Action Quote by Clarence Thomas
“So many of our conversations (about affirmative action) have been dishonest”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Judicial hearing, 2020
Discussions about affirmative action have lacked honesty.
In simple terms: Affirmative action talks are often dishonest.
Key Takeaway
Demand truth in dialogue.
Themes
honesty
politics
affirmative action
Mood
critical
serious
Type
analytical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- political debates
- media coverage
- legislative hearings
Key Concepts
ethics
policy debate
social justice
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we ensure honest conversations?
- What evidence reveals the dishonesty?
A Different Perspective
Some may argue the claim is overly broad.
![“Government cannot make us equal; it can only recognize, respect, and protect us as equal before the law. That [affirmative action] programs may have been motivated, in part, by good intentions cannot provide refuge from the principle that under our Constitution, the government may not make…” quote by Clarence Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f06/clarence-thomas-7661_action_government-cannot-make-us-equal-it-can-o_2098533.jpg)
![“The Constitution does not vest in Congress the authority to protect society from every bad act that might befall it…[I]f followed to its logical extreme, [this approach] would result in an unwarranted expansion of federal power.” quote by Clarence Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f68/clarence-thomas-7661_approach_the-constitution-does-not-vest-in-congre_86587.jpg)
![“A theory deeply etched in our law [is that] a free society prefers to punish the few who abuse the rights of free speech after they break the law rather than to throttle them and all others beforehand.” quote by Clarence Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/939/clarence-thomas-7661_abuse_a-theory-deeply-etched-in-our-law-is-tha_407519.jpg)
