is antithetical to the individual sovereign of 'We The People'. 1 Reply E Archer, NYC 9/1/16 Ah, yes, high principles indeed -- except in an emergency. Somehow, during an emergency, all power needs to roll up to the commander in chief (who declares the emergency). That's how fascism made such headway in the 20th century. Reply Mark, Aurora, CO 9/1/16 A giant of a quote, from a giant of a Constitutionalist! Sad and pathetic, how the liberals are so wont to relinquish and curtail, what ALL TRUE AMERICANS champion without a second thought. WOE TO TREASONOUS TRAITORS working agin our Liberty to freely communicate, if internet is hijacked on 1 October, that will be another step closer to civil war between Patriots and our despotic govt/statist liberal "country(girlie)men". Reply Ronw13, Oregon 9/1/16 Holmes apposed the doctrine of " natural law ". Excellent responses Mike and Archer, thank you. A little home work exposes the misdirection of patriotism and the slight of tongue. 1 Reply Fredrick William Sillik, Anytown 5/15/24 Don't perform abortions. Respect life. SaveOk2 SaveOk2 View CommentsClick to view or comment. Share on Facebook Tweet Email Print This Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. quote is found in these categories: Censorship quotes Commitment quotes Congress quotes Constitution quotes Death quotes Justice quotes Law quotes Press quotes Propaganda quotes Speech quotes Vigilance quotes About Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. Bio of Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. Quotations by Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. Books by/about Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. videos Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. on Wikipedia Astrological chart for Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.