I hope you will be yourself, human, even a little sentimental, possessed of a sense of humor and a sense of humility. . . . There are arrogant people in this world and, what is worse, arrogant judges.
Interpretation
Be genuine and humble, recognizing the flaws of arrogance in others.
In this quote, Harry A. Blackmun suggests that it is essential to embrace our human qualities, such as sentimentality, humor, and humility. He emphasizes the dangers posed by arrogance, particularly in positions of authority, underscoring the importance of authenticity and compassion in our interactions.
In practice
In a speech about emotional intelligence, one might say, 'As Harry A. Blackmun stated, I hope you will be yourself, human, even a little sentimental...'
I cannot see any of these death penalty cases where there hasn't been a violation on the ground of either poverty or race. If we can ever get that straightened out, it will help. But, of course, the real answer to it is to do away with the death penalty.
From this day forward, I no longer shall tinker with the machinery of death. ... I fell morally and intellectually obligated simply to concede that the death penalty experiment has failed.
Of one thing, however, I am certain. Just as an execution without adequate safeguards is unacceptable, so too is an execution when the condemned prisoner can prove that he is innocent. The execution of a person who can show that he is innocent comes perilously close to simple murder.
The right of an individual to conduct intimate relationships in the intimacy of his or her own home seems to me to be the heart of the Constitutions protection of privacy.
From this day forward, I no longer shall tinker with the machinery of death.
In order to get beyond racism, we must first take account of race. There is no other way. And in order to treat some persons equally, we must treat them differently.
The rains of Life's Blessings cannot gather on mountaintops of pride, but flow easily into valleys of humbleness.
It is well to cultivate a friendly feeling towards error, to treat it as a companion inseparable from our lives, as something having a purpose, which it truly has.
Your biggest opponent isn't the other guy. It's human nature.
I believe in intuition and inspiration...at times I feel certain I am right while not knowing the reason.
Instinct must be thwarted just as one prunes the branches of a tree so that it will grow better.
We are often better served by connecting ideas than we are by protecting them.
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