History teaches that grave threats to liberty often come in times of urgency, when constitutional rights seem too extravagant to endure.

What is the quality of your intent? Certain people have a way of saying things that shake us at the core. Even when the words do not seem harsh or offensive, the impact is shattering. What we could be experiencing is the intent behind the words. When we intend to do good, we do. When we intend to do harm, it happens. What each of us must come to realize is that our intent always comes through.

Mere access to the courthouse doors does not by itself assure a proper functioning of the adversary process.

Surely the fact that a uniformed police officer is wearing his hair below his collar will make him no less identifiable as a policeman.

When in Gregg v. Georgia the Supreme Court gave its seal of approval to capital punishment, this endorsement was premised on the promise that capital punishment would be administered with fairness and justice. Instead, the promise has become a cruel and empty mockery. If not remedied, the scandalous state of our present system of capital punishment will cast a pall of shame over our society for years to come. We cannot let it continue.

I'm the world's original gradualist. I just think ninety-odd years is gradual enough.

Customary greeting to Chief Justice Warren E. Burger, What's shaking, chiefy baby?