I came from a poor family, so working and going to school at the same time was natural. It taught me multi-tasking, although we didn't call it that back then. I learned I could never be idle, I need to be doing many things at once. Alan Dershowitz on family
Great research universities must insist on independence from government and on the exercise of academic freedom. Alan Dershowitz on freedom
We don't have an Official Secrets Act in the United States, as other countries do. Under the First Amendment, freedom of the press, freedom of speech, and freedom of association are more important than protecting secrets. Alan Dershowitz on freedom
I don't believe in firing professors. They have academic freedom. Alan Dershowitz on freedom
You know, it's ironic to me that Christians want to keep the Ten Commandments in our schools, because Christianity has abrogated four of the Ten Commandments. For example, the Sabbath day according to the Ten Commandments is Saturday, not Sunday. And the reason is because God rested, not because Jesus was resurrected. Alan Dershowitz on god
Great research universities must insist on independence from government and on the exercise of academic freedom. Alan Dershowitz on government
In the Pentagon Papers case, the government asserted in the Supreme Court that the publication of the material was a threat to national security. It turned out it was not a threat to U.S. security. But even if it had been, that doesn't mean that it couldn't be published. Alan Dershowitz on government
We all learn in school that the judicial, legislative and executive branches of government must check and balance each other. But other non state institutions must participate in this important system of checks and balances as well. These checking institutions include the academy, the media, religious institutions and NGOs. Alan Dershowitz on government
No country in the history of the world has ever contributed more to humankind and accomplished more for its people in so brief a period of time as Israel has done since its relatively recent rebirth in 1948. Alan Dershowitz on history
It simply cannot be disputed that for decades the Palestinian leadership was more interested in there not being a Jewish state than in there being a Palestinian state. Alan Dershowitz on leadership
Judges are the weakest link in our system of justice, and they are also the most protected. Alan Dershowitz on legal
I've thought hard about my psychological connections and I think I've managed to separate out the psychological from the legal, moral, and political. Alan Dershowitz on legal
I think mistakes are the essence of science and law. It's impossible to conceive of either scientific progress or legal progress without understanding the important role of being wrong and of mistakes. Alan Dershowitz on legal
I think that lawyers are terrible at admitting that they're wrong. And not just admitting it also realizing it. Most lawyers are very successful, and they think that because they're making money and people think well of them, they must be doing everything right. Alan Dershowitz on money
Israel can't make peace without the clear support of the United States. Alan Dershowitz on peace
I am deeply concerned that, without peace and a two-state solution, the Jewish and democratic nature of Israel is in danger. That's why I have opposed Israel's settlement policy since 1973, and that's why I have favored a two-state solution since 1967. Alan Dershowitz on peace
Twenty five percent of Israeli citizens are not even Jewish. Anybody can become an Israeli citizen if you qualify. Religion is not a criterion for citizenship. Alan Dershowitz on religion
I think mistakes are the essence of science and law. It's impossible to conceive of either scientific progress or legal progress without understanding the important role of being wrong and of mistakes. Alan Dershowitz on science