--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Until the courts put a stop to it, public…" description: "\"Until the courts put a stop to it, public debate over same-sex marriage displayed American democracy at its best. Individuals on both sides of the issu..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e99/antonin-scalia-2855_american-democracy_until-the-courts-put-a-stop-to-it-public_2255710.png" --- # Until the courts put a stop to it, public debate over… ![“Until the courts put a stop to it, public debate over same-sex marriage displayed American democracy at its best. Individuals on both sides of the issue passionately, but respectfully, attempted to persuade their fellow citizens to accept their views.” quote by Antonin Scalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e99/antonin-scalia-2855_american-democracy_until-the-courts-put-a-stop-to-it-public_2255710.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e99/antonin-scalia-2855_american-democracy_until-the-courts-put-a-stop-to-it-public_2255710.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e99/antonin-scalia-2855_american-democracy_until-the-courts-put-a-stop-to-it-public_2255710.png) > “Until the courts put a stop to it, public debate over same-sex marriage displayed American democracy at its best. Individuals on both sides of the issue passionately, but respectfully, attempted to persuade their fellow citizens to accept their views.” [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. Open, respectful discourse on a contentious issue showcases democratic ideals, even amid deep disagreement. **In simple terms:** Civil debate shows democracy at its best. Key Takeaway Encourage respectful dialogue. Themes democracy civil discourse rights respect pluralism Mood hopeful serious inspirational Type political ethical educational When to use this quote - town hall meetings - legislative hearings - media panels - community forums - educational seminars Key Concepts Deliberative democracy constitutional interpretation social tolerance Questions to Reflect On - How can we move from respectful debate to concrete policy? - What safeguards ensure dialogue remains constructive? A Different Perspective Opposing sides may still entrench positions despite civility. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [American democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-democracy/) [Best](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best/) [Citizens Accept](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/citizens-accept-1297304/) [Debate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/debate/) [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Individuals Sides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individuals-sides-5170286/) [Marriage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marriage/) [Marriage Displayed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marriage-displayed-5170287/) [Public Debate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/public-debate-488933/) [Stop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stop/) ## Related quotes > [I believe it's our responsibility as citizens to get in there and not accept the constant failure of prisons to deal with racism, lack…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-santiago-baca/i-believe-it-s-our-responsibility-as-citizens-to-get-in-there-and-not/) [Jimmy Santiago Baca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-santiago-baca/) > [We owe it to ourselves and to our policy makers to have a high standard of public debate about the future of our energy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-walport/we-owe-it-to-ourselves-and-to-our-policy-makers-to-have-a-high/) [Mark Walport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-walport/) > [If we can't have a public debate because the information space is so polluted, or because people are afraid of the reactions of organized…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-applebaum/if-we-can-t-have-a-public-debate-because-the-information-space-is-so/) [Anne Applebaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-applebaum/) > [“And is it not the artists that make art? Well, no: criticism is now the substance of art making to such a degree that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-shepheard/and-is-it-not-the-artists-that-make-art-well-no-criticism-is-now-the/) [Paul Shepheard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-shepheard/) > [Enjoy most: the prospect of having an impact on the public debate. Irritating liberals is a close second.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-coulter/enjoy-most-the-prospect-of-having-an-impact-on-the-public-debate/) [Ann Coulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-coulter/) > [For God to be kept out of the classroom or out of America's public debate by nervous school administrators or overcautious politicians serves no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-gibbs/for-god-to-be-kept-out-of-the-classroom-or-out-of-america-s-public/) [Nancy Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-gibbs/) > [A politician's goal is always to manipulate public debate. I think there are some politicians with higher goals. But all of them get corrupted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/a-politician-s-goal-is-always-to-manipulate-public-debate-i-think/) [Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/) > [Science can tell us what can be done in principle, but it is then a matter for public debate as to what should be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-walport/science-can-tell-us-what-can-be-done-in-principle-but-it-is-then-a/) [Mark Walport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-walport/) > [The public debate about evolution itself, as opposed to whether to teach it, is something else. It is boring, demeaning, and insufferably dull.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-hacking/the-public-debate-about-evolution-itself-as-opposed-to-whether-to/) [Ian Hacking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-hacking/) > [I think essentially if you look at British public debate around the issues of our interconnectedness with the global economy you do not find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-osborne/i-think-essentially-if-you-look-at-british-public-debate-around-the/) [George Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-osborne/) > [That's one of the major lessons: no president should ever take this nation to war without full public debate in the Congress and/or in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mcnamara/that-s-one-of-the-major-lessons-no-president-should-ever-take-this/) [Robert McNamara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mcnamara/) > [False equivalency is the lifeblood of American public debate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-whitlock/false-equivalency-is-the-lifeblood-of-american-public-debate/) [Jason Whitlock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-whitlock/) > [If there is an ‘overabundance' of an idea in the absence of direct governmental action -- which there well might be when compared with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elena-kagan/if-there-is-an-overabundance-of-an-idea-in-the-absence-of-direct/) [Elena Kagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elena-kagan/) > [The discourse of the West and the attitudes of its leaders are important because they influence public debate in Turkey.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/safak-pavey/the-discourse-of-the-west-and-the-attitudes-of-its-leaders-are/) [Safak Pavey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/safak-pavey/) > [We have several million Muslims in France who are mostly moderates or non-practicing. If they feel that it is the only subject in public…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/najat-vallaud-belkacem/we-have-several-million-muslims-in-france-who-are-mostly-moderates-or/) [Najat Vallaud-Belkacem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/najat-vallaud-belkacem/) ## 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 American democracy quotes > [ Elvis \[Presley\] had a stepstool, if you will, to success because he came from the dominant culture. They identified with him. Michael Jackson had… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-eric-dyson/elvis-presley-had-a-stepstool-if-you-will-to-success-because-he-came/) [Michael Eric Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-eric-dyson/) > [That's what separates out American democracy from dictators and horrible governments across the world and the reason why that works is that we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-r-chamberlain/that-s-what-separates-out-american-democracy-from-dictators-and/) [Charles R. Chamberlain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-r-chamberlain/) > [This will be the day when we shall bring into full realization the dream of American democracy -- a dream yet unfulfilled. A dream…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/this-will-be-the-day-when-we-shall-bring-into-full-realization-the/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [This has all the appearance of a foreign power trying to undermine structures of legitimacy of an American election. That is a serious matter.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gerson/this-has-all-the-appearance-of-a-foreign-power-trying-to-undermine/) [Michael Gerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gerson/) > [Men like Abraham Lincoln recognized that if the slaveholders were not stopped, it would only be a question of time until they spread their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-cox-richardson/men-like-abraham-lincoln-recognized-that-if-the-slaveholders-were-not/) [Heather Cox Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-cox-richardson/) > [These communities that are losing local news coverage are losing something deeper. They're losing a connection to American democracy. And those connections must be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-stelter/these-communities-that-are-losing-local-news-coverage-are-losing/) [Brian Stelter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-stelter/) > [“Today you go into make a modern recording with all this technology. The bass plays first, then the drums come in later, then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wynton-marsalis/today-you-go-into-make-a-modern-recording-with-all-this-technology/) [Wynton Marsalis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wynton-marsalis/) > [As a result of the Citizens United Supreme Court decision, American democracy is being undermined by the ability of the Koch brothers and other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/as-a-result-of-the-citizens-united-supreme-court-decision-american/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [If everyone on the Court always voted for the prosecution against the defendant, for the corporation against the plaintiffs, and for the government against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheldon-whitehouse/if-everyone-on-the-court-always-voted-for-the-prosecution-against-the/) [Sheldon Whitehouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheldon-whitehouse/) > [Political violence has no place in Pennsylvania - the birthplace of American democracy - nor anywhere else across this country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-shapiro/political-violence-has-no-place-in-pennsylvania-the-birthplace-of/) [Josh Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-shapiro/) > [The atomic weapons race and the secrecy surrounding it crushed American democracy. It induced us to conduct government according to lies. It distorted justice.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stewart-udall/the-atomic-weapons-race-and-the-secrecy-surrounding-it-crushed/) [Stewart Udall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stewart-udall/) > [I have no doubt that there are Russian efforts to disturb the fabric of American democracy, but they're disruption efforts. They're troublemaking efforts. They're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masha-gessen/i-have-no-doubt-that-there-are-russian-efforts-to-disturb-the-fabric/) [Masha Gessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masha-gessen/) > [“Still, it strikes me that, taken together, they do make an argument, and it is this: the rise of American democracy is bound up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-lepore/still-it-strikes-me-that-taken-together-they-do-make-an-argument-and/) [Jill Lepore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-lepore/) > [Mr Jefferson meant that the American system should be a democracy, and he would rather have let the whole world perish than that this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/mr-jefferson-meant-that-the-american-system-should-be-a-democracy-and/) [Henry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-adams/) > [I have no doubt that there are Russian efforts to disturb the fabric of American democracy, but they're disruption efforts. The working theory behind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masha-gessen/i-have-no-doubt-that-there-are-russian-efforts-to-disturb-the-fabric-2/) [Masha Gessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masha-gessen/) [Browse all 168 American democracy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-democracy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Until the courts put a stop to it, public debate over same-sex marriage displayed American democracy at its best. Individuals on both sides of the issue passionately, but respectfully, attempted to persuade their fellow citizens to accept their views.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Antonin Scalia" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-scalia/until-the-courts-put-a-stop-to-it-public-debate-over-same-sex/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "American democracy" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-scalia/until-the-courts-put-a-stop-to-it-public-debate-over-same-sex/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e99/antonin-scalia-2855_american-democracy_until-the-courts-put-a-stop-to-it-public_2255710.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e99/antonin-scalia-2855_american-democracy_until-the-courts-put-a-stop-to-it-public_2255710.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e99/antonin-scalia-2855_american-democracy_until-the-courts-put-a-stop-to-it-public_2255710.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Until the courts put a stop to it, public debate over same-sex marriage displayed American democracy at its…” — Antonin Scalia", "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": "Antonin Scalia", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-scalia/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Until the courts put a stop...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-scalia/until-the-courts-put-a-stop-to-it-public-debate-over-same-sex/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-scalia/until-the-courts-put-a-stop-to-it-public-debate-over-same-sex/#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 } } ] } ```