All Quotes by John Marshall
“The people made the Constitution, and the people can unmake it. It is the creature of their own will, and lives only by their will.”
“We have no more right to decline the exercise of jurisdiction which is given, than to usurp that which is not given. The one or the other would be treason to the constitution.”
“It is the peculiar province of the legislature to prescribe general rules for the government of society; the application of those rules to individuals in society would seem to be the duty of other departments.”
“The law does not expect a man to be prepared to defend every act of his life which may be suddenly and without notice alleged against him.”
“Seldom has a battle, in which greater numbers were not engaged, been so important in its consequences as that of Cowpens..”
“The acme of judicial distinction means the ability to look a lawyer straight in the eyes for two hours and not hear a damned word he says.”
“It is emphatically the province and duty of the judicial department to say what the law is...If two laws conflict with each other, the courts must decide on the operation of each...This is of the very essence of judicial duty.”
“The government of the Union, then, … is, emphatically, and truly, a government of the people. In form and in substance it emanates from them. Its powers are granted by them, and are to be exercised directly on them, and for their benefit.”
“We must never forget that it is a constitution we are expounding.”
“What is it that makes us trust our judges? Their independence in office and manner of appointment.”
“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.”
“To listen well is as powerful a means of communication and influence as to talk well.”