Best Constitution Quotes | Short & Famous Sayings Page 6

“We cannot sanction the view that the Constitution, while solicitous of the cognitive content of individual speech, has little or no regard for that emotive function which, practically speaking, may often be the more important element of the overall message sought to be communicated.”

May Littles Important Individual Justice Views Speech Elements Messages Function Constitution Regard Sanctions Cognitive Often Is

Author:John Marshall Harlan II

“In a very real sense, the Constitution is our compact with history . . . [but] the Constitution can maintain that compact and serve as the lodestar of our political system only if its terms are binding on us. To the extent we depart from the document's language and rely instead on generalities that we see written between the lines, we rob the Constitution of its binding force and give free reign to the fashions and passions of the day.”

Ifs Giving Real Political Passion Language Force Term Lines Written Fashion Constitution Rely Documents Reign Political Systems Binding Compact Generalities Between The Lines

Author:Alex Kozinski

“That by 1774 the final crisis of the constitution, brought on by political and social corruption, had been reached was, to most informed colonists, evident.”

Political Social Constitution Crisis Finals Corruption Evident Colonists

Book:The Ideological Origins of the American Revolution

Source: The Ideological Origins of the American Revolution

“The primary function of a constitution was to mark out the boundaries of governmental powers-hence in England, where there was no constitution , there were no limits (save for the effect of trail by jury) to what the legislature might do.”

Might Effects Limits Function Constitution Mark England Boundaries Primaries Trails Jury Legislature

Book:The Ideological Origins of the American Revolution

Source: The Ideological Origins of the American Revolution

“Creativity builds upon the public domain. The battle that we're fighting now is about whether the public domain will continue to be fed by creative works after their copyright expires. That has been our tradition but that tradition has been perverted in the last generation. We're trying to use the Constitution to reestablish what has always been taken for granted--that the public domain would grow each year with new creative work.”

“Of all the many and (thanks to a free press) the ever-multiplying blessings attendant upon the "glorious constitution" of literature, not the least precious and profitable to a modern cultivator of systems and syllables, in pamphlets, magazines, and folios, is the right of Quotation.”

Literature Modern Blessing Constitution Presses Magazines Thanks Glorious Quotations Profitable Syllables Free Press Multiplying

Author:Samuel Laman Blanchard

“Long before I was ordained a priest, I knew that my church was the most implacable enemy of this republic. My professors ... had been unanimous in telling me that the principles and laws of the Church of Rome were absolutely antagonistic to the principles which are the foundation stones of the Constitution of the United States of America.”

Source: Fifty Years in the Church of Rome: The Life Story of Pastor Chiniquy, who was for Twenty-five Years a Priest in the Roman Catholic Church

“[T]he Swiss people are the best practitioners of the ideals of non-aggression. The Swiss national government posts are parttime positions. Most decisions are made at the canton (state) level. Swiss per capita income is the highest in the world, showing that non-aggression pays. How did the Swiss come to adopt a relatively non-aggressive constitution in an aggressive world? In the mid-1800s, they imitated our constitution and stuck with it!”

People World Made States Government Decision Levels Pay Position Highest Ideals Constitution Stuck Income Posts Aggressive Aggression Swiss

Author:Mary Ruwart

“Democracy means that if this man,you Miss and I will be trapped on an island, we having a majority of votes will decide that you have to sleep with us. That's the Democracy. And with 2/3 votes we can even put that in the constitution.”

Ifs Men Mean Sleep Democracy Missing Vote Constitution Majority Islands Trapped

Author:Janusz Korwin-Mikke

“Democracy is always, by nature and constitution, the triumph of mediocrity.”

Democracy Constitution Triumph Mediocrity

Author:Indro Montanelli

“We consider ourselves to be free because no one in our society is allowed unlimited powerno leader, faction, party or 'class', no majority, no government, church, corporation, trade, or professional association or trade union. The secret of its freedom is that it is composed of a multitude of organisations in the constitution of the best of which is reproduced that diffusion of power which is characteristic of the whole.”

“I do not know how Vladimir Putin will be esteemed by the future history, but I have no doubt that among his successes and advantages for Russia historians shall absolutely note the fact of his not altering the constitution, for he created a precedent. And afterwards, no matter who might become president, it shall be extremely difficult to alter the constitution exactly on that point. Extremely difficult.”

Knows Matter Facts Might Difficult President Know How Doubt Advantage Constitution Notes Russia No Doubt Historian Putin Precedent

Author:Vladimir Posner

“So, I mean to say, as for those who are proving their allegiance with what I would call sickening perseverance, and who are urging the president to brush away the constitution, those I would like to remind of a Russian proverb: "Don't spit into the well, it'll come in handy once you're thirsty.”

Wells Mean President Prove Constitution Perseverance Brushes Allegiance Spit Thirsty Handy

Author:Vladimir Posner

“I am a Republican because I believe in the constitution, strength in national defense, limited government, individual freedom, and personal responsibility as the concrete foundation for American government. They reinforce the resolve that the United States is the greatest country in the world and we can all be eternally grateful to our founding fathers for the beautiful legacy they left us today.”

“The civil rights movement is understanding your freedom under the Constitution of these United States and if anyone tries to take those freedoms from you, you better rise up and fight and that's what we're doing together.”

Ifs Trying States Together Fighting Understanding United United States Rights Movement Constitution Civil Rights Civil Rights Movement Your Freedom

Author:Ken Hutcherson

“If standing for liberty and the Constitution makes you a Wacko Bird, then count me a proud Wacko Bird.”

Ifs Liberty Proud Bird Standing Constitution

Author:Ted Cruz

“This [the U.S. Constitution] is likely to be administered for a course of years and then end in despotism... when the people shall become so corrupted as to need despotic government, being incapable of any other.”

People Needs Years Ends Government Courses Constitution Incapable Despotism

Author:Benjamin Franklin

“The state (the U.S. Constitution) has not the right to leave every man free to profess and embrace whatever religion he may desire.”

Men May States Desire Constitution Embrace Every Man

Author:Pope Pius IX

“Great part of that order which reigns among mankind is not the effect of government. It has its origin in the principles of society and the natural constitution of man. It existed prior to government, and would exist if the formality of government was abolished. The mutual dependence and reciprocal interest which man has upon man, and all the parts of civilised community upon each other, create that great chain of connection which holds it together.”

Source: The Thomas Paine Collection: Common Sense, Rights of Man, Age of Reason, An Essay on Dream, Biblical Blasphemy, Examination Of The Prophecies

“The Constitution is America's glue, Democracy is the Constitution's glue.”

America Democracy Constitution Glue

Author:Herbert Hoover

“In reading over the Constitutions of all fifty of our states, I discovered something which some of you may not know: there is in all fifty, without exception, an appeal or a prayer to the Almighty God of the universe. Through all fifty state Constitutions, without exception, there runs this same appeal and reference to God who is the Creator of our liberties and the preserver of our freedoms.”

Knows May States Running Universe Reading Prayer Liberty Constitution Creator Appeals Fifty Exception Almighty Almighty God

Author:D. James Kennedy

“Remember, government is not an enlightened organization designed to promote public welfare. It is barbaric, uncivilized force…military and police power put to the service of the insiders who control it. Yes, there are constraints on the way the insiders use their power. There are ‘checks and balances,’ built into the constitution, for example. And there are cultural norms and traditional prohibitions. But eventually, the norms and traditions wear off, like painkillers. And then, the pain of raw government begins again.”

“I am the happiest person I've ever met. This is what Buddhist Yoga and a healthy dose of reading the Declaration of the Independence, The Constitution and the Federalist Papers and anything else I could get my hands on has given me.”

Persons Hands Reading Given Healthy Mets Paper Yoga Constitution Independence Buddhist Declaration Papers Rama Dose Federalist Federalist Papers

Author:Frederick Lenz

“General irregularities are known in time to remedy themselves. By the constitution of ancient Egypt, the priesthood was continually increasing, till at length there was no people beside themselves; the establishment was then dissolved, and the number of priests was reduced and limited. Thus among us, writers will, perhaps, be multiplied, till no readers will be found, and then the ambition of writing must necessarily cease.”

People Writing Found Numbers Known Reader Ambition Constitution Ancient Cease Priests Length Establishment Remedy Egypt Priesthood Ancient Egypt Irregularity

Book:The Works of Samuel Johnson, LL.: D., with an Essay on His Life and Genius

Source: The Works of Samuel Johnson, LL.: D., with an Essay on His Life and Genius

“Vernon Bogdanor's account The Monarchy and the Constitution is written as much in the shadow of Edmund Burke as it is of Walter Bagehot. He stresses the organic development of the British constitution, prefers evolution to revolution, and thinks stability is better than strife.”

Thinking Written Revolution Development Evolution Shadow Accounts Constitution Stress British Stability Strife Monarchy British History British Constitution

Author:David Cannadine

“The Confederate Constitution was almost identical to that of the United States.”

War States United History United States Constitution Civil War Identical American Civil War Confederate

Author:Bruce Catton

“In every age states of varying size and constitution and at every level of development have found naval warfare to be one of their most formidable and expensive tasks. Ships have always been large, costly and complicated, and warships much more complicated and costly than any others. Scholars are nowadays inclined to emphasize the power, wealth and sophistication of the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms, and there is not more striking illustration of this than the advanced and elaborate administrative structures of the early English navy.”

“The first essential responsibility of the state is control of the market-place: there must be some official charged with the duty of seeing that honest dealing and good order prevail. For one of the well-nigh essential activities of all states is the buying and selling of goods to meet their mutual basic needs; this is the quickest way to self-sufficiency, which seems to be what moves men to combine under a single constitution.”

“A democratic constitution, not supported by democratic institutions in detail, but confined to the central government, not only is not political freedom, but often creates a spirit precisely the reverse, carrying down to the lowest grade in society the desire and ambition of political domination.”

Source: Principles of political economy with some of their applications to social philosophy

“If one examines the American idea of freedom, the individual, free enterprise, their Constitution, their political and economic structures as well as their mode of exploiting their natural resources, all these are shrouded in the idea of justice.”

Ifs Wells Ideas Political Politics Individual Natural Justice Economy Economic Resources Constitution Structure Liberalism Enterprise Natural Resources Free Enterprise

Author:Ndabaningi Sithole

“The real struggle between an American government and the people was one of power, which was settled when they designed their Constitution, which conceded the sovereignty of the people when it came to politics, and the sovereignty of the consumer when it came to economics.”

People Real Wisdom Government Politics Struggle Economy Economics Constitution Consumers Liberalism Sovereignty American Government Conceded

Author:Ndabaningi Sithole

“Attending that Convention and talking with those people and many others convinced me that I should become a blogger in my efforts to reform the government and uphold the integrity of the Constitution and the laws made in furtherance thereof.”

People Should Made Government Law Effort Talking Economy Integrity Constitution Convinced Reform Conventions Attending Bloggers

Author:John Jay Hooker

“If you are a friend of the Constitution as I am, I hope you will consider engaging me in the topics of my posts whether you agree or disagree with my position on a particular subject.”

Ifs Economy Subjects Position Particular Constitution Agree Posts Disagree Topics Engaging

Author:John Jay Hooker

“The Constitution was written by 55 educated and highly intelligent men in Philadelphia in 1787, but it was written so that it could be understood by people of limited education and modest intelligence.”

People Men Economy Written Understood Constitution Intelligent Educated Modest Philadelphia Intelligent Man Highly Intelligent

Author:John Jay Hooker

“Of the six men who have done most to make America the wonder and the joy she is to all of us, not one could be the citizen of a government so constituted; for Washington and Franklin and Jefferson, certainly the three mightiest leaders in our early history, were heretics in their day, Deists, as men called them; and Garrison and Lincoln and Sumner, certainly the three mightiest in these later times, would all be disfranchised by the proposed amendment. Lincoln could not have taken the oath of office had such a clause been in the Constitution.”

Men Done Government America Joy Three Leader Wonder Taken Atheism Citizens Office Six Constitution Positive Atheism Amendments Oath Franklin Heretic X Men Clauses Deist Oath Of Office

Author:John Chadwick

“But the United States is neither a Christian nation nor the exclusive home of any particular religious group. Non-Christians are not guests. We are as much hosts as any Mayflower-descendant Protestant. It is our home as well as theirs. And in a home with so many owners, there can be no official sectarian prayer. That is what the First Amendment is all about, and the first act by the new administration was in defiance of our Constitution.”

“Nonbelievers are protected by the religion clauses of the Constitution not because secular humanism is a religion, which it is not, but because when the government acts on the basis of religion it discriminates against those who do not "believe" in the governmentally favored manner.”

Believe Government Atheism Bases Constitution Humanism Positive Atheism Protected Secular Clauses Secular Humanism

Author:Norman Dorsen

“The majority has no right to impose its religion on the rest. That's a tradition as sacred as the Constitution itself to this country.”

Country Atheism Tradition Constitution Sacred Majority Positive Atheism

Author:William Rainey Harper

“It is contended by many that ours is a Christian government, founded upon the Bible, and that all who look upon the book as false or foolish are destroying the foundation of our country. The truth is, our government is not founded upon the rights of gods, but upon the rights of men. Our Constitution was framed, not to declare and uphold the deity of Christ, but the sacredness of humanity. Ours is the first government made by the people and for the people. It is the only nation with which the gods have had nothing to do.”

“If my church attempted to influence me in a way which was improper or which affected adversely my responsibilities as a public servant sworn to uphold the Constitution, then I would reply to them that this was an improper action on their part. It was one to which I could not subscribe.”

Ifs Way Action Church Responsibility Atheism Influence Constitution Positive Atheism Servant Affected Public Servants

Author:John F. Kennedy

“I would not look with favor upon a President working to subvert the First Amendment's guarantees of religious liberty ... Neither do I look with favor upon those who would work to subvert Article VI of the Constitution by requiring a religious test - even by indirection.”

Firsts Looks President Religious Liberty Atheism Tests Constitution Positive Atheism Favors Guarantees Articles Amendments First Amendment Religious Liberty

Author:John F. Kennedy

“I am not a spokesperson for the church and the church is not a spokesperson for the United States of America.”

States Running America President Church United United States Atheism Constitution Positive Atheism Separation United States Of America Strict Church And State Separation Of Church And State

Author:John F. Kerry

“Because the bill in reserving a certain parcel of land in the United States for the use of said Baptist Church comprises a principle and a precedent for the appropriation of funds of the United States for the use and support of religious societies, contrary to the article of the Constitution which declares that "Congress shall make no law respecting a religious establishment."”

Source: The Writings of James Madison: 1808-1819

“The Queen of England is Defender of the Faith but the President of the United States is Defender of the Constitution, which defends all faiths.”

States President United United States Atheism Constitution England Positive Atheism Queens Defenders Queen Of England

Author:Walter F. Mondale

“One day I was just looking at the coins is what brought this up. I saw "In God We Trust" on my coins. I said, "I don't trust in God," what is this? And I recalled there was something in the Constitution that said you're not allowed to do that and so I did some research. And as soon as I did the research, I realized the law seemed to be on my side and I filed the suit. It's a cool thing to do. Everyone should try it.”

Should Trying Said Law Sides Saws Atheism One Day Research Constitution I Realized Suits Things To Do Trust In God Coins Don't Trust Cool Things God We Trust

Author:Michael Newdow

“I think the Constitution has been upheld. I think they made the right decision.”

Thinking Has Beens Made Decision Atheism Constitution Positive Atheism Right Decision

Author:Michael Newdow

“Our soldiers did not go to some foreign country and risk their lives in vain and defend our Constitution so that decades later you can tell me it's a living document ever changing and is open to interpretation. The guys who wrote it were light years ahead of anyone today, and they meant what they said - now leave the document alone, or there's going to be trouble.”

Years Said Country Light Today Guy Risk Trouble Atheism Constitution Soldier Positive Atheism Decades Vain Interpretation Documents They Said Foreign Countries Light Years

Author:Ted Nugent

“There are two visions of America. One precedes our founding fathers and finds its roots in the harshness of our Puritan past. It is very suspicious of freedom, uncomfortable with diversity hostile to science, unfriendly to reason, contemptuous of personal autonomy. It sees America as a religious nation. It views patriotism as allegiance to God. It secretly adores coercion and conformity. Despite our constitution, despite the legacy of the Enlightenment, it appeals to millions of Americans and threatens our freedom.”

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Constitution Quotes