Active Quote by Arthur Goldberg
“The concept of neutrality can lead to a brooding and pervasive devotion to the secular and a passive, or even active, hostility to the religious. Such results are not only not compelled by the Constitution, but, it seems to me, are prohibited by it.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Remarks on the Constitution, United States Supreme Court, 1965
Neutrality can foster a deep, often hidden, devotion to secularism and generate passive or active hostility toward religion, which the Constitution neither forces nor permits.
In simple terms: Neutrality may unintentionally breed anti‑religious sentiment.
Key Takeaway
Guard against bias when interpreting neutrality.
Themes
secularism
religion
bias
constitutional law
Mood
cautious
analytical
Type
legal
political
When to use this quote
- policy drafting
- judicial decisions
- public discourse
Key Concepts
civil liberty
state neutrality
religious freedom
Questions to Reflect On
- How can laws stay neutral yet protect religious rights?
- What safeguards prevent hidden bias?
A Different Perspective
Neutrality alone cannot ensure fairness without active protection.
