What becomes decisive to a Justice's functioning on the Court in the large area within which his individuality moves is his general attitude toward law, the habits of the mind that he has formed or is capable of unforming, his capacity for detachment, his temperament or training for putting his passion behind his judgment instead of in front of it. The attitudes and qualities which I am groping to characterize are ingredients of what compendiously might be called dominating humility.


Foreward, to "Memorial issue for Robert H. Jackson", 55 Columbia Law Review (April, 1955) p. 436; quoted by United States Senator Howell Heflin during the confirmation debate for Justice David Souter, on September 24, 1990, S13540.

Felix Frankfurter Quotes

What becomes decisive to a Justice's functioning on the Court in the large area within which his individuality moves is his general attitude toward...

What becomes decisive to a Justice's functioning on the Court in the large area within which his individuality moves is his general attitude toward...

What becomes decisive to a Justice's functioning on the Court in the large area within which his individuality moves is his general attitude toward...

What becomes decisive to a Justice's functioning on the Court in the large area within which his individuality moves is his general attitude toward...