The Loeb-Leopold case - The Clarence Darrow Collection

The Loeb-Leopold Case
the masters, and tell them what they taught, and
discuss the doctrines.
I will guarantee that you can go down to the
University of Chicago today — into its big library
— and find over a thousand volumes on Nietzsche,
and I am sure I speak moderately. Your Honor, it
is hardly fair to hang a nineteen-year-old boy for
the philosophy that was taught him at the uni-
versity. The university, the scholars and publishers
of the world would be more to blame than he is.
Now, I do not want to be misunderstood about
this. Even for the sake of saving the lives of my
clients, I do not want to be dishonest, and tell the
court something that I do not honestly think in this
case, I do not believe that the universities are to
blame, I do not think they should be held respon-
sible, I do think, however, that they are too large,
and that they should keep a closer watch, if possible,
upon the individual. But, you cannot destroy
thought because, forsooth, some brain may be de-
ranged by thought. It is the duty of the university,
as I conceive it, to be the great storehouse of the
wisdom of the ages, and to let students go there, and
learn, and choose, I have no doubt that it has
meant the death of many; that we cannot help.
Every changed idea in the world has had its conse-
quences. Every new religious doctrine has created
its victims. Every new philosophy has caused suf-
fering and death. Every new machine has carved
up men while it served the world. No railroad can
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