Hugo Black Quotes

My current goal is to change the way we think about antitrust and anti-monopoly.

That no corporation engaged in commerce shall acquire, directly or indirectly, the whole or any part of the stock or other share capital of another corporation engaged also in commerce, where the effect of such acquisition may be to substantially lessen competition between the corporation whose stock is so acquired and the corporation making the acquisition, or to restrain such commerce in any section or community, or tend to create a monopoly of any line of commerce

… businessmen must compete, but no one may win the competition. It is this aspect of antitrust which creates two standards, one for big business, another for small business. No matter how vicious the competition of the little fellow, the big fellow must not countercompete too hard.

The first is determining how to deal with the great industrial combinations is knowledge of the facts—publicity.

Theodore Roosevelt understood that unregulated monopoly could pose an even greater threat than unrestrained government.

It was the use of public policy to create economics that favored the big players. There were only a handful of channels. And only some people were going to get them and become fabulously wealthy.

Most Americans don't think about antitrust law when they look at their cable bill, flip channels on TV, or worry about what their favorite website knows about them. But they should.

Our role is to maintain and monitor a framework in which fair competition can flourish.

How come there's only one Monopolies Commission?

Monopoly is unlawful in Islam.

it shall be unlawful for any person engaged in commerce … to substantially lessen competition or tend to create a monopoly in any line of commerce.

The judicial cannot prescribe to the legislative departments of the government limitations upon exercise of its acknowledged powers. The power to tax may be exercised oppressively on persons, but the responsibility … not to the courts, but to the people by whom its members are elected.

The so-called anti-trust laws were intended to prevent the creation of monopolies and to forbid unreasonable profits to those monopolies

Determination by the legislature of what constitutes proper exercise of police power is not final or conclusive. It is subject to supervision by the courts.

There must be reasonable restrictions upon competition else we shall see competition destroyed.

The federal courts do not sit as an ombudsman, refereeing the disputes between the other two branches.

Tough enforcement of the antitrust laws can help prevent a recurrence of inflation by attacking abuses of economic power.

The legislature makes, the executive executes, and the judiciary construes the law; but the maker of the law may commit something to the discretion of the other departments, and the precise boundary of this power is a subject of delicate and difficult inquiry.

The people were told in the last campaign that trusts [corporate monopolies] were a natural evolution, and that the only way to deal with them was to regulate them. The people are tired of being told such things. What they want is the kind of opportunity that formerly existed in this country.

The time has come when the Executive branch of this Government must enforce the plain letter of the law and check monopoly, or it must turn the people over boldly into the hands of exploiters grown impudent and ruthlessly aggressive through long years of wanton violation of the law.

It is not my call ... it is not for the judicial branch to decide.

Adequate relief in a monopolization case should put an end to the combination and deprive the defendants of any of the benefits of the illegal conduct, and break up or render impotent the monopoly power found to be in violation of the Act.

Possible economies cannot be used as a defense to illegality. Congress was aware that some mergers which lessen competition may also result in economies but it struck the balance in favor of protecting competition.

If, as you say, the success of commercial society depends upon the full play of competition, why do not you and your confreres turn your attention and direct the shafts of your attacks against the trusts and corporations

As a judge, it is not my function to develop public policy.