Quotes & anectdotes from
the wise,
the foolish,
the courageous &
the drunk

Clarence Darrow Politician

  • Gender: Male
  • Citizenship: United States
  • Born: Apr 18, 1857
  • Died: Mar 13, 1938

Clarence Seward Darrow was an American lawyer and leading member of the American Civil Liberties Union. He was best known for defending teenage thrill killers Leopold and Loeb in their trial for murdering 14-year-old Robert "Bobby" Franks. Some of his other big cases included defending Ossian Sweet, and John T. Scopes in the Scopes "Monkey" Trial, in which he opposed William Jennings Bryan. Called a "sophisticated country lawyer", he remains notable for his wit, which marked him as one of the most famous American lawyers and civil libertarians.

Chase after the truth like all hell and you'll free yourself, even though you never touch its coat tails.

I am an agnostic I do not pretend to know what many ignorant men are sure of.

The pursuit of truth will set you free even if you never catch up with it.

If you lose the power to laugh, you lose the power to think.

You can only protect your liberties in this world by protecting the other man's freedom.

The trouble with law is lawyers.

Some of you say religion makes people happy. So does laughing gas.

True patriotism hates injustice in its own land more than anywhere else.

When I was a boy I was told that anybody could become President I'm beginning to believe it.

Someday I hope to write a book where the royalties will pay for the copies I give away.

The origin of the absurd idea of immortal life is easy to discover it is kept alive by hope and fear, by childish faith, and by cowardice.

The law does not pretend to punish everything that is dishonest. That would seriously interfere with business.

History repeats itself, and that's one of the things that's wrong with history.

I have never killed a man, but I have read many obituaries with great pleasure.