The Constitution be never construed to authorize Congress…

And that the said Constitution be never construed to authorize Congress to infringe the just liberty of the press, or the rights of conscience;…

— Samuel Adams

If the federal constitution is to be construed so far in connection with the state constitutions, as to leave the trial by jury in…

— Richard Henry Lee

We will submit legislation to the United States Senate which will...authorize the Congress to undertake judicial review of those signing statements with the view…

— Arlen Specter

That the said Constitution shall never be construed to authorize Congress to infringe the just liberty of the press or the rights of conscience.

— John Adams

Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains sit lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that ye were our…

— Samuel Adams

Waiving the rights of conscience, not included in the surrender implied by the social state, & more or less invaded by all Religious establishments,…

— James Madison

“But our rulers can have authority over such natural rights only as we have submitted to them. The rights of conscience we never submitted,…

— Thomas Jefferson

The civil rights of none, shall be abridged on account of religious belief or worship, nor shall any national religion be established, nor shall…

— James Madison

You are further to declare that we hold sacred the rights of conscience, and may promise to the whole people, solemnly in our name,…

— Roger Sherman

The rights of conscience, of bearing arms, of changing the government, are declared to be inherent in the people.

— Fisher Ames

No provision in our Constitution ought to be dearer to man than that which protects the rights of conscience against the enterprises of the…

— Thomas Jefferson

You can't disobey the rules every time you disapprove. However, when you're considering something that constitutes an extreme abridgement of your rights, conscience is…

— Mario Savio

“...legitimate powers of government reach actions only, & not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared…

— Thomas Jefferson

At the time of the adoption of the constitution, and of the amendment to it, now under consideration [i.e., the First Amendment], the general,…

— Joseph Story

“Luther, the hero of Worms, the champion of the sacred rights of conscience, was, in words, the most violent, but in practice, the least…

— Philip Schaff