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Civil Liberty Quotes

Civil Liberty Quotes

Historic and modern perspectives on freedom, law, and justice.

These quotes trace civil liberty from classical political thought, where educating people and restraining harmful conduct are seen as the roots of freedom, to a modern statement naming the presumption of innocence as central to the Criminal Justice system.

Last Updated on May 30, 2021

Doing
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Nov 07, 2020

The law, which restrains a man from doing mischief to his fellow citizens, though it diminishes the natural, increases the civil liberty of mankind.

Quotes by William Blackstone

Criminal Justice
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Nov 07, 2020

The core civil liberty that underpins our American criminal justice system is the presumption of innocence. Every person enjoys this presumption long before the commencement of any investigation or official proceeding.

Quotes by William Barr

Look
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Nov 07, 2020

When complaints are freely heard, deeply considered and speedily reformed, then is the utmost bound of civil liberty attained that wise men look for.

Liberty
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Nov 07, 2020

The very essence of civil liberty certainly consists in the right of every individual to claim the protection of the laws, whenever he receives an injury. One of the first duties of government is to afford that protection.

Quotes by John Marshall

Power
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Nov 07, 2020

Make men wise, and by that very operation you make them free. Civil liberty follows as a consequence of this; no usurped power can stand against the artillery of opinion.

One line even argues that law which limits harmful behavior actually expands liberty overall, even as it Diminishes unchecked freedom for a few. Together these quotes frame civil liberty as built through both law and open debate.

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