Gerald R. Ford Quotes

Can a free people restrain crime without sacrificing fundamental liberties and a heritage of compassion?... Let us show that we can temper together those opposite elements of liberty and restraint into one consistent whole. Let us set an example for the world of a law-abiding America glorying in its freedom as well as its respect for law.

We all want security …. But we don’t need to simplify the debate to such an extent that we simply say we have to give up our liberties.

Some may more quietly commemorate the suffering, struggle, and sacrifice that has triumphed over much of what was wrong with the original document, and observe the anniversary with hopes not realized and promises not fulfilled. I plan to celebrate the bicentennial of the Constitution as a living document, including the Bill of Rights and the other amendments protecting individual freedoms and human rights.

All repressive laws must be revoked, and laws introduced to protect the rights of the people.

The only way to defeat evil is by taking advantage of our freedoms.

I have a personal belief that you never have to give up liberty for security. You can still provide security without sacrificing our Bill of Rights.

I believe in equal rights for all people.

Human rights and rule of law are inseparably connected.

Rights are either God-given or evolve out of the democratic process. Most rights are based on the ability of people to agree on a social contract, the ability to make and keep agreements.

I have little patience with people who take the Bill of Rights for granted. The Bill of Rights, contained in the first ten amendments to the Constitution, is every American's guarantee of freedom.

The bottom line is that you only have the rights you fight for.

Your rights matter, because you never know when you're going to need them.

You in the media ought to be ashamed of yourselves to call the provisions and the guarantees of the Bill of Rights 'Technicalities'. They're not. We are what we are because of those guarantees.

We have less civil liberties than we had on 9/ 1 1 in some significant ways. But we are also, I believe, less safe as a result in many instances of the sacrifice in human rights, civil liberties, and the rule of law that (the Bush) administration has adopted.

Ideas, in a free society, are not a crime- and neither can they serve as the justification of a crime.

Never forget that justice is what love looks like in public

The criminal law is no use to decent people.

We must remind ourselves that an assault on any one of our liberties and freedoms is an assault on all.

In ten phrases, the ten commandments express the essential of life. And these three words--liberty, equality, and fraternity--do just as much. Millions of people have died for those ideals.

It is commonly believed that the rights of the American people come from the Constitution. Nothing could be further from the truth.

I don't know whether anyone will care to examine my heart, but if they do, they will find two words there- 'social justice.' For that is what I have believed in and fought for.

According to the laws and constitution of the people, which I [the Lord] have suffered to be established, and should be maintained for the rights and protection of all flesh, according to just and holy principles.

I mean, we do believe in due process in America. I thought we did.

September 11th does not justify ignoring the Constitution by creating broad new federal police powers. The rule of law is worthless if we ignore it whenever crises occur.

I'm definitely always drawn to the injustice of people who have been imprisoned for things they didn't do. But also lots about abortion and gay marriage. Civil issues are usually what I am drawn to.