The Constitution is not an instrument for the government to restrain the people, it is an instrument for the people read more

The Constitution is not an instrument for the government to restrain the people, it is an instrument for the people to restrain the government - lest it come to dominate our lives and interests.

I confess that there are several parts of this Constitution which I do not at present approve, but I am read more

I confess that there are several parts of this Constitution which I do not at present approve, but I am not sure I shall never approve them. For having lived long, I have experienced many instances of being obliged by better information, or fuller consideration, to change opinions even on important subjects, which I once thought right, but found to be otherwise.

We have seen that the American Constitution has changed, is changing, and by the law of its existence must continue read more

We have seen that the American Constitution has changed, is changing, and by the law of its existence must continue to change, in its substance and practical working even when its words remain the same.

A lawyer's primer: If you don't have the law, you argue the facts; if you don't have the facts, you read more

A lawyer's primer: If you don't have the law, you argue the facts; if you don't have the facts, you argue the law; if you have neither the facts nor the law, then you argue the Constitution

I prefer a man who will burn the flag and then wrap himself in the Constitution to a man who read more

I prefer a man who will burn the flag and then wrap himself in the Constitution to a man who will burn the Constitution and then wrap himself in the flag

Our new Constitution is now established, and has an appearance that promises permanency; but in this world nothing can be read more

Our new Constitution is now established, and has an appearance that promises permanency; but in this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.

The Constitution is the sole source and guaranty of national freedom.

The Constitution is the sole source and guaranty of national freedom.

A Constitution should be short and obscure

A Constitution should be short and obscure

From Watergate we learned what generations before us have known; our Constitution works. And during Watergate years it was interpreted read more

From Watergate we learned what generations before us have known; our Constitution works. And during Watergate years it was interpreted again so as to reaffirm that no one - absolutely no one - is above the law.