"f...a society adopts a constitution and incorporates in that constitution safeguards of individual liberty, these safeguards do indeed take on a general moral rightness or goodness. They assume a general social acceptance neither because of any intrinsic worth nor because of any unique origins in someone's idea of natural justice but instead simply because they have been incorporated in a constitution by the people."
React to this quote
More by William Rehnquist
See allResonant Thoughts
"We are now in a period of social transition, a period characterized, that is, by an unusually rapid rate of change of the most important economic, social, political, and cultural institutions of socie…"
Explore Further
Related Quotes
"They would surround part of the Congress with bull horns and shout, "Resign! Resign! Resign!" ...Some of th…"
— Ralph Nader"This was not judgement day — only morning. Morning: excellent and fair."
— William Styron"I retired from public Business from a thorough Conviction that it was not in my power to do any Good, and v…"
— George Mason"The Chandrika government had lifted the embargo on certain goods banned by the previous regime. Vendors in …"
— Chandrika Kumaratunga"Unless effective non-violent means of coercion can be devised and utilized, the victims of injustice will, …"
— Kirby Page"When the Prophet saw injustice, either on the part of men or on the part of Providence, he did not inquire …"
— Ahad Ha'am