Viet Thanh NguyenI believe our clever young man has intuited that while only the pursuit of happiness is promised to all Americans, unhappiness is guaranteed for many.
About This Quote
In this quote from the United States Supreme Court, "our clever young man" refers to a certain young lawyer who wrote a brief opposing a state law that did not allow citizens to marry people of their choice. In an opinion read aloud by Justice Brennan, it is said that this young lawyer has been hired by "a clever young lady" and that he believes that "the Constitution guarantees happiness, not merely freedom from unhappiness." The Court also notes the young lawyer's belief that the Constitution guarantees happiness, not merely freedom from unhappiness. For some reason, the young lawyer believes that the Constitution guarantees happiness, not merely freedom from unhappiness. This is a novel idea in a legal brief, but it makes a forceful statement. The idea of happiness being guaranteed does not mean that everyone will be happy all of the time. Rather, it means that no one should have to be unhappy for any reason at all. The new rule should apply both to race and to sex. Justice Brennan added: "this is the land of opportunity, where hard work will get you ahead in life." In what would become his most famous line from this opinion, Justice Brennan continued: "And here you are free to use your God-given talents in pursuit of happiness." However, Justice Brennan was mistaken in his understanding of the purpose of the Constitution. The purpose was not to ensure that everyone would be happy; it was simply to ensure that government would not violate citizens' rights.
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More Quotes By Viet Thanh Nguyen
- As Hegel said, tragedy was not the conflict between right and wrong but right and right, a dilemma none of us who wanted to participate in history could escape. The major had the right to live, and I was right to kill him. Wasn't I?
- I believe our clever young man has intuited that while only the pursuit of happiness is promised to all Americans, unhappiness is guaranteed for many.
- This feat I also had no idea how to accomplish, but ignorance had never stopped me from taking action before.
- No one asks poor people if they want war.
- All wars are fought twice, the first time on the battlefield, the second time in memory.