---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: No system of criminal justice can, or…"
description: "\"No system of criminal justice can, or should, survive if it comes to depend for its continued effectiveness on the citizens' abdication through unaware..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca7/arthur-goldberg-36616_abdication_no-system-of-criminal-justice-can-or-sho_1869118.jpg"
---

#  No system of criminal justice can, or should, survive if…

![“No system of criminal justice can, or should, survive if it comes to depend for its continued effectiveness on the citizens' abdication through unawareness of their constitutional rights. No system worth preserving should have to fear that if an accused is permitted to consult with a lawyer, he…” quote by Arthur Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca7/arthur-goldberg-36616_abdication_no-system-of-criminal-justice-can-or-sho_1869118.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca7/arthur-goldberg-36616_abdication_no-system-of-criminal-justice-can-or-sho_1869118.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca7/arthur-goldberg-36616_abdication_no-system-of-criminal-justice-can-or-sho_1869118.jpg)

> “No system of criminal justice can, or should, survive if it comes to depend for its continued effectiveness on the citizens' abdication through unawareness of their constitutional rights. No system worth preserving should have to fear that if an accused is permitted to consult with a lawyer, he will become aware of, and exercise, these rights.”

[Arthur Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-goldberg/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

A just legal system must not rely on citizens being ignorant of their rights, nor fear that informing the accused will undermine authority.

**In simple terms:** Justice requires informed citizens and fear accused.

Key Takeaway

Protect rights, educate public.

Themes

justice rights citizen empowerment legal integrity

Mood

concerned determined

Type

legal political

When to use this quote

- courtrooms
- public policy debates
- legal education
- civil rights activism

Key Concepts

constitutional law civil liberties rule of law

Questions to Reflect On

- How can we balance transparency with system stability?
- What education methods best empower citizens?

A Different Perspective

If citizens are fully aware, they may challenge the system, causing instability.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Abdication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abdication/) [Abdication Unawareness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abdication-unawareness-2566631/) [Accused](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accused/) [Citizens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/citizens/) [Citizens Abdication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/citizens-abdication-2566629/) [Constitutional rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constitutional-rights/) [Criminal justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criminal-justice/) [Criminals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criminals/) [Depends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/depends/) [Effectiveness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/effectiveness/) [Exercise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exercise/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/) [Lawyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lawyer/) [Rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rights/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Should have](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should-have/) [Unawareness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unawareness/) [Unawareness Constitutional](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unawareness-constitutional-2566630/)

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> [I am surprised nothing has been made of the fact that astronaut Neil Armstrong carried no sidearms when he landed on the moon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-goldberg/i-am-surprised-nothing-has-been-made-of-the-fact-that-astronaut-neil/)

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