Statement to a reporter in the Boston Record, 14 April 1903. (quoted in Alpheus Thomas Mason, Brandeis: A Free Man's Life (1946), p. 122.)
Commonly paraphrased as "The most important office is that of the private citizen" or "The most important political office is that of the private citizen", and sometimes misattributed to his dissenting opinion in Olmstead v. United States.
Extra-judicial writings
“Business of a private and important character, which cannot be neglected without great pecuniary sacrifice, has induced me to make this the occasion of tendering my resignation.”
Resignation letter, 1857
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Daniel McCallum 25
Canadian engineer and early organizational theorist 1815–1878Related quotes
“Private misfortunes must never induce us to neglect public affairs.”
chapter 5 http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/The_Count_of_Monte_Cristo/Chapter_5
The Count of Monte Cristo (1845–1846)
Farewell address to the Peruvian people (20 September 1822), as quoted in 'Captain of the Andes : The Life of José de San Martín, Liberator of Argentina, Chile and Peru (1943) by Margaret Hayne Harrison, p. 159
Context: I have witnessed the declaration of independence of the States of Chile and Peru. I hold in my hand the standard carried by Pizarro when he enslaved the Empire of the Incas, and I am no longer a public man. Ten years of revolution and war have been repaid to me with usury. My promises to the people for whom I have waged war have been fulfilled — to accomplish their independence and leave the choice of their rulers to their own will. The presence of an unfortunate soldier, however disinterested he may be, is not desirable in newly constituted states. On the other hand, I am tired of having it said that I wish to make myself King. In short, I shall always be ready to make the ultimate sacrifice for the liberty of the country, but as in the character of a simple private citizen and in no other. As for my conduct in public office, my compatriots, as is usually the case, will divide their opinions; their children will render true judgment. Peruvians, I leave you with your national representation established. If you place your entire confidence in it, count on succes; if not, anarchy will destroy you. May Heaven preside over your destinies and may you reach the summit of happiness and peace.
Ma Ying-jeou (2014) cited in: " No plans to promote use of simplified characters: Ma http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2014/01/02/2003580339" in Taipei Times, 2 January 2014.
Statement made during a calligraphy activity in Grand Hotel in Taipei, 1 January 2014.
Other topics
Martin v. Mackonochie (1878), L. R. 3 Q. B. 775.
“A man cannot be allowed to neglect a duty which he has undertaken.”
Booth v. Booth (1838), 1 Beav. 129.
Quote
Source: Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers (1895), P. 59.