Justice Robert H. JacksonJustice Robert H. Jackson, (1892-1954), U. S. Supreme Court Justice

Justice Robert H. Jackson Quote

“The choice is not between order and liberty. It is between liberty with order and anarchy without either. There is danger that, if the court does not temper its doctrinaire logic with a little practical wisdom, it will convert the constitutional Bill of Rights into a suicide pact.”

Justice Robert H. JacksonJustice Robert H. Jackson
~ Justice Robert H. Jackson

Terminiello v. City of Chicago (1949), dissenting in twenty-four page decision.

Ratings and Comments


Mike, Norwalk

Not shooting the messenger, the SCJOTUS now infesting this land passes theocratic canons as a matter of regularity.

Ronw13, Oregon

"Presumption of Guilt " without " Presumption of Non-Authority" turns the Bill of Rights into a suicide pact. In a reactive position due to a politically motivated, socially engineered environment of unrest among citizens, the ending result is that of a Totalitarian statist theocracy, Communist State.

cal, Lewisville, Texas

Liberals have broadened our constitution beyond anything it says .

E Archer, NYC

The City of Chicago that banned speech which "stirs the public to anger, invites dispute, brings about a condition of unrest, or creates a disturbance" was ruled unconstitutional, with Jackson dissenting. Not sure how to rate this one. I haven't read the full opinion, but I think it is a slippery slope to say that a city council statute can cancel a Constitutionally-protected right to prevent assumed 'suicide.' Suicide for whom? Who is in the pact?

Robert, Somewhere in the USA

Read your history: The constitution was created by Liberals and primarily James Madison who was a classical Liberal. The media and the tyrannous leaders in power have corrupted the word as now Liberals are pro corporate and neocons re war, etc. MSM has also bastardize the word "Left" All this has been created with propaganda and the evil strategy to divide the populous like MIC is doing in Europe and the Middle East. Look at what's happening in the Yemen - one the worst Genocides being committed by Saudi, with the help of the U.S. and yet the media is silent. NO OUTRAGE! if we had the same outrage as we did about kneeling over the pledge things may have been different - but no, we are all so wrapped up in our little bubbles and we don't want them burst.

Mike, Norwalk

Robert, I might disagree a little (very little) or add to but over-all, very accurate.

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