We dedicated ourselves to a powerful idea - organic law rather than naked power. There seems to be universal acceptance of that idea in the nation.
Potter StewartRead
Ethics is knowing the difference between what you have a right to do and what is right to do.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Ethics involves understanding the distinction between legal rights and moral obligations.
This quote emphasizes that ethics is not just about understanding what is legally permissible; it also entails recognizing moral responsibilities. It calls for individuals to reflect on their actions and consider not only their rights but also the implications of their choices on others, thus cultivating a deeper understanding of moral integrity.
Themes
EthicsRightMoralityResponsibilityIntegrity
In practice
Example use cases
In a debate on moral issues, one could use this quote to highlight the importance of ethical considerations beyond legality.
More from Potter Stewart
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It must always be remembered that what the Constitution forbids is not all searches and seizures, but unreasonable searches and seizures.
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Swift justice demands more than just swiftness.
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The 4th Amendment and the personal rights it secures have a long history. At the very core stands the right of a man to retreat into his own home and there be free from unreasonable governmental intrusion.
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For the Fourth Amendment protects people, not places. What a person knowingly exposes to the public, even in his own home or office, is not a subject of Fourth Amendment protection. But what he seeks to preserve as private, even in an area accessible to the public, may be constitutionally protected.
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