--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In the United States, at the present…" description: "\"“In the United States, at the present time, we are trying to make an undemocratic constitution the vehicle of democratic rule. The Constitution was fra..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/066/anonymous-1_articles-of-confeder_in-the-united-states-at-the-present-time_2269008.jpg" --- # In the United States, at the present time, we are trying… ![“In the United States, at the present time, we are trying to make an undemocratic constitution the vehicle of democratic rule. The Constitution was framed for one purpose while we are trying to use it for another." Students of the Constitution, from Woodrow Wilson down, know such to be the case…” quote by Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/066/anonymous-1_articles-of-confeder_in-the-united-states-at-the-present-time_2269008.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/066/anonymous-1_articles-of-confeder_in-the-united-states-at-the-present-time_2269008.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/066/anonymous-1_articles-of-confeder_in-the-united-states-at-the-present-time_2269008.jpg) > ““In the United States, at the present time, we are trying to make an undemocratic constitution the vehicle of democratic rule. The Constitution was framed for one purpose while we are trying to use it for another." Students of the Constitution, from Woodrow Wilson down, know such to be the case. Victims of the Constitution, from the lowliest workingman up, know nothing of the sort. They believe in the Constitution. They believe it was made for them. Gentlemen of this sort should wake up. The Constitution of the United States was made for them in the same sense that sheep shears are made for sheep. The gentlemen who made the Constitution had sheep to shear. They belonged to a class. The class to which they belonged was the wealthy class. The wealthy class was by no means satisfied with the way things were going under the articles of confederation. Some of the sheep were getting away. Worse than that, they, were getting away with their fleeces on. Gentlemen who have sheep to shear are always pained at such a spectacle. We have the same sort of gentlemen with us to-day. They talk to-day — whenever sheep get away — as the rich men talked when the articles of confederation were in force.”” [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The Constitution is being repurposed to serve elite interests, contrary to its democratic intent. **In simple terms:** Elite manipulate law for power. Key Takeaway Question the true beneficiaries of laws. Themes politics law elitism democracy Mood critical skeptical Type political analytical When to use this quote - voting - policy advocacy - legal reform - public discourse Key Concepts constitutional theory class struggle political economy Questions to Reflect On - Who truly benefits from current policies? - How can citizens ensure constitutional fidelity? A Different Perspective Complex issues may have multiple legitimate interpretations. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Articles of confederation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/articles-of-confederation/) [Constitution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constitution/) [Constitution of the united states](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constitution-of-the-united-states/) [Present time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/present-time/) [Rich men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rich-men/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [“The movement for the Constitution of the United States was originated and carried through principally by four groups of personalty interests which had been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-movement-for-the-constitution-of-the-united-states-was-originated/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A constitution should be framed so as not to impede the action of government, nor force the government to its violation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/a-constitution-should-be-framed-so-as-not-to-impede-the-action-of/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [The Constitution was framed in order to form a more perfect union, not to establish mass confusion. Byron Goines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-goines/the-constitution-was-framed-in-order-to-form-a-more-perfect-union-not-2/) Byron Goines > [The Constitution was framed in order to form a more perfect union, not to establish mass confusion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-goines/the-constitution-was-framed-in-order-to-form-a-more-perfect-union-not/) Byron Goines > [If I could have entertained the slightest apprehension that the Constitution framed in the Convention where I had the honor to preside might possibly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/if-i-could-have-entertained-the-slightest-apprehension-that-the/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [The Constitution was framed fundamentally as a bulwark against governmental power, and preventing the arbitrary administration of punishment is a basic ideal of any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-brennan/the-constitution-was-framed-fundamentally-as-a-bulwark-against/) [William J. Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-brennan/) > [“...the founders of our nation were nearly all Infidels, and that of the presidents who had thus far been elected { George Washington ,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bird-wilson/the-founders-of-our-nation-were-nearly-all-infidels-and-that-of-the/) Bird Wilson > [A constitution is framed for ages to come, and is designed to approach immortality as nearly as human institutions can approach it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-marshall/a-constitution-is-framed-for-ages-to-come-and-is-designed-to-approach/) [John Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-marshall/) > [The Constitution was framed upon the theory that the peoples of the several states must sink or swim together, and that in the long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-cardozo/the-constitution-was-framed-upon-the-theory-that-the-peoples-of-the/) [Benjamin Cardozo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-cardozo/) > [ \[M\]y wish is, that the Convention may adopt no temporizing expedient, but probe the defects of the Constitution \[i.e., the Articles of Confederation\] to… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/m-y-wish-is-that-the-convention-may-adopt-no-temporizing-expedient/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [ “On January 27, 1778, the -Articles of Confederation-, recently adopted by Congress, were debated here \[Montague, Massachusetts\]. It was 'voted to approve of the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-pearson-pressey/on-january-27-1778-the-articles-of-confederation-recently-adopted-by/) [Edward Pearson Pressey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-pearson-pressey/) > [Our articles of confederation ought to be revised and measures immediately taken to invigorate the Continental Union. Depend upon it: there lies the danger…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marquis-de-lafayette/our-articles-of-confederation-ought-to-be-revised-and-measures/) [Marquis de Lafayette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marquis-de-lafayette/) > [“If we are undone, we are the most splendidly ruined of any nation in the universe.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-thomson/if-we-are-undone-we-are-the-most-splendidly-ruined-of-any-nation-in/) Charles Thomson > [“In New York the curriculum guide for 11th-grade American history tells students that there were three "foundations" for the Constitution: the European Enlightenment, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr-2/in-new-york-the-curriculum-guide-for-11th-grade-american-history/) [Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr-2/) > [The Supreme Court, in 2005, emphasized and contrasted the great power of Congress under the Commerce Clause to regulate interstate commerce versus much more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-ann-radnofsky/the-supreme-court-in-2005-emphasized-and-contrasted-the-great-power/) [Barbara Ann Radnofsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-ann-radnofsky/) ## More by Anonymous > [And a tear rolled down her cheek, as she said goodbye; because she's walking away, and she's never looking back](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/and-a-tear-rolled-down-her-cheek-as-she-said-goodbye-because-she-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Scrabble - The game is available in Braille. That’s a nice fact. This makes me feel better about humanity for some reason. I can’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/scrabble-the-game-is-available-in-braille-that-s-a-nice-fact-this/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Everyone needs someone to love, and I choose you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everyone-needs-someone-to-love-and-i-choose-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“THIS tale of my sore-troubled life I write,    To thank the God of nature, who conveyed    My soul to me, and with such care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-tale-of-my-sore-troubled-life-i-write-to-thank-the-god-of-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Put on my J's and dance the whole night away Im naughty by nature like Im hip-hop hooray With my hands in the sky,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/put-on-my-j-s-and-dance-the-whole-night-away-im-naughty-by-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Me.. I have been through a lot, but I still manage to have a smile on my face. Im not worried about the past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/me-i-have-been-through-a-lot-but-i-still-manage-to-have-a-smile-on-my/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Distance is a test of love. many will fail for those who can't withstand it, but for those who can, theres only one answer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/distance-is-a-test-of-love-many-will-fail-for-those-who-can-t/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Im sorry I ever tried...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/im-sorry-i-ever-tried/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Being betrayed by the one you love is the worst feeling in the world...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-betrayed-by-the-one-you-love-is-the-worst-feeling-in-the-world/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The only person I've ever purposely caused pain here is myself...By simply sharing, caring too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-person-i-ve-ever-purposely-caused-pain-here-is-myself-by/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Start a business, not a startup”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/start-a-business-not-a-startup/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The truth is, of course, that the curtness of the Ten Commandments is an evidence, not of the gloom and narrowness of a religion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-truth-is-of-course-that-the-curtness-of-the-ten-commandments-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Explore all 162,899 Anonymous quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More Articles of confederation quotes > [The Supreme Court, in 2005, emphasized and contrasted the great power of Congress under the Commerce Clause to regulate interstate commerce versus much more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-ann-radnofsky/the-supreme-court-in-2005-emphasized-and-contrasted-the-great-power/) [Barbara Ann Radnofsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-ann-radnofsky/) > [“In New York the curriculum guide for 11th-grade American history tells students that there were three "foundations" for the Constitution: the European Enlightenment, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr-2/in-new-york-the-curriculum-guide-for-11th-grade-american-history/) [Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr-2/) > [“If we are undone, we are the most splendidly ruined of any nation in the universe.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-thomson/if-we-are-undone-we-are-the-most-splendidly-ruined-of-any-nation-in/) Charles Thomson > [“The movement for the Constitution of the United States was originated and carried through principally by four groups of personalty interests which had been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-movement-for-the-constitution-of-the-united-states-was-originated/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [ \[M\]y wish is, that the Convention may adopt no temporizing expedient, but probe the defects of the Constitution \[i.e., the Articles of Confederation\] to… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/m-y-wish-is-that-the-convention-may-adopt-no-temporizing-expedient/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [ “On January 27, 1778, the -Articles of Confederation-, recently adopted by Congress, were debated here \[Montague, Massachusetts\]. It was 'voted to approve of the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-pearson-pressey/on-january-27-1778-the-articles-of-confederation-recently-adopted-by/) [Edward Pearson Pressey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-pearson-pressey/) > [Our articles of confederation ought to be revised and measures immediately taken to invigorate the Continental Union. Depend upon it: there lies the danger…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marquis-de-lafayette/our-articles-of-confederation-ought-to-be-revised-and-measures/) [Marquis de Lafayette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marquis-de-lafayette/) > [The consensus for a strong, independent Executive arose from the Framers' experience in the Revolution and under the Articles of Confederation. They had seen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-barr/the-consensus-for-a-strong-independent-executive-arose-from-the/) [William Barr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-barr/) > [Brandon McCaw did a essay on Television about the U.S.district courts are the trial courts serving as the original point of entry for almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-mccaw/brandon-mccaw-did-a-essay-on-television-about-the-u-s-district-courts/) [Brandon McCaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-mccaw/) [Browse all 10 Articles of confederation quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/articles-of-confederation/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“In the United States, at the present time, we are trying to make an undemocratic constitution the vehicle of democratic rule. The Constitution was framed for one purpose while we are trying to use it for another.\" Students of the Constitution, from Woodrow Wilson down, know such to be the case. Victims of the Constitution, from the lowliest workingman up, know nothing of the sort. They believe in the Constitution. They believe it was made for them. Gentlemen of this sort should wake up. The Constitution of the United States was made for them in the same sense that sheep shears are made for sheep. The gentlemen who made the Constitution had sheep to shear. They belonged to a class. The class to which they belonged was the wealthy class. The wealthy class was by no means satisfied with the way things were going under the articles of confederation. Some of the sheep were getting away. Worse than that, they, were getting away with their fleeces on. Gentlemen who have sheep to shear are always pained at such a spectacle. We have the same sort of gentlemen with us to-day. 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