Justice Louis D. Brandeis Quote 

"The government is the potent omnipresent teacher. For good or ill it teaches the whole people by its example. Crime is contagious. If the government becomes a lawbreaker, it breeds contempt for law; it invites every man to become a law unto himself; it invites anarchy. To declare that the end justifies the means -- to declare that the government may commit crimes -- would bring terrible retribution."

by:
Justice Louis D. Brandeis
(1856-1941) US Supreme Court Justice
Source:
Olmstead v. United States, 277 US 438, 1928
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Reader comments about this quote:
Vigilantism, Timothy Mcveigh, and the current distrust amongst many for our government (to name but a few) are resounding reasons why this quote is so "potent".
 -- Brent Bird, portland, or
 
Agree 100%. In fact, most governments end up this way eventually. Just read 1 Samuel 8, which describes what an evil King/Government will do, then put it to today's language. Have any questions?
 -- Gary Frye, Concord, NC
 
 -- ivan damjanov, Shawnee Mission 
Justice Brandeis is brillant. His quotes remain timeless. The goverment and its agencies including law enforcement justify their criminal activities by declaring that the end justifies the means. Could this be the reason 2,000,000+ people are incarcerated in the U.S. today?
 -- jacqueline polk, apple valley
 
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