--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think it's true that we shouldn't apply…" description: "\"I think it's true that we shouldn't apply a strict litmus test and the most important thing in any judge is their capacity to provide fairness and just..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e6/barack-obama-17_american-people_i-think-it-s-true-that-we-shouldn-t-appl_2306008.jpg" --- # I think it's true that we shouldn't apply a strict litmus… ![“I think it's true that we shouldn't apply a strict litmus test and the most important thing in any judge is their capacity to provide fairness and justice to the American people.” quote by Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e6/barack-obama-17_american-people_i-think-it-s-true-that-we-shouldn-t-appl_2306008.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e6/barack-obama-17_american-people_i-think-it-s-true-that-we-shouldn-t-appl_2306008.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e6/barack-obama-17_american-people_i-think-it-s-true-that-we-shouldn-t-appl_2306008.jpg) > “I think it's true that we shouldn't apply a strict litmus test and the most important thing in any judge is their capacity to provide fairness and justice to the American people.” [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Fairness in the judiciary depends on judges’ ability to balance law with justice for the people, not on rigid criteria. **In simple terms:** Judges should prioritize fairness over strict tests. Key Takeaway Seek balanced evaluation of judges. Themes justice fairness judicial evaluation Mood thoughtful analytical Type political philosophical When to use this quote - court nominations - public policy debates Key Concepts rule of law ethical judgment Questions to Reflect On - How do you measure a judge’s fairness? - What risks arise from overly rigid standards? A Different Perspective Strict tests can overlook nuanced competence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [American people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-people/) [Constitution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constitution/) [Fairness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fairness/) [Fairness And Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fairness-and-justice/) [Important things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important-things/) [Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Tests](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tests/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [If we expect others to rely on our fairness and justice we must show that we rely on their fairness and justice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-coolidge/if-we-expect-others-to-rely-on-our-fairness-and-justice-we-must-show/) [Calvin Coolidge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-coolidge/) > [As a public person, I've always tried to reflect what is embodied in our defining ideals as a nation about equality and fairness and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/as-a-public-person-i-ve-always-tried-to-reflect-what-is-embodied-in/) [John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/) > [You can be a career professional as a judge, a prosecutor, sometimes as a defense attorney, and never insist on fairness and justice. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-stevenson/you-can-be-a-career-professional-as-a-judge-a-prosecutor-sometimes-as/) [Bryan Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-stevenson/) > [Looking for equality everywhere is a huge mistake because equals are terrible and boring. But a sense of fairness and justice is a totally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-homme/looking-for-equality-everywhere-is-a-huge-mistake-because-equals-are/) [Josh Homme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-homme/) > [When in Gregg v. Georgia the Supreme Court gave its seal of approval to capital punishment, this endorsement was premised on the promise that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thurgood-marshall/when-in-gregg-v-georgia-the-supreme-court-gave-its-seal-of-approval/) [Thurgood Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thurgood-marshall/) > [Fairness and justice will be the base of my government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moon-jae-in/fairness-and-justice-will-be-the-base-of-my-government/) [Moon Jae-in](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moon-jae-in/) > [A true revolution of values will soon cause us to question the fairness and justice of many of our present policies...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/a-true-revolution-of-values-will-soon-cause-us-to-question-the-3/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [ \[ Dalton Trumbo\] always said he fought so many fights, all seemingly different, but all about the concepts of fairness and justice. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-roach/dalton-trumbo-always-said-he-fought-so-many-fights-all-seemingly/) [Jay Roach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-roach/) > [“It is a much wiser policy to plant acre after acre of orchids and lead one's life in solitude encompassed by their sheltering stems,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soseki-natsume/it-is-a-much-wiser-policy-to-plant-acre-after-acre-of-orchids-and/) [Sōseki Natsume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soseki-natsume/) > [Modi has always been very particular about law and order. He believes in fairness and justice, and encouraged us to simply work as per…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-shah/modi-has-always-been-very-particular-about-law-and-order-he-believes/) [Amit Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-shah/) > [When you give him a chance, you learn that President Trump cares deeply about fairness and justice and will do everything in his power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lara-trump/when-you-give-him-a-chance-you-learn-that-president-trump-cares/) [Lara Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lara-trump/) > [I'm not ashamed of anything I've ever done in the name of fairness and justice for my people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winnie-madikizela-mandela/i-m-not-ashamed-of-anything-i-ve-ever-done-in-the-name-of-fairness/) [Winnie Madikizela-Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winnie-madikizela-mandela/) > [With the commissioning of new schools undertaken by a local director of school standards, decisions will be fair and transparent, rooted in the needs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-blunkett/with-the-commissioning-of-new-schools-undertaken-by-a-local-director/) [David Blunkett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-blunkett/) > [Fairness is what justice really is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/potter-stewart/fairness-is-what-justice-really-is/) [Potter Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/potter-stewart/) > [The deadly weapon against totalitarian society is openness - doing everything very openly on the Internet, letting people know every detail, any little development.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ai-weiwei/the-deadly-weapon-against-totalitarian-society-is-openness-doing/) [Ai Weiwei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ai-weiwei/) ## More by Barack Obama > [So here's what I want you to know, and here's what I want all our men and women in uniform to know: Because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-here-s-what-i-want-you-to-know-and-here-s-what-i-want-all-our-men/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [The peaceful transition of power is one of the hallmarks of our democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-peaceful-transition-of-power-is-one-of-the-hallmarks-of-our/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [As opposed to getting into arguments about, well, these folks have been treated fairly so now we're going to be doing things that, very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/as-opposed-to-getting-into-arguments-about-well-these-folks-have-been/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Donald Trump is temperamentally unfit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/donald-trump-is-temperamentally-unfit/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [What we've said to the girls is: 'If you guys ever decide that you're going to get a tattoo, then mommy and me will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/what-we-ve-said-to-the-girls-is-if-you-guys-ever-decide-that-you-re/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Nobody is listening to your telephone calls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/nobody-is-listening-to-your-telephone-calls/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [All of us take offense to anyone who reaps the rewards of living in America without taking on the responsibilities of living in America.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/all-of-us-take-offense-to-anyone-who-reaps-the-rewards-of-living-in/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [The world is complicated and full of grays, but there's still truth there to be found.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-world-is-complicated-and-full-of-grays-but-there-s-still-truth/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [ That is another theme in the book \[Dreams from My Father\]. How do we exercise more empathy in our public discourse? How do we… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/that-is-another-theme-in-the-book-dreams-from-my-father-how-do-we/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I can say across Europe that many principles that have been taken for granted here around free speech, and around civil liberties and an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-can-say-across-europe-that-many-principles-that-have-been-taken-for/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [So Americans understand the costs of war. Yet as a country, we will never tolerate our security being threatened, nor stand idly by when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-americans-understand-the-costs-of-war-yet-as-a-country-we-will/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I want to thank the Greek people publicly for their humanitarian response to the crisis of so many migrants and refugees seeking safety in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-want-to-thank-the-greek-people-publicly-for-their-humanitarian/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [We had a farewell dinner for some of my senior staff, and generally everybody likes to talk about how cool I was.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/we-had-a-farewell-dinner-for-some-of-my-senior-staff-and-generally/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [ It's good to get fresh legs in \[the White house\]. I think that it refreshes our democracy. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/it-s-good-to-get-fresh-legs-in-the-white-house-i-think-that-it/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Believe it or not, entertainment is part of our American diplomacy, it is part of what makes us exceptional, part of what makes us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/believe-it-or-not-entertainment-is-part-of-our-american-diplomacy-it/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) [Explore all 3,624 Barack Obama quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) ## More American people quotes > [America is a democracy and has no Hitler, but I am afraid for her future; there are hard times ahead for the American people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/america-is-a-democracy-and-has-no-hitler-but-i-am-afraid-for-her/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [For as much as government can do and must do, it is ultimately the faith and determination of the American people upon which this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/for-as-much-as-government-can-do-and-must-do-it-is-ultimately-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Given a choice between two bald political candidates, the American people will vote for the less bald of the two.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-gold/given-a-choice-between-two-bald-political-candidates-the-american/) Victor Gold > [When the American people saw the LA riots and crowds of Blacks cheering O.J. Simpson (who was acquitted by the almost all Black jury),…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-duke/when-the-american-people-saw-the-la-riots-and-crowds-of-blacks/) [David Duke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-duke/) > [In any event, it is one thing to assert, then or now, that the Iraq war was ill-advised. It is quite another to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-silberman/in-any-event-it-is-one-thing-to-assert-then-or-now-that-the-iraq-war/) [Laurence Silberman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-silberman/) > [Well look, CIA is an agency that has to collect intelligence, do operations. We have to take risks and it's important that we take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-panetta/well-look-cia-is-an-agency-that-has-to-collect-intelligence-do/) [Leon Panetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-panetta/) > [I don't know a politician who enjoys fundraising. The system is such that the American people have lost faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/i-don-t-know-a-politician-who-enjoys-fundraising-the-system-is-such/) [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) > [Probably the greatest single obstacle to the progress and happiness of the American people lies in the willingness of so many men to invest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-d-rockefeller/probably-the-greatest-single-obstacle-to-the-progress-and-happiness/) [John D. Rockefeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-d-rockefeller/) > [If a financial institution has business operations in the United States, hires people in the United States, if they are clogged with illiquid assets,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-paulson/if-a-financial-institution-has-business-operations-in-the-united/) [Henry Paulson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-paulson/) > [The American people reject the idea of giving Washington a blank check to increase the debt limit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-roby/the-american-people-reject-the-idea-of-giving-washington-a-blank/) [Martha Roby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-roby/) > [The coronavirus has yet again exposed the strong contrast between President Trump - who is working ardently for the American people - and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kayleigh-mcenany/the-coronavirus-has-yet-again-exposed-the-strong-contrast-between/) [Kayleigh McEnany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kayleigh-mcenany/) > [The American people demand results, not rhetoric, especially when it comes to national security issues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-hayworth/the-american-people-demand-results-not-rhetoric-especially-when-it/) [J. D. Hayworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-hayworth/) > [Hillary Clinton truly is sincere, but she has to connect more with the American people in terms of what she believes in and how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pelosi/hillary-clinton-truly-is-sincere-but-she-has-to-connect-more-with-the/) [Nancy Pelosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pelosi/) > [The American people are incredibly generous and even playful when you open yourself up and feed the media beast until it goes away satisfied.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krystal-ball/the-american-people-are-incredibly-generous-and-even-playful-when-you/) [Krystal Ball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krystal-ball/) [Browse all 2,233 American people quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-people/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think it's true that we shouldn't apply a strict litmus test and the most important thing in any judge is their capacity to provide fairness and justice to the American people.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Barack Obama" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-think-it-s-true-that-we-shouldn-t-apply-a-strict-litmus-test-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "American people" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-think-it-s-true-that-we-shouldn-t-apply-a-strict-litmus-test-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e6/barack-obama-17_american-people_i-think-it-s-true-that-we-shouldn-t-appl_2306008.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e6/barack-obama-17_american-people_i-think-it-s-true-that-we-shouldn-t-appl_2306008.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e6/barack-obama-17_american-people_i-think-it-s-true-that-we-shouldn-t-appl_2306008.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I think it's true that we shouldn't apply a strict litmus test and the most important thing in any judge is…” — Barack Obama", "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": "Barack Obama", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I think it's true that we...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-think-it-s-true-that-we-shouldn-t-apply-a-strict-litmus-test-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-think-it-s-true-that-we-shouldn-t-apply-a-strict-litmus-test-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 } } ] } ```