--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The Constitution needs allegiance and…" description: "\"The Constitution needs allegiance and loyalty and renewal and understanding with each generation, or else it's not going to last.\" — Anthony Kennedy" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c3/anthony-kennedy-14316_allegiance_the-constitution-needs-allegiance-and-lo_3223679.png" --- # The Constitution needs allegiance and loyalty and renewal… ![“The Constitution needs allegiance and loyalty and renewal and understanding with each generation, or else it's not going to last.” quote by Anthony Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c3/anthony-kennedy-14316_allegiance_the-constitution-needs-allegiance-and-lo_3223679.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c3/anthony-kennedy-14316_allegiance_the-constitution-needs-allegiance-and-lo_3223679.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c3/anthony-kennedy-14316_allegiance_the-constitution-needs-allegiance-and-lo_3223679.png) > “The Constitution needs allegiance and loyalty and renewal and understanding with each generation, or else it's not going to last.” [Anthony Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-kennedy/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Constitution must be refreshed each generation to stay relevant; otherwise it will fail. **In simple terms:** Renew the Constitution for each era. Key Takeaway Adapt laws to modern values. Themes law governance generational change Mood thoughtful analytical Type legal philosophical When to use this quote - law school curricula - constitutional amendment debates - public policy reviews - civic education Key Concepts constitutional theory civic renewal legal adaptation Questions to Reflect On - How can we balance tradition with progress? - What mechanisms ensure thoughtful renewal? A Different Perspective Frequent changes may create instability. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Allegiance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/allegiance/) [Constitution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constitution/) [Generations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generations/) [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [Loyalty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loyalty/) [Renewal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/renewal/) [Understanding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understanding/) ## Related quotes > [There needs to be an allegiance to the United States and what this country stands for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanine-pirro/there-needs-to-be-an-allegiance-to-the-united-states-and-what-this/) [Jeanine Pirro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanine-pirro/) > [To seduce the enemies soldiers from their allegiance and encourage them to surrender is of special service, for an adversary is more hurt by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publius-flavius-vegetius-renatus/to-seduce-the-enemies-soldiers-from-their-allegiance-and-encourage/) [Publius Flavius Vegetius Renatus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publius-flavius-vegetius-renatus/) > [“Very often the test of one's allegiance to a cause or to a people is precisely the willingness to stay the course when things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/very-often-the-test-of-one-s-allegiance-to-a-cause-or-to-a-people-is/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [A student under my care owes his first allegiance to himself and not to my specialty; and must not be burdened with my work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-barzun/a-student-under-my-care-owes-his-first-allegiance-to-himself-and-not/) [Jacques Barzun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-barzun/) > [I claim you as my life mate. I belong to you. I offer my life for you. I give to you my protection, my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-feehan/i-claim-you-as-my-life-mate-i-belong-to-you-i-offer-my-life-for-you-i/) [Christine Feehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-feehan/) > [Loyalty must be forged - to him, to his: stronger than iron, from experience, from risk - it can't be bought, or taught, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-morris/loyalty-must-be-forged-to-him-to-his-stronger-than-iron-from/) [Janet Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-morris/) > [“A story knows no honor. A story knows no allegiance. A story simply is.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-j-kirby/a-story-knows-no-honor-a-story-knows-no-allegiance-a-story-simply-is/) [Matthew J. Kirby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-j-kirby/) > [“Let us not forget the obligation which rests upon us to render allegiance and service to the Lord, and that acceptable service to Him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heber-j-grant/let-us-not-forget-the-obligation-which-rests-upon-us-to-render/) [Heber J. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heber-j-grant/) > [But this is predicated upon the man's becoming in very fact an American and nothing but an American. If he tries to keep segregated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/but-this-is-predicated-upon-the-man-s-becoming-in-very-fact-an/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [Withdraw allegiance from the old categories of the Negative (law, limit, castration, lack, lacuna), which the Western thought has so long held sacred as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-foucault/withdraw-allegiance-from-the-old-categories-of-the-negative-law-limit/) [Michel Foucault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-foucault/) > [“Protesting can be as simple as not participating in the Pledge of Allegiance.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/protesting-can-be-as-simple-as-not-participating-in-the-pledge-of/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [Allegiance, after all, has to work two ways; and one can grow weary of an allegiance which is not reciprocal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/allegiance-after-all-has-to-work-two-ways-and-one-can-grow-weary-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I would find no value in the allegiance of a fool ready to give himself up to any old hag of Black Imagination who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-beddor/i-would-find-no-value-in-the-allegiance-of-a-fool-ready-to-give/) [Frank Beddor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-beddor/) > [Let's do more than say the 'Pledge of Allegiance.' Let us live it!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emanuel-cleaver/let-s-do-more-than-say-the-pledge-of-allegiance-let-us-live-it/) [Emanuel Cleaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emanuel-cleaver/) > [“The Pledge of Allegiance says 'liberty and justice for all'. Which part of 'all' don't you understand?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-schroeder/the-pledge-of-allegiance-says-liberty-and-justice-for-all-which-part/) Pat Schroeder ## More by Anthony Kennedy > [Civics isn't something where you learned - learn it for a couple weeks in high school; it is who we are. Americans defined themselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-kennedy/civics-isn-t-something-where-you-learned-learn-it-for-a-couple-weeks/) [Anthony Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-kennedy/) > [The lessons of the First Amendment are as urgent in the modern world as the 18th Century when it was written. One timeless lesson…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-kennedy/the-lessons-of-the-first-amendment-are-as-urgent-in-the-modern-world/) [Anthony Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-kennedy/) > [As the Constitution endures, persons in every generation can invoke its principles in their own search for greater freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-kennedy/as-the-constitution-endures-persons-in-every-generation-can-invoke/) [Anthony Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-kennedy/) > [No one questions the validity, the urgency, the essentiality of the Voting Rights Act.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-kennedy/no-one-questions-the-validity-the-urgency-the-essentiality-of-the/) [Anthony Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-kennedy/) > [First Amendment freedoms are most in danger when the government seeks to control thought or to justify its laws for that impermissible end. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-kennedy/first-amendment-freedoms-are-most-in-danger-when-the-government-seeks/) [Anthony Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-kennedy/) > [A commitment to the Constitution is not something that's genetic. It's not inherited. It's not automatic. It has to be taught. And each generation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-kennedy/a-commitment-to-the-constitution-is-not-something-that-s-genetic-it-s/) [Anthony Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-kennedy/) > [Political speech is indispensable to decision-making in a democracy, and this is no less true because the speech comes from a corporation rather than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-kennedy/political-speech-is-indispensable-to-decision-making-in-a-democracy/) [Anthony Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-kennedy/) > [The fetus, in many cases, dies just as a human adult or child would: It bleeds to death as it is torn from limb…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-kennedy/the-fetus-in-many-cases-dies-just-as-a-human-adult-or-child-would-it/) [Anthony Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-kennedy/) > [The remedy for speech that is false is speech that is true. This is the ordinary course in a free society. The response to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-kennedy/the-remedy-for-speech-that-is-false-is-speech-that-is-true-this-is/) [Anthony Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-kennedy/) > [The court decided, based on its reading of our precedents, that the effects test of Lemon is violated whenever government action creates an identification…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-kennedy/the-court-decided-based-on-its-reading-of-our-precedents-that-the/) [Anthony Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-kennedy/) > [The Constitution exists precisely so that opinions and judgments, including esthetic and moral judgments about art and literature, can be formed, tested, and expressed.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-kennedy/the-constitution-exists-precisely-so-that-opinions-and-judgments/) [Anthony Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-kennedy/) > [Asking questions is an essential part of police investigation. In the ordinary sense a police officer is free to ask a person for identification…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-kennedy/asking-questions-is-an-essential-part-of-police-investigation-in-the/) [Anthony Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-kennedy/) > [At the heart of liberty is the right to define one's own concept of existence, of meaning, of the universe, and of the mystery…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-kennedy/at-the-heart-of-liberty-is-the-right-to-define-one-s-own-concept-of/) [Anthony Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-kennedy/) > [If the case is close, 5-4, and let's say you are on the side that prevailed with the majority, there are not a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-kennedy/if-the-case-is-close-5-4-and-let-s-say-you-are-on-the-side-that/) [Anthony Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-kennedy/) > [The First Amendment is often inconvenient. But that is beside the point. Inconvenience does not absolve the government of its obligation to tolerate speech.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-kennedy/the-first-amendment-is-often-inconvenient-but-that-is-beside-the/) [Anthony Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-kennedy/) [Explore all 47 Anthony Kennedy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-kennedy/) ## More Allegiance quotes > [“Maybe it begins the day you pledge allegiance, face the flag and suddenly clutch your left clavicle because you find a tender puff of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-johnson/maybe-it-begins-the-day-you-pledge-allegiance-face-the-flag-and/) [Marilyn Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-johnson/) > [I was under the influence of the early modern masters, Fitzgerald and Steinbeck and Hemingway, especially, when I was a kid. I reacted against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-stone/i-was-under-the-influence-of-the-early-modern-masters-fitzgerald-and/) [Robert Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-stone/) > [“The Pledge of Allegiance says 'liberty and justice for all'. Which part of 'all' don't you understand?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-schroeder/the-pledge-of-allegiance-says-liberty-and-justice-for-all-which-part/) Pat Schroeder > [They're counting on your patriotism to distract you from their plunder. They're counting on you to be standing at attention with your hand over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/they-re-counting-on-your-patriotism-to-distract-you-from-their/) [Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/) > [There is a congratulatory culture in the Gulf. From birth onwards, there is a culture of giving people trophies as markers of achievement for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayshay/there-is-a-congratulatory-culture-in-the-gulf-from-birth-onwards/) Ayshay > [“We may give our human loves the unconditional allegiance which we owe only to God. Then they become gods: then they become demons. Then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/we-may-give-our-human-loves-the-unconditional-allegiance-which-we-owe/) [Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) > [In my imaginary utopian world there would be a greater allegiance between music writers and musicians.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-haines/in-my-imaginary-utopian-world-there-would-be-a-greater-allegiance/) [Emily Haines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-haines/) > [“I pledge allegiance to the flag of the great Republic of America, to our Elector Primo, to our glorious states, to unity against the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-lu/i-pledge-allegiance-to-the-flag-of-the-great-republic-of-america-to/) [Marie Lu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-lu/) > [Let's do more than say the 'Pledge of Allegiance.' Let us live it!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emanuel-cleaver/let-s-do-more-than-say-the-pledge-of-allegiance-let-us-live-it/) [Emanuel Cleaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emanuel-cleaver/) > [All of us ... should remember that no amount of flag-waving, pledging allegiance, or fervent singing of the national anthem is evidence that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/all-of-us-should-remember-that-no-amount-of-flag-waving-pledging/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [“We're not to do everything man tells us to do. We are to obey the Lord Jesus Christ, and our allegiance to the state…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-c-morecraft-iii/we-re-not-to-do-everything-man-tells-us-to-do-we-are-to-obey-the-lord/) [Joseph C. Morecraft III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-c-morecraft-iii/) > [Behind the ostensible government sits enthroned an invisible government owing no allegiance and acknowledging no responsibility to the people. To destroy this invisible government,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/behind-the-ostensible-government-sits-enthroned-an-invisible/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [“I would find no value in the allegiance of a fool ready to give himself up to any old hag of Black Imagination who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-beddor/i-would-find-no-value-in-the-allegiance-of-a-fool-ready-to-give/) [Frank Beddor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-beddor/) > [Allegiance, after all, has to work two ways; and one can grow weary of an allegiance which is not reciprocal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/allegiance-after-all-has-to-work-two-ways-and-one-can-grow-weary-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I think it is right for Canadians to be asked to show their faces when they're taking the oath. On revocation of citizenship, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-alexander/i-think-it-is-right-for-canadians-to-be-asked-to-show-their-faces/) [Chris Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-alexander/) [Browse all 409 Allegiance quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/allegiance/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The Constitution needs allegiance and loyalty and renewal and understanding with each generation, or else it's not going to last.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Anthony Kennedy" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-kennedy/the-constitution-needs-allegiance-and-loyalty-and-renewal-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Allegiance" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-kennedy/the-constitution-needs-allegiance-and-loyalty-and-renewal-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c3/anthony-kennedy-14316_allegiance_the-constitution-needs-allegiance-and-lo_3223679.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c3/anthony-kennedy-14316_allegiance_the-constitution-needs-allegiance-and-lo_3223679.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c3/anthony-kennedy-14316_allegiance_the-constitution-needs-allegiance-and-lo_3223679.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The Constitution needs allegiance and loyalty and renewal and understanding with each generation, or else…” — Anthony Kennedy", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Anthony Kennedy", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-kennedy/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The Constitution needs allegiance and loyalty...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-kennedy/the-constitution-needs-allegiance-and-loyalty-and-renewal-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-kennedy/the-constitution-needs-allegiance-and-loyalty-and-renewal-and/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```