Our whole constitutional heritage rebels at the thought of giving government the power to control men's minds.
Thurgood MarshallRead
Nothing can be more notorious than the calumnies and invectives with which the wisest measures and most virtuous characters of The United States have been pursued and traduced [By American Newspapers]
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote highlights the tendency of media to misrepresent and malign even the best intentions and characters.
Thurgood Marshall's quote reflects on the destructive power of misinformation and slander in society, especially through the medium of newspapers. It emphasizes that even the most commendable actions and virtuous individuals can be subjected to harsh scrutiny and unfair criticism, showcasing the battle between truth and public perception, and reminding us of the importance of discernment in considering the narratives put forth by the media.
Themes
MediaTruthVirtueMisrepresentationCriticism
In practice
Example use cases
During a discussion on media bias, this quote could serve as a powerful reminder of the influence media has on public opinion.
More from Thurgood Marshall
All quotes →The United States has been called the melting pot of the world. But it seems to me that the colored man either missed getting into the pot or he got melted down.
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I cannot accept this invitation [to celebrate the bicentenial of the Constitution], for I do not believe that the meaning of the Constitution was forever 'fixed' at the Philadelphia Convention... To the contrary, the government they devised was defective from the start. [Progressive]
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When in Gregg v. Georgia the Supreme Court gave its seal of approval to capital punishment, this endorsement was premised on the promise that capital punishment would be administered with fairness and justice. Instead, the promise has become a cruel and empty mockery. If not remedied, the scandalous state of our present system of capital punishment will cast a pall of shame over our society for years to come. We cannot let it continue.
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If the First Amendment means anything, it means that a state has no business telling a man, sitting alone in his house, what books he may read or what films he may watch.
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In recognizing the humanity of our fellow beings, we pay ourselves the highest tribute.
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