Louis D. Brandeis Quotes

It is one of the happy incidents of the federal system that a single courageous State may, if its citizens choose, serve as a laboratory; and try novel social and economic experiments without risk to the rest of the country.

What we need is some people to stand up with the courage of their convictions, to do what they promised when they ran for election, and fight to stop Obamacare.

We cannot accede to the proposition ... that the citizens of the several states are permitted to participate in all the rights which belong exclusively to the citizens of any other particular state.

The arm of the Federal government is long, but it is far too short to protect the rights of individuals in the interior of distant States. They must have the power to protect themselves, or they will go unprotected, in spite of all the laws the Federal government can put upon the national statute-book.

I remember Congressman Conyers voting against the PATRIOT Act, voting against the Iraq War when it was unpopular to. That tremendous amount of courage that comes with that kind of leadership, I mean, that's what we need.

He [Louis Brandais] did believe in the states famously as laboratories of democracy, to use that resonant phrase that Tea Party and conservative libertarians have embraced today because he loves state experimentation.

It is through states that the American people get the job done every day, often in spite of a deeply flawed bureaucratic federal government.

I think he should let me run Ohio. He should let us, the legislature, the members there, we should be running Ohio. The states are the laboratories out here, and I think the president needs to mind to the problems that he has in Washington.

We can't have a referendum on every important question. This is a republic, not a democracy. This is Chicago, not California.

The Union we intend to keep, and loyal states will not let disloyal ones break it.

All affairs which concern this state only are to be determined by our representatives coming from all parts of the state; all affairs which concern the Union at large are to be determined by representatives coming from all parts of the Union. Thus, then, the general government is to be taken care of, and the state governments to be preserved.

A country survives its legislation. That truth should not comfort the conservative nor depress the radical. For it means that public policy can enlarge its scope and increase its audacity, can try big experiments without trembling too much over the result. This nation could enter upon the most radical experiments and could afford to fail in them.

Our whole history tells us that the national government has been far less corrupt and incompetent than state and local government … Time and time again the federal government has had to rescue people from the states and local governments. If we left it to the states, we would still have slavery.

If this bill passes, it is my deliberate opinion that it is virtually a dissolution of the Union; that it will free the States from their moral obligation; and, as it will be the right of all, so it will be the duty of some, definitely to prepare for a separation,—amicably if they can, violently if they must.

Most decisions involving the way that Americans live their lives are not made in the courts.

I don't want to tell Gov. Brewer what to do; she can do what's best for her state.

Arkansas needs leaders who will stand up to anyone in Washington, from either political party, and do what's right for Arkansas and for our country.

In both houses of Congress, bipartisan legislation has been introduced to ensure that the rights of states and cities to make drone laws are protected.

But only a candidate who rejects wishful thinking, has the courage to tell the truth about the options in front of us and who will address Brexit on the basis of the hard realities will succeed.

Whenever there is a threat to cooperative federalism, the TDP will certainly raise its voice.

I just think it gets confusing for our communities when the federal law is different from the state law.

Centrally, I cannot interfere in states.

I love going on dates. They're like social experiments and it's an excuse to get dressed up. Even if you don't get on, it's a funny experience to tell the girls.

Washington is out of control, and it's time for Texans to stand up and stop them.

I think it is time for a radical federalism in this country, where people trust innovation coming from the local level and ramp that up.