Candor and accountability in a democracy is very important. Hypocrisy has no place.

I think mistakes are the essence of science and law. It's impossible to conceive of either scientific progress or legal progress without understanding the important role of being wrong and of mistakes.

I've had such a satisfying life professionally and personally. I hope my tombstone says, 'Never boring.'

When it comes to partisan politics, everyone is a hypocrite. And all they care about is whether it hurts or helps them ... Is it good or bad for the Democrats? Is it good or bad for the Republicans? Is it good or bad for Jews, or good or bad for blacks, or is it good or bad for women? Is it good or bad for men? Is it good or bad for gays? That's the way people think about issues today. There is very little discussion of enduring principles.

Laws are important precisely because in a democracy they reflect the attitudes and aspirations of those they govern.

There is a paranoid streak in American life. Radio talk show hosts tend to foment that paranoid streak in American life.

A library is a place where you learn what teachers were afraid to teach you.