The critical point is that the Constitution places the right of silence beyond the reach of government.
William O. DouglasRead
One aspect of modern life which has gone far to stifle men is the rapid growth of tremendous corporations. Enormous spiritual sacrifices are made in the transformation of shopkeepers into employees... The disappearance of free enterprise has led to a submergence of the individual in the impersonal corporation in much the same manner as he has been submerged in the state in other lands.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote criticizes how large corporations suppress individuality and free enterprise, affecting personal identity.
William O. Douglas highlights the negative impact of immense corporations on individual freedom and identity. He suggests that the rise of these entities transforms individuals from independent shopkeepers into mere employees, thereby erasing the personal touch and autonomy that define their existence. This phenomenon mirrors the way individuals can become submerged within the state in other countries, pointing to a broader concern about personal sacrifices made in modern society for the sake of corporate growth.
Themes
CorporationsIndividualityFree EnterpriseIdentityModern Life
In practice
Example use cases
During a lecture on economic freedom, this quote can illustrate the impact of corporate dominance on individual identity.
More from William O. Douglas
All quotes →One who comes to the Court must come to adore, not to protest. That's the new gloss on the First Amendment.
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The great and invigorating influences in American life have been the unorthodox: the people who challenge an existing institution or way of life, or say and do things that make people think.
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I have the same confidence in the ability of our people to reject noxious literature as I have in their capacity to sort out the true from the false in theology, economics, or any other field.
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Restriction of free thought and free speech is the most dangerous of all subversions. It is the one un-American act that could most easily defeat us.
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The truth is that a vast restructuring of our society is needed if remedies are to become available to the average person. Without that restructuring the good will that holds society together will be slowly dissipated... It is that sense of futility which permeates the present series of protests and dissents. Where there is a persistent sense of futility, there is violence; and that is where we are today.
William O. DouglasRead
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