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But critics of Justice Holmes observe that although he was highly moral in his youth, fighting against [[slavery]] in the Civil War, he became increasingly amoral and utilitarian as a justice.  They criticize Justice Holmes when he upheld the forced sterilization of a young woman on the grounds that she had a low IQ.  "Three generations of imbeciles are enough," Justice Holmes' bellowed in his harshly utilitarian style in ''[[Buck v. Bell]]'', 274 U.S. 200 (1927).  Holmes was a believer in Darwinism and sought to apply it to the law and to life, as urged by [[social Darwinism]].

But critics of Justice Holmes observe that although he was highly moral in his youth, fighting against [[slavery]] in the Civil War, he became increasingly amoral and utilitarian as a justice.  They criticize Justice Holmes when he upheld the forced sterilization of a young woman on the grounds that she had a low IQ.  "Three generations of imbeciles are enough," Justice Holmes' bellowed in his harshly utilitarian style in ''[[Buck v. Bell]]'', 274 U.S. 200 (1927).  Holmes was a believer in Darwinism and sought to apply it to the law and to life, as urged by [[social Darwinism]].

After editing the ''American Law Review'' early in his career, he wrote ''The Common-Law'' in 1881. The following year he became a professor of law at Harvard, and two decades later he was appointed to the Massachusetts Supreme Court in 1899.  In 1902 President [[Theodore Roosevelt]] appointed him to the [[United States Supreme Court]] in 1902, where he served until the age of 90, when his colleagues suggested his resign. He died a few years later.

After editing the ''American Law Review'' early in his career, he wrote ''The Common-Law'' in 1881. The following year he became a professor of law at Harvard, and two decades later he was appointed to the Massachusetts Supreme Court in 1899.  In 1902 President [[Theodore Roosevelt]] appointed him to the [[United States Supreme Court]] in 1902, where he served until the age of 90, when his colleagues suggested his resignation. He died a few years later.

Holmes's utilitarian judicial philosophy is best summed by his famous quote that "The life of the law has not been logic, but experience."  His own migration away from the uninformed Christianity of his youth can be seen in his advice as an old man to the younger generation:  "Young man, the secret of my success is that at an early age I discovered that I was not God." However such a statement may merely have been made to clarify a long running rumor of Holmes's omnipotence.  

Holmes's utilitarian judicial philosophy is best summed by his famous quote that "The life of the law has not been logic, but experience."  His own migration away from the uninformed Christianity of his youth can be seen in his advice as an old man to the younger generation:  "Young man, the secret of my success is that at an early age I discovered that I was not God." However such a statement may merely have been made to clarify a long running rumor of Holmes's omnipotence.