Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Louis Brandeis quote in Friedman's book, "Free to Choose"
Quoted in Friedman's book "Free to Choose | 1928 | Justice Louis Brandeis

Posted on 04/09/2011 7:02:10 AM PDT by hfr

The following quote is in the front pages of Milton and Rose Friedman's book, "Free To Choose". It is from Justice Louis Brandeis, Olmstead v. United States, 277 U.S. 479 (1928)

The quote is relevant to the political debate in this country today. I want to hear a range of opinions about Brandeis' ideas.

The quote:

"Experience should teach us to be most on our guard to protect liberty when the government's purposes are beneficial. Men born to freedom are naturally alert to repel invasion of their liberty by evil-minded rulers. The greater dangers to liberty lurk in insidious encroachment by men of zeal, well-meaning but without understanding."


TOPICS: History; Society
KEYWORDS: brandeis; friedman; liberty; olmstead

1 posted on 04/09/2011 7:02:12 AM PDT by hfr
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: hfr
I was lucky enough to have dinner with Friedman on two separate occasions. His talent for combining complex economic topics and current events into an understandable debate is unmatched by anyone. A truly amazing man who is sorely missed.
2 posted on 04/09/2011 7:09:09 AM PDT by econjack (Some people are as dumb as soup.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: hfr

That could refer to liberals of days gone by. It could refer to the George McGoverns and Sargent Shrivers. It has no place though with the liberals of today who hate their country and who believe only in their own self serving arrogance.


3 posted on 04/09/2011 7:11:03 AM PDT by Artemis Webb (What, if not a bagel and coffee, confirms the existence of a just and loving God?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: hfr

“Free to Choose” and Robert Ringer’s “Restoring the American Dream” were life changing for me.


4 posted on 04/09/2011 7:22:29 AM PDT by Daveinyork
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Artemis Webb

Since Brandeis was appointed by Wilson and was a celebrated Progressive, this quote appears to be in keeping with that definition of a neoconservative: a liberal mugged by reality. I’d like to know the context of that quote — as I read now, Brandeis appears to have been a defender of New Deal legislation even though this quote should have raised a question on much of that social engineering.

I suspect most liberals are in denial because if they’ve lived long enough, they should have seen and experienced that their philosophy just doesn’t work in reality.


5 posted on 04/09/2011 7:25:46 AM PDT by ReleaseTheHounds ("The problem with Socialism is that eventually you run out of other people's money." M. Thatcher)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: hfr

“The real destroyer of the liberties of the people is he who spreads among them bounties, donations and benefits.” —Plutarch

Not new.


6 posted on 04/09/2011 7:33:31 AM PDT by Chuckster (When I was a kid, this was a free country)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: hfr
Great quote. Thanx !
7 posted on 04/10/2011 6:30:57 AM PDT by steelyourfaith (If it's "green" ... it's crap.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson