Joseph Story

“The first and fundamental rule in the interpretation of all instruments is, to construe them according to the sense of the terms, and the intention of the parties.”

“Republics are created by the virtue, public spirit, and intelligence of the citizenry. They fall, when the wise are banished from the public councils, because they dare to be honest, and the profligate are rewarded, because they flatter the people, in order to betray them.”

“The right of the citizens to keep and bear arms has justly been considered, as the palladium of the liberties of a republic.”

“One of the beautiful boasts of our municipal jurisprudence is that it seeks to be a rule of right, a rule of justice, and a rule of law.”

“The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.”

“Every man is presumed to be innocent until the contrary is proved.”

“It is the proud boast of the common law, that it can mould itself to all the exigencies of society.”

“He who would be a great lawyer must first be a great man.”

“The law is a jealous mistress and requires a long and constant courtship. It is not to be won by trifling favors, but by lavish homage.”

“Without an unfettered press, without liberty of speech, all of the outward forms and structures of free institutions would be a sham, a mockery.”

“A constitution of government is a writing, by which the people of a state, as the supreme power, have ordained... their form of government.”

“Let us not forget that the cultivation of the earth is the most important labor of man.”