Constitution Quote by Barry M. Goldwater
““Here we have, by prominent spokesmen of both political parties, an unqualified repudiation of the principle of limited government. There is no reference by either of them to the Constitution, or any attempt to define the legitimate functions of government. The government can do whatever needs to be done; note, too, the implicit but necessary assumption that it is the government itself that determines what needs to be done.””
About This Quote
Source Speech: Public remarks, 1964, United States Senate campaign
The speaker criticizes leaders for ignoring constitutional limits and assuming government can act without defined authority.
In simple terms: Leaders ignore limits, claim unlimited power.
Key Takeaway
Demand clear, constitutional boundaries for government.
Themes
government
constitution
power
accountability
Mood
critical
serious
Type
political
analytical
When to use this quote
- policy debates
- legislative drafting
- civic education
- media analysis
Key Concepts
political theory
legal limits
executive authority
Questions to Reflect On
- How should citizens enforce constitutional limits?
- What mechanisms ensure government accountability?
A Different Perspective
Assumes government always knows best, which may ignore public input.
![“Next came the Patent laws. These began in England in 1624; and, in this country, with the adoption of our constitution. Before then [these?], any man might instantly use what another had invented; so that the inventor had no special advantage from his own invention. The patent system changed this…” quote by Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/449/abraham-lincoln-88_adoption_next-came-the-patent-laws-these-began-in_1828.jpg)
