Fragile as reason is and limited as law is as the institutionalized medium of reason, that's all we have standing between us and the tyranny of mere will and the cruelty of unbridled, undisciplined feeling.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Even though reason and law are weak, they are all we have to stop tyranny and unchecked emotion.
- In plain terms
- Reason and law are weak but they stop tyranny and bad feelings.
- What can you take from it?
- Use reason and law to prevent tyranny.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Why is reason our only defense?
- How do laws stop tyranny?
Another view
Reason may fail to stop powerful tyrants in practice.
More from Felix Frankfurter
Answers are not obtained by putting the wrong question and thereby begging the real one.
Permalink to quote #20 Gratitude is one of the least articulate of the emotions, especially when it is deep.
Permalink to quote #22 Judicial judgment must take deep account...of the day before yesterday in order that yesterday may not paralyze today.
Permalink to quote #19
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