--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Today, I am an inquisitor. I shall not…" description: "\"Today, I am an inquisitor. I shall not sit here and be an idle spectator to the diminution, the subversion, the destruction of the Constitution.\" — Bar..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4cf/barbara-jordan-7656_constitution_today-i-am-an-inquisitor-i-shall-not-sit_2857205.jpg" --- # Today, I am an inquisitor. I shall not sit here and be an… ![“Today, I am an inquisitor. I shall not sit here and be an idle spectator to the diminution, the subversion, the destruction of the Constitution.” quote by Barbara Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4cf/barbara-jordan-7656_constitution_today-i-am-an-inquisitor-i-shall-not-sit_2857205.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4cf/barbara-jordan-7656_constitution_today-i-am-an-inquisitor-i-shall-not-sit_2857205.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4cf/barbara-jordan-7656_constitution_today-i-am-an-inquisitor-i-shall-not-sit_2857205.jpg) > “Today, I am an inquisitor. I shall not sit here and be an idle spectator to the diminution, the subversion, the destruction of the Constitution.” [Barbara Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-jordan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A citizen must actively defend constitutional values, not remain passive while they erode. **In simple terms:** Defend the Constitution, don’t watch. Key Takeaway Take responsibility to protect democratic principles. Themes civic duty activism constitution Mood determined urgent Type motivational political When to use this quote - voting - public protest - legal advocacy - community organizing Key Concepts political engagement citizenship Questions to Reflect On - What actions will you take to uphold the Constitution? - How can you inspire others to act? A Different Perspective Passive observation can enable decline. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Constitution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constitution/) [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Destruction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/destruction/) [Subversion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/subversion/) [Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/today/) ## Related quotes > [My faith in the Constitution is whole, it is complete, it is total, and I am not going to sit here and be an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-jordan/my-faith-in-the-constitution-is-whole-it-is-complete-it-is-total-and/) [Barbara Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-jordan/) > [Are we to have a censor whose imprimatur shall say what books may be sold, and what we may buy? 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The High Warlock was wearing black leather pants, a belt with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/even-the-inquisitor-s-eyebrows-shot-up-when-magnus-strode-through-the/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“My father didn't take the sword for me . he took it for him . I doubt he even knew about the trial." "How…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/my-father-didn-t-take-the-sword-for-me-he-took-it-for-him-i-doubt-he/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“I see you are fixated on the least of my doings,” he said. “Very well, my abrupt departure from the Domain is easily enough…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherry-thomas/i-see-you-are-fixated-on-the-least-of-my-doings-he-said-very-well-my/) [Sherry Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherry-thomas/) > [Theocracy is the worst of all governments. If we must have a tyrant, a robber baron is far better than an inquisitor. The baron's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/theocracy-is-the-worst-of-all-governments-if-we-must-have-a-tyrant-a/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [The monk, the inquisitor, and the Jesuit were lords of Spain,- sovereigns of her sovereign, for they had formed the dark and narrow mind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-parkman/the-monk-the-inquisitor-and-the-jesuit-were-lords-of-spain-sovereigns/) [Francis Parkman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-parkman/) > [But every state, says an inquisitor, has established some religion. No two, say I, have established the same. Is this a proof of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/but-every-state-says-an-inquisitor-has-established-some-religion-no/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“Look, suppose that there was one among all those who desire nothing but material and filthy lucre, that one, at least, is like my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoyevsky/look-suppose-that-there-was-one-among-all-those-who-desire-nothing/) [Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoyevsky/) > [Catching sight of himself in the long mirrors that ran along the walls, he stiffened in shock...His eyes were surrounded by black shadows, his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/catching-sight-of-himself-in-the-long-mirrors-that-ran-along-the/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“He turned his head just then and for a moment, our eyes met. I would like to tell you that I saw the face…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-poole/he-turned-his-head-just-then-and-for-a-moment-our-eyes-met-i-would/) [Sara Poole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-poole/) > [“To choose a good book, look in an inquisitor’s prohibited list. ~John Aikin”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-aikin/to-choose-a-good-book-look-in-an-inquisitor-s-prohibited-list-john/) John Aikin > [“Life has enough torturers as it is, without you going around moonlighting as a Grand Inquisitor against yourself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-ruiz-zafon/life-has-enough-torturers-as-it-is-without-you-going-around/) [Carlos Ruiz Zafón](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-ruiz-zafon/) ## More by Barbara Jordan > [We are a party of innovation. We do not reject our traditions, but we are willing to adapt to changing circumstances, when change we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-jordan/we-are-a-party-of-innovation-we-do-not-reject-our-traditions-but-we/) [Barbara Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-jordan/) > [We believe that the people are the source of all governmental power; that the authority of the people is to be extended, not restricted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-jordan/we-believe-that-the-people-are-the-source-of-all-governmental-power/) [Barbara Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-jordan/) > [If you had to work in the environment of Washington, D.C., as I do, and watch those men who are so imprisoned and so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-jordan/if-you-had-to-work-in-the-environment-of-washington-d-c-as-i-do-and/) [Barbara Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-jordan/) > [If youre going to play the game properly, youd better know every rule.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-jordan/if-youre-going-to-play-the-game-properly-youd-better-know-every-rule/) [Barbara Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-jordan/) > [All my growth and development led me to believe that if you really do the right thing, and if you play by the rules,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-jordan/all-my-growth-and-development-led-me-to-believe-that-if-you-really-do/) [Barbara Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-jordan/) > [For all of its uncertainty, we cannot flee the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-jordan/for-all-of-its-uncertainty-we-cannot-flee-the-future/) [Barbara Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-jordan/) > [We are a people trying not only to solve the problems of the present: unemployment, inflation... but we are attempting on a larger scale…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-jordan/we-are-a-people-trying-not-only-to-solve-the-problems-of-the-present/) [Barbara Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-jordan/) > [My faith in the Constitution is whole, it is complete, it is total, and I am not going to sit here and be an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-jordan/my-faith-in-the-constitution-is-whole-it-is-complete-it-is-total-and/) [Barbara Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-jordan/) > [...for the system to be credible, people actually have to be deported at the end of the process.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-jordan/for-the-system-to-be-credible-people-actually-have-to-be-deported-at/) [Barbara Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-jordan/) > [I have faith in young people because I know the strongest emotions which prevail are those of love and caring and belief and tolerance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-jordan/i-have-faith-in-young-people-because-i-know-the-strongest-emotions/) [Barbara Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-jordan/) > [One thing is very clear: Illegal immigrants are not entitled to benefits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-jordan/one-thing-is-very-clear-illegal-immigrants-are-not-entitled-to/) [Barbara Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-jordan/) > [If we promise as public officials, we must deliver. If we as public officials propose, we must produce.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-jordan/if-we-promise-as-public-officials-we-must-deliver-if-we-as-public/) [Barbara Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-jordan/) > [I get from the soil and spirit of Texas the feeling that I, as an individual, can accomplish whatever I want to, and that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-jordan/i-get-from-the-soil-and-spirit-of-texas-the-feeling-that-i-as-an/) [Barbara Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-jordan/) > [We are a people in a quandary about the present. We are a people in search of our future. We are a people in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-jordan/we-are-a-people-in-a-quandary-about-the-present-we-are-a-people-in/) [Barbara Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-jordan/) > [We have a positive vision of the future founded on the belief that the gap between the promise and reality of America can one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-jordan/we-have-a-positive-vision-of-the-future-founded-on-the-belief-that/) [Barbara Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-jordan/) [Explore all 89 Barbara Jordan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-jordan/) ## More Constitution quotes > [ Next came the Patent laws. These began in England in 1624; and, in this country, with the adoption of our constitution. 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