John Marshall

“A legislative act contrary to the constitution is not law.”

“It is emphatically the province and duty of the Judicial Department to say what the law is.”

“The power to tax involves the power to destroy.”

“We must never forget that it is a constitution we are expounding.”

“The people made the Constitution, and the people can unmake it. It is the creature of their will, and lives only by their will.”

“A constitution is framed for ages to come, and is designed to approach immortality as nearly as human institutions can approach it.”

“Let the end be legitimate, let it be within the scope of the constitution, and all means which are appropriate, which are plainly adapted to that end, which are not prohibited, but consist with the letter and spirit of the constitution, are constitutional.”

“The government of the Union, then, is, emphatically and truly, a government of the people. In form and in substance it emanates from them. Its powers are granted by them, and are to be exercised directly on them, and for their benefit.”

“To listen well is as powerful a means of communication and influence as to talk well.”

“The peculiar circumstances of the moment may render a measure more or less wise, but cannot render it more or less constitutional.”