--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The constitution is an instrument, above…" description: "\"The constitution is an instrument, above all, for LIMITING the functions of government.\" — Barry Goldwater" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ac/barry-goldwater-3353_constitution_the-constitution-is-an-instrument-above_1580472.jpg" --- # The constitution is an instrument, above all, for LIMITING… ![“The constitution is an instrument, above all, for LIMITING the functions of government.” quote by Barry Goldwater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ac/barry-goldwater-3353_constitution_the-constitution-is-an-instrument-above_1580472.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ac/barry-goldwater-3353_constitution_the-constitution-is-an-instrument-above_1580472.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ac/barry-goldwater-3353_constitution_the-constitution-is-an-instrument-above_1580472.jpg) > “The constitution is an instrument, above all, for LIMITING the functions of government.” [Barry Goldwater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-goldwater/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The constitution's main purpose is to restrict government power. **In simple terms:** Constitution limits government. Key Takeaway Protect liberty by limiting authority. Themes freedom government law Mood cautious serious Type political legal When to use this quote - policy making - legal drafting - civic education Key Concepts constitutionalism checks and balances Questions to Reflect On - How can citizens ensure limits are respected? - What mechanisms enforce these limits? A Different Perspective Limits can be ignored if not enforced. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Constitution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constitution/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) ## Related quotes > [The Constitution is not an instrument for the government to restrain the people, it is an instrument for the people to restrain the government…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-henry/the-constitution-is-not-an-instrument-for-the-government-to-restrain-2/) [Patrick Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-henry/) > [ \[Our Constitution\] is an instrument for the people to restrain the government. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-henry/our-constitution-is-an-instrument-for-the-people-to-restrain-the/) [Patrick Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-henry/) > [“The Constitution is not an instrument for the government to restrain the people, it is an instrument for the people to restrain the government…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-goodwin/the-constitution-is-not-an-instrument-for-the-government-to-restrain/) [Mark Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-goodwin/) > [A famous, very often quoted phrase says: "That government is best, which governs least." I do not believe this to be a correct description…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/a-famous-very-often-quoted-phrase-says-that-government-is-best-which/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [We must remove government's smothering hand from where it does harm; we must seek to revitalize the proper functions of government. 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A proper government is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/the-only-proper-purpose-of-a-government-is-to-protect-man-s-rights-3/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [One of the functions of government is to act as a safeguard not just of property but of our liberties.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-weld/one-of-the-functions-of-government-is-to-act-as-a-safeguard-not-just/) [William Weld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-weld/) > [“The only proper purpose of a government is to protect man's rights, which means: to protect him from physical violence. 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It turned out cool in a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-beaver/i-thought-being-in-the-wheelchair-might-be-kind-of-limiting-for-me-as/) [Jim Beaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-beaver/) > [“The only limitations for your life are the limiting beliefs in your mind. —Matt Morris”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-morris-1/the-only-limitations-for-your-life-are-the-limiting-beliefs-in-your/) Matt Morris (1 ## More by Barry Goldwater > [Remember that a government big enough to give you everything you want is also big enough to take away everything you have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-goldwater/remember-that-a-government-big-enough-to-give-you-everything-you-want/) [Barry Goldwater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-goldwater/) > [To insist on strength ... is not war-mongering. It is peace-mongering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-goldwater/to-insist-on-strength-is-not-war-mongering-it-is-peace-mongering/) [Barry Goldwater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-goldwater/) > [Social and cultural change, however desirable, should not be effected by the engines of national power. 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We are guardian of rights, and we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-bird/the-judiciary-must-not-take-on-the-coloration-of-whatever-may-be/) [Rose Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-bird/) > [There is not a revolution that succe Women are suffering because they are being excluded. The high military council excluded women from the committee…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nawal-el-saadawi/there-is-not-a-revolution-that-succe-women-are-suffering-because-they/) [Nawal El Saadawi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nawal-el-saadawi/) > [Free government is founded in jealousy, and not in confidence; it is jealousy, and not confidence, which prescribes limited constitutions, to bind down those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/free-government-is-founded-in-jealousy-and-not-in-confidence-it-is/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [The American Constitution declares 'All men are born equal.' The British Socialist Party add: 'All men must be kept equal'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/the-american-constitution-declares-all-men-are-born-equal-the-british/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [“The Court has a special responsibility to ensure that the Constitution works in practice. While education, including the transmission of our civic values from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-breyer/the-court-has-a-special-responsibility-to-ensure-that-the/) [Stephen Breyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-breyer/) > [The Constitution is very clear on the - on the declaration of war or reacting to international crimes - crimes against nations. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-pitts/the-constitution-is-very-clear-on-the-on-the-declaration-of-war-or/) Joe Pitts > [Nothing from man's hands, nor law, nor constitution, can be final. 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