--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My view is regardless of whether you…" description: "\"My view is regardless of whether you think prohibiting abortion is good or whether you think prohibiting abortion is bad, regardless of how you come ou..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c7/antonin-scalia-2855_abortion_my-view-is-regardless-of-whether-you-thi_1864535.png" --- # My view is regardless of whether you think prohibiting… ![“My view is regardless of whether you think prohibiting abortion is good or whether you think prohibiting abortion is bad, regardless of how you come out on that, my only point is the Constitution does not say anything about it. It leaves it up to democratic choice.” quote by Antonin Scalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c7/antonin-scalia-2855_abortion_my-view-is-regardless-of-whether-you-thi_1864535.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c7/antonin-scalia-2855_abortion_my-view-is-regardless-of-whether-you-thi_1864535.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c7/antonin-scalia-2855_abortion_my-view-is-regardless-of-whether-you-thi_1864535.png) > “My view is regardless of whether you think prohibiting abortion is good or whether you think prohibiting abortion is bad, regardless of how you come out on that, my only point is the Constitution does not say anything about it. It leaves it up to democratic choice.” [Antonin Scalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-scalia/) ## 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 silent on abortion, so the issue should be decided by democratic processes rather than judicial decree. **In simple terms:** Constitution doesn’t mention abortion; people decide. Key Takeaway Rely on democratic choice. Themes law democracy abortion judicial restraint Mood thoughtful serious Type legal political When to use this quote - legislative debates - public referenda - court rulings - policy making Key Concepts Constitutional silence federalism popular sovereignty Questions to Reflect On - Should moral issues be decided by elected officials? - How to ensure minority rights in majority rule? A Different Perspective Democratic decisions can be swayed by partisan politics and may not protect minorities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Abortion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abortion/) [Constitution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constitution/) ## Related quotes > [I don't think abortion is a good idea. I personally am opposed to abortion, but I will not judge anybody else's right in that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-sheen/i-don-t-think-abortion-is-a-good-idea-i-personally-am-opposed-to/) [Martin Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-sheen/) > [To really start talking about a narrative where there's no good abortion or bad abortion; there's only the abortion that you need, I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lizz-winstead/to-really-start-talking-about-a-narrative-where-there-s-no-good/) [Lizz Winstead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lizz-winstead/) > [We think abortion is a bad thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-michelman/we-think-abortion-is-a-bad-thing/) Kate Michelman > [Certainly the Constitution does not require discrimination on the basis of sex. The only issue is whether it prohibits it. It doesn't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-scalia/certainly-the-constitution-does-not-require-discrimination-on-the/) [Antonin Scalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-scalia/) > [What secret knowledge, one must wonder, is breathed into lawyers when they become Justices of this Court that enables them to discern that a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-scalia/what-secret-knowledge-one-must-wonder-is-breathed-into-lawyers-when/) [Antonin Scalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-scalia/) > [The Constitution does not trust judges to make determinations of criminal guilt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-scalia/the-constitution-does-not-trust-judges-to-make-determinations-of/) [Antonin Scalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-scalia/) > [We are not here to advocate abortion. We do not ask this Court to rule that abortion is good or desirable in any particular…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-weddington/we-are-not-here-to-advocate-abortion-we-do-not-ask-this-court-to-rule/) [Sarah Weddington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-weddington/) > [I didn't grow up believing that abortion was a good choice for women, but since it was legal, I thought it must be okay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abby-johnson/i-didn-t-grow-up-believing-that-abortion-was-a-good-choice-for-women/) [Abby Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abby-johnson/) > [Whether by pill or invasive surgery, abortion is never good for women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-parshall/whether-by-pill-or-invasive-surgery-abortion-is-never-good-for-women/) [Janet Parshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-parshall/) > [“Fear is an abortion of good thoughts”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nomthandazo-tsembeni/fear-is-an-abortion-of-good-thoughts/) [Nomthandazo Tsembeni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nomthandazo-tsembeni/) > [Where in the Constitution does it say that because we don't like a foreign country's leader, we should go in and topple the dictator?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-johnson/where-in-the-constitution-does-it-say-that-because-we-don-t-like-a/) [Gary Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-johnson/) > [ The Constitution does not vest in Congress the authority to protect society from every bad act that might befall it…\[I\]f followed to its logical… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-thomas/the-constitution-does-not-vest-in-congress-the-authority-to-protect/) [Clarence Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-thomas/) > [The Constitution does not require complete separation of church and state; it affirmatively mandates accommodation, not merely tolerance, of all religions, and forbids hostility…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-e-burger/the-constitution-does-not-require-complete-separation-of-church-and/) [Warren E. Burger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-e-burger/) > [The Constitution does not demand that you or I buy anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-conaway/the-constitution-does-not-demand-that-you-or-i-buy-anything/) Mike Conaway > [Even beyond policy considerations, Romneycare was a horrible model to suggest for the federal government because the Constitution does not give Congress the power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-dewine/even-beyond-policy-considerations-romneycare-was-a-horrible-model-to/) [Mike DeWine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-dewine/) ## More by Antonin Scalia > [What is a moderate interpretation of the text? Halfway between what it really means and what you'd like it to mean?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-scalia/what-is-a-moderate-interpretation-of-the-text-halfway-between-what-it/) [Antonin Scalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-scalia/) > [If you think aficionados of a living Constitution want to bring you flexibility, think again. You think the death penalty is a good idea?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-scalia/if-you-think-aficionados-of-a-living-constitution-want-to-bring-you/) [Antonin Scalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-scalia/) > [More importantly, the Court forgets that ours is a government of laws and not of men. That means we are governed by the terms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-scalia/more-importantly-the-court-forgets-that-ours-is-a-government-of-laws/) [Antonin Scalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-scalia/) > [Wringing your hands about states' rights, forget it. They're gone. Basically, the federal government can do whatever it wants. Who's going to protect the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-scalia/wringing-your-hands-about-states-rights-forget-it-they-re-gone/) [Antonin Scalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-scalia/) > [If you condemn someone who has committed a crime to be tortured, that would be unconstitutional.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-scalia/if-you-condemn-someone-who-has-committed-a-crime-to-be-tortured-that/) [Antonin Scalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-scalia/) > [Burning the flag is a form of expression. Speech doesn't just mean written words or oral words. It could be semaphore. And burning a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-scalia/burning-the-flag-is-a-form-of-expression-speech-doesn-t-just-mean/) [Antonin Scalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-scalia/) > [Being a good person begins with being a wise person. Then, when you follow your conscience, will you be headed in the right direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-scalia/being-a-good-person-begins-with-being-a-wise-person-then-when-you/) [Antonin Scalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-scalia/) > [The court's job is to uphold the Constitution and you don't call that off in times of crisis. Would the framers have allowed this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-scalia/the-court-s-job-is-to-uphold-the-constitution-and-you-don-t-call-that/) [Antonin Scalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-scalia/) > [We have laws against torture. The Constitution says nothing whatever about torture. It speaks of punishment; 'cruel and unusual' punishments are forbidden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-scalia/we-have-laws-against-torture-the-constitution-says-nothing-whatever/) [Antonin Scalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-scalia/) > [If I have brought any message today, it is this: Have the courage to have your wisdom regarded as stupidity. Be fools for Christ.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-scalia/if-i-have-brought-any-message-today-it-is-this-have-the-courage-to/) [Antonin Scalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-scalia/) > [Many think it not only inevitable but entirely proper that liberty give way to security in times of national crisis--that, at the extremes of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-scalia/many-think-it-not-only-inevitable-but-entirely-proper-that-liberty/) [Antonin Scalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-scalia/) > [That's the argument of flexibility and it goes something like this: The Constitution is over 200 years old and societies change. It has to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-scalia/that-s-the-argument-of-flexibility-and-it-goes-something-like-this/) [Antonin Scalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-scalia/) > [Why in the world would you have it interpreted by nine lawyers?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-scalia/why-in-the-world-would-you-have-it-interpreted-by-nine-lawyers/) [Antonin Scalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-scalia/) > [ Who ever thought that intimacy and spirituality \[whatever that means\] were freedoms? And if intimacy is, one would think Freedom of Intimacy is abridged… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-scalia/who-ever-thought-that-intimacy-and-spirituality-whatever-that-means/) [Antonin Scalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-scalia/) > [I'm nervous about our civic culture. I'm not sure the Internet is largely the cause of it. It's certainly the cause of careless writing.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-scalia/i-m-nervous-about-our-civic-culture-i-m-not-sure-the-internet-is/) [Antonin Scalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-scalia/) [Explore all 146 Antonin Scalia quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-scalia/) ## More Abortion quotes > [“Conception is the beginning of human life. From the time that an ovum is fertilized a new life begins that is neither that of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/declaration-on-procured-abortion-congregation-for-the-doctrine-of-the-faith-1974/conception-is-the-beginning-of-human-life-from-the-time-that-an-ovum/) Declaration on Procured Abortion Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith 1974 > [Hey everyone, in case y'all didn't hear, I'm pregnat, and after discussing it w/ my family, I've decided to get an abortion, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madison-badesheim/hey-everyone-in-case-y-all-didn-t-hear-i-m-pregnat-and-after/) Madison Badesheim > [There was no mistake in us making abortion legal and available on demand. That was what we call progress. Just like it was no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-ruffalo/there-was-no-mistake-in-us-making-abortion-legal-and-available-on/) [Mark Ruffalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-ruffalo/) > [My favorite Founding Fathers, Christians like John Adams, were absolutely appalled by slavery, and did not own slaves. I think we're going to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-coulter/my-favorite-founding-fathers-christians-like-john-adams-were/) [Ann Coulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-coulter/) > [“David Bereit, Founder of Forty Days for Life, points out that any abortion clinic in America should have a sign in its window that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-price/david-bereit-founder-of-forty-days-for-life-points-out-that-any/) [John Price](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-price/) > [The Chinese describe themselves as political refugees. Many base that claim on China's strict population laws, which allow them to have only one child.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-koch/the-chinese-describe-themselves-as-political-refugees-many-base-that/) [Ed Koch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-koch/) > [I'm a pro-life candidate because I believe that science is proving us right every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carly-fiorina/i-m-a-pro-life-candidate-because-i-believe-that-science-is-proving-us/) [Carly Fiorina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carly-fiorina/) > [I've noticed that everyone who is for abortion…has been born.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/i-ve-noticed-that-everyone-who-is-for-abortion-has-been-born/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [We talk a lot about how abortion is a medical procedure, but actually if you look at what the other side is doing, they're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-northup/we-talk-a-lot-about-how-abortion-is-a-medical-procedure-but-actually/) [Nancy Northup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-northup/) > [“The Vatican won't prosecute pedophile priests but I decide I'm not ready for motherhood and it's condemnation for me? These are the same people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-renee-taylor/the-vatican-won-t-prosecute-pedophile-priests-but-i-decide-i-m-not/) Sonya Renee Taylor > [Pro-lifers have long been castigated for bringing private values into the public square. But actually it is the pro-abortion position that is based on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pearcey/pro-lifers-have-long-been-castigated-for-bringing-private-values-into/) [Nancy Pearcey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pearcey/) > [I am 100 percent pro-life and have been my whole life. That means I am opposed to abortion at any stage of pregnancy, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-hawley/i-am-100-percent-pro-life-and-have-been-my-whole-life-that-means-i-am/) [Josh Hawley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-hawley/) > [Any woman should have the right to a safe and legal abortion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-ford/any-woman-should-have-the-right-to-a-safe-and-legal-abortion/) [Betty Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-ford/) > [“For Republicans, life begins at conception but ends at birth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-adam-snyder/for-republicans-life-begins-at-conception-but-ends-at-birth/) [J.Adam Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-adam-snyder/) > [I think fundamentally, the real power behind the anti-choice movement in regard to abortion and the opposition to the rights of LGBT Americans is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-w-lynn/i-think-fundamentally-the-real-power-behind-the-anti-choice-movement/) [Barry W. Lynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-w-lynn/) [Browse all 1,629 Abortion quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abortion/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "My view is regardless of whether you think prohibiting abortion is good or whether you think prohibiting abortion is bad, regardless of how you come out on that, my only point is the Constitution does not say anything about it. 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