Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.
Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.
Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr.was an American jurist who served as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States from 1902 to 1932, and as Acting Chief Justice of the United States January–February 1930. Noted for his long service, his concise and pithy opinions and his deference to the decisions of elected legislatures, he is one of the most widely cited United States Supreme Court justices in history, particularly for his "clear and present danger" opinion for a...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionJudge
Date of Birth8 March 1841
CountryUnited States of America
To think great thoughts you must be heroes as well as idealists.
There are three natural anaesthetics: Sleep, fainting, and death.
There is something frightful in the way in which not only characteristic qualities, but particular manifestations of them, are repeated from generation to generation.
Society is always trying in some way to grind us down to a single flat surface.
The minute a phrase, becomes current, it becomes an apology for not thinking accurately to the end of the sentence.
A good soldier, like a good horse, cannot be of a bad color.
Even the wisest woman you talk to is ignorant of something you may know, but an elegant woman never forgets her elegance.
The nearer you come into relation with a person, the more necessary do tact and courtesy become.
Any new formula which suddenly emerges in our consciousness has its roots in long trains of thought; it is virtually old when it first makes its appearance among the recognized growths of our intellect.
Go on, fair Science; soon to thee Shall Nature yield her idle boast; Her vulgar lingers formed a tree, But thou hast trained it to a post.
Science is the topography of ignorance. From a few elevated points we triangulate vast spaces, inclosing infinite unknown details. We cast the lead, and draw up a little sand from abysses we may never reach with our dredges.
Anytime you see a Hungarian, kick him. He'll know why. Any two philosophers can tell each other all they know in two hours.
The mark of a civilized man is his willingness to re-examine his most cherished beliefs.
Where we stand is not as important as the direction in which we are moving.