Political Quotes

On the record
Now, if a tribunal honored like the Supreme Court should undertake to declare that two and two make five, and a Senator as distinguished as the Senator from Maryland should uphold the high tribunal in its decision, I am not satisfied that it would be presumptuous in me to call that decision in question.
Said by
Charles Sumner
Massachusetts

Editor's note · Context

Sumner uses a mathematical analogy to criticize the Supreme Court's authority when it makes absurd decisions.

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More from Charles Sumner

Controlled by such a code, employing such representatives, sustained by such agencies, animated by such Furies, and producing such fruits of tears and bitterness, it must be open to question.

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In this contest, we may borrow from the ancient Greek, who, when his hands were cut off, fought with his stumps, and even with his teeth.

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Far above any flickering light or battle-lantern of party is the everlasting sun of Truth, in whose beams are the duties of men.

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But so long as War exists as an Institution this terrible inconsistency must appear.

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