Robert Bork Quotes

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"The very purpose of a Bill of Rights was to withdraw certain subjects from the vicissitudes of political controversy, to place them beyond the reach of majorities and officials."

Robert Bork's quote underscores the fundamental role of a Bill of Rights in constitutional law: it is designed to safeguard specific rights and freedoms from being influenced by temporary political sentiments or governmental decisions. By doing so, these rights become inviolable and protected against encroachment, even during periods of political conflict or instability. This is achieved by positioning them beyond the reach of majorities and public officials, ensuring that they remain sacrosanct and preserved for all citizens, regardless of prevailing political winds.

"The notion that the First Amendment is a 'trump card' to be played against all other interests and values is erroneous."

Robert Bork's quote suggests that the First Amendment, which guarantees freedoms of speech, religion, press, assembly, and petition, should not be considered as a universal solution or priority over all other important matters and values in society. He argues against the idea that the First Amendment is so supreme that it can always supersede other interests or principles. Instead, Bork emphasizes that the First Amendment must coexist with and find balance within the complex tapestry of societal values and interests.

"What we have to decide is not whether it will benefit society to suppress this idea but, rather, can society, through due process of law, constitutionally act to suppress it."

This quote by Robert Bork underscores the importance of upholding constitutional rights in the suppression of ideas, even if those ideas are perceived as detrimental to society. It emphasizes that while we may question the societal benefit of certain ideas, our actions should always be guided by due process of law and respect for individual freedoms as enshrined in the constitution. This perspective underlines the importance of a balance between protecting society and upholding individual rights, ensuring that no abuses of power occur in the name of public interest or morality.

"The First Amendment does not protect a right to speak or publish with impunity those statements that are false where their falsity will cause injury to a third party."

This quote by Robert Bork suggests that while freedom of speech is protected under the First Amendment, it does not extend to making statements that are known to be false if doing so would harm a third party. In other words, while one has the right to express their opinions, they do not have the right to knowingly spread misinformation or lies that cause damage to others. This principle is important for maintaining an informed and responsible society where people can trust the accuracy of information they receive.

"Liberty and privacy are not absolute values. Neither liberty nor privacy is protected by the First Amendment, though they may sometimes be enhanced by it."

Robert Bork's quote suggests that while both liberty and privacy are valuable principles, they are not inviolable or absolute rights. They do not fall under the protection of the First Amendment, which guarantees freedom of speech, press, religion, assembly, and petition. Instead, their protections may come from other constitutional provisions or laws. Bork's perspective underscores that even fundamental rights have limits and must often be balanced against other societal interests and values.