James Otis Quotes

Any rule, not existing in the nature of things, or that is not permanent, universal and inflexible in its application, is no law, according to any correct definition of the term law.

The law, in our case, seems to make the right; and the very reverse ought to be done - the right should make the law.

A good law is one that holds, whether you recognize it or not; a bad law is one that cannot, however much you ordain it.

Reason is the life of the law; nay, the common law itself is nothing else but reason....

My loyalty is to the Constitution and the rule of law.

Law in general is human reason, inasmuch as it governs all the inhabitants of the earth: the political and civil laws of each nation ought to be only the particular cases in which human reason is applied.

Societies cannot move forward without law, and our constitution is the cornerstone of the law and our National Assembly is its umbrella and fortress.

But I have always said that it's important we must make sure that justice is at all time be maintained.

I tried to decide each case based on the law and the Constitution.

The ultimate touchstone of constitutionality is the Constitution itself and not what we have said about it.

What I am for is justice for everyone, just like it says in the Constitution.

For me, the essence of the great American Dream is spiritual. I believe that our Constitution is inspired and that it is based on principles that are timeless and universal. This is the reason why 95% of all written constitutions throughout the world are modeled after our Constitution.

Reason is the life of the law; nay, the common law itself is nothing else but reason - the law which is perfection of reason.

The criterion of constitutionality is not whether we believe the law to be for the public good.

Anyone who takes it upon himself ... to break a bad law, thereby authorizes everyone else to break the good ones.

Justice should not only be done, but should manifestly and undoubtedly be seen to be done.

Enforcing the law is not an injustice.

There is not, in the whole compass of human affairs, so noble a spectacle as that which is displayed in the progress of jurisprudence; where we may contemplate the cautious and unwearied exertion of a succession of wise men, through a long course of ages, withdrawing every case, as it arises, from the dangerous power of discretion, and subjecting it to inflexible rules.

Law is not law, if it violates the principles of eternal justice.

A judge is supposed to have empathy for no one but simply to follow the law.

We are a constitutional democracy. We must deal with things properly within the framework of the law and then the constitution.

Good judges do not side with anyone. They rule impartially and blindly based upon the law.

We can't pick and choose when to adhere to the Constitution and when to cast it aside.

We are a country based on the rule of law.

The law is for everyone.