7 John Marshall Quotes on Law

John Marshall quotes on law

1. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. We must never forget that it is a constitution we are expounding.

6. This provision is made in a constitution, intended to endure for ages to come, and consequently, to be adapted to the various crises of human affairs.

7. Let the end be legitimate, let it be within the scope of the constitution, and all means which are appropriate, which are plainly adapted to that end, which are not prohibited, but consist with the letter and spirit of the constitution, are constitutional.

8. The power to tax involves the power to destroy.