Obergefell v. Hodges

"The most profound exercise of liberty is the choice of whom to marry and build a life with."

"Legal dignity delayed is a form of ongoing harm."

"Rights do not diminish when shared; they expand when equally granted."

"The law must reflect the understanding that all persons merit equal dignity and respect."

"To deny marriage rights is to tell a class of people their love is less worthy of recognition."

"Constitutional interpretation requires understanding not just what was written, but what endures."

"Prejudice, however longstanding, cannot substitute for constitutional principle."

"The decision to marry belongs to the individuals; the duty to recognize it belongs to the state."

"Exclusion from fundamental rights inflicts dignitary harm that no tradition can justify."

"Love and commitment transcend all categories that law might create."

"The Constitution's equal protection clause is a promise that no one will be treated as a lesser citizen."

"Marriage represents an opportunity for an exclusive emotional bond and physical union."

"Law must evolve when it discovers that what it permitted was unjust."

"The greatest judicial humility is acknowledging when precedent served injustice."

"Fundamental liberty interests cannot be qualified by fears or disapproval."

"To require some to forfeit rights that others enjoy is to diminish all of us."

"The legitimacy of law depends on its fidelity to principles of equal treatment."

"Marriage equality affirms that every person deserves the law's respect for their choices about love."

"Legal recognition of equal dignity is not a favor; it is a constitutional requirement."

"The right to marry is the first among equals in the pantheon of liberty interests."

"When tradition becomes a shield for discrimination, it must yield to principle."

"The measure of a just society is whether it honors the dignity of all its members."

"Love, properly understood, requires no governmental permission to be real or binding."

"Constitutional protections exist precisely to guard minorities against majoritarian preferences."

"The denial of marriage recognition inflicts a wound that extends far beyond legal status."

"Progress in rights is often opposed fiercely because it requires relinquishing unearned advantage."

"Law that fails to recognize equal dignity fails at its fundamental purpose."

"The liberty to choose one's life partner is essential to human flourishing."

"Equality is not divisible; you cannot protect it for some while denying it to others."

"The Constitution speaks to enduring human longings, not merely contemporary customs."