--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If sexual relations between consenting…" description: "\"If sexual relations between consenting adults are not part of the right to privacy guaranteed by the Constitution, then American democracy is in troubl..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/429/coretta-scott-king-3912_adults_if-sexual-relations-between-consenting-a_807880.jpg" --- # If sexual relations between consenting adults are not part… ![“If sexual relations between consenting adults are not part of the right to privacy guaranteed by the Constitution, then American democracy is in trouble.” quote by Coretta Scott King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/429/coretta-scott-king-3912_adults_if-sexual-relations-between-consenting-a_807880.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/429/coretta-scott-king-3912_adults_if-sexual-relations-between-consenting-a_807880.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/429/coretta-scott-king-3912_adults_if-sexual-relations-between-consenting-a_807880.jpg) > “If sexual relations between consenting adults are not part of the right to privacy guaranteed by the Constitution, then American democracy is in trouble.” [Coretta Scott King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coretta-scott-king/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Privacy rights protect consensual adult intimacy; undermining them threatens democratic values. **In simple terms:** Privacy is essential for democracy. Key Takeaway Defend privacy rights. Themes privacy rights democracy Mood thoughtful determined Type political advocacy When to use this quote - legislation - court cases - public debate Key Concepts constitutional law civil liberties Questions to Reflect On - How does privacy relate to personal freedom? - What limits should exist on privacy? A Different Perspective Balancing privacy with security concerns is complex. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adults](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adults/) [American democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-democracy/) [Constitution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constitution/) [Cybersecurity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cybersecurity/) [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Privacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/privacy/) [Right to privacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-to-privacy/) ## Related quotes > [A constitutional democracy is in serious trouble if its citizenry does not have a certain degree of education and civic virtue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillip-e-johnson/a-constitutional-democracy-is-in-serious-trouble-if-its-citizenry/) [Phillip E. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillip-e-johnson/) > [Everybody has the right to speak up in a democracy. We would be in trouble as a society if there wasn't a constant pressure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-chretien/everybody-has-the-right-to-speak-up-in-a-democracy-we-would-be-in/) [Jean Chretien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-chretien/) > [I think that in today's world the right to privacy and freedom of the press are set on a collision course.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-lowe/i-think-that-in-today-s-world-the-right-to-privacy-and-freedom-of-the/) [Rob Lowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-lowe/) > [The so-called right to privacy, as it were, is no longer a right inasmuch as it is now a privilege, to be enjoyed until…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshawn-lynch/the-so-called-right-to-privacy-as-it-were-is-no-longer-a-right/) [Marshawn Lynch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshawn-lynch/) > [ I think that \[there is\] this fundamental right to privacy and the philosophy that government shouldn't be intrusive. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/i-think-that-there-is-this-fundamental-right-to-privacy-and-the/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [I think we left out one of the really important elements contributing to the dynamism of society, and that is the right to privacy.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chester-barnard/i-think-we-left-out-one-of-the-really-important-elements-contributing/) [Chester Barnard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chester-barnard/) > [If you look at Griswold, what you can see is the first time the Court recognized the right to privacy, which ends up becoming…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-look-at-griswold-what-you-can-see-is-the-first-time-the-court/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We must restrict the anonymity behind which people hide to commit crimes. As citizens, we have a right to privacy. We have no such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-bronfman-jr/we-must-restrict-the-anonymity-behind-which-people-hide-to-commit/) [Edgar Bronfman, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-bronfman-jr/) > [“Government surveillance is a blatant violation of our fundamental right to privacy, an intrusion into the sacred space where personal thoughts and actions unfold.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-william-steven-parker/government-surveillance-is-a-blatant-violation-of-our-fundamental/) [James William Steven Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-william-steven-parker/) > [I respect someone's right to privacy and I want them to know it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-gross/i-respect-someone-s-right-to-privacy-and-i-want-them-to-know-it/) [Terry Gross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-gross/) > [There's a a right to privacy for all individuals and all who have legal rights - and that includes the unborn. As an obstetrician,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-paul/there-s-a-a-right-to-privacy-for-all-individuals-and-all-who-have/) [Ron Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-paul/) > [My brothers and sisters in arms fought so that our five fundamental freedoms, enshrined in the First Amendment, could never be undermined, not to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-mast/my-brothers-and-sisters-in-arms-fought-so-that-our-five-fundamental/) [Brian Mast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-mast/) > [We deal with a right of privacy older than the Bill of Rights-older than our political parties, older than our school system.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-o-douglas/we-deal-with-a-right-of-privacy-older-than-the-bill-of-rights-older/) [William O. Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-o-douglas/) > [Congress must go further to protect the right to privacy, to end the NSA's dragnet surveillance of ordinary Americans, to make the intelligence community…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-warren/congress-must-go-further-to-protect-the-right-to-privacy-to-end-the/) [Elizabeth Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-warren/) > [Do you believe today that the right to privacy does exist in the Constitution?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlen-specter/do-you-believe-today-that-the-right-to-privacy-does-exist-in-the/) [Arlen Specter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arlen-specter/) ## More by Coretta Scott King > [Mr. Sessions' conduct as a U.S. Attorney, from his politically-motivated voting fraud prosecutions to his indifference toward criminal violations of civil rights laws, indicated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coretta-scott-king/mr-sessions-conduct-as-a-u-s-attorney-from-his-politically-motivated/) [Coretta Scott King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coretta-scott-king/) > [While not a panacea for the nation's illegal immigration problems, employer sanctions are one necessary means of stopping the exploitation of vulnerable workers and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coretta-scott-king/while-not-a-panacea-for-the-nation-s-illegal-immigration-problems/) [Coretta Scott King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coretta-scott-king/) > [When fear rushed in, I learned how to hear my heart racing but refused to allow my feelings to sway me. That resilience came…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coretta-scott-king/when-fear-rushed-in-i-learned-how-to-hear-my-heart-racing-but-refused/) [Coretta Scott King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coretta-scott-king/) > [I think that... discrimination in the job market is a very important area where work needs to be done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coretta-scott-king/i-think-that-discrimination-in-the-job-market-is-a-very-important/) [Coretta Scott King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coretta-scott-king/) > [We have a lot more work to do in our common struggle against bigotry and discrimination. I say "common struggle" because I believe very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coretta-scott-king/we-have-a-lot-more-work-to-do-in-our-common-struggle-against-bigotry/) [Coretta Scott King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coretta-scott-king/) > [I am convinced that the women of the world, united without any regard for national or racial dimensions, can become a most powerful force…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coretta-scott-king/i-am-convinced-that-the-women-of-the-world-united-without-any-regard/) [Coretta Scott King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coretta-scott-king/) > [Because Dr. King was human and not divine - although we think he was divine, he was just a man, an extraordinary man, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coretta-scott-king/because-dr-king-was-human-and-not-divine-although-we-think-he-was/) [Coretta Scott King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coretta-scott-king/) > [If you use weapons of war to bring about peace, you're going to have more war and destruction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coretta-scott-king/if-you-use-weapons-of-war-to-bring-about-peace-you-re-going-to-have/) [Coretta Scott King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coretta-scott-king/) > [I'm fulfilled in what I do. I never thought that a lot of money or fine clothes - the finer things of life -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coretta-scott-king/i-m-fulfilled-in-what-i-do-i-never-thought-that-a-lot-of-money-or/) [Coretta Scott King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coretta-scott-king/) > [The failure to invest in youth reflects a lack of compassion and a colossal failure of common sense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coretta-scott-king/the-failure-to-invest-in-youth-reflects-a-lack-of-compassion-and-a/) [Coretta Scott King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coretta-scott-king/) > [I believe that women know if their husbands are unfaithful. They feel it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coretta-scott-king/i-believe-that-women-know-if-their-husbands-are-unfaithful-they-feel/) [Coretta Scott King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coretta-scott-king/) > [For many years now, I have been an outspoken supporter of civil and human rights for gay and lesbian people. Gays and lesbians stood…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coretta-scott-king/for-many-years-now-i-have-been-an-outspoken-supporter-of-civil-and/) [Coretta Scott King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coretta-scott-king/) > [ People have to allow themselves to be used by God and Martin \[Luther King, Jr.\] committed himself totally to God's will and purpose and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coretta-scott-king/people-have-to-allow-themselves-to-be-used-by-god-and-martin-luther/) [Coretta Scott King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coretta-scott-king/) > [Scandal sells books; fidelity does not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coretta-scott-king/scandal-sells-books-fidelity-does-not/) [Coretta Scott King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coretta-scott-king/) > [Marrying Martin and the movement perfected my journey of discovery, soothed my yearning to pour out the values and vision within my soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coretta-scott-king/marrying-martin-and-the-movement-perfected-my-journey-of-discovery/) [Coretta Scott King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coretta-scott-king/) [Explore all 119 Coretta Scott King quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coretta-scott-king/) ## More Adults quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [Behind every successful child is an adult who believed in him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/behind-every-successful-child-is-an-adult-who-believed-in-him/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. 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Hitting your kid is really the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/the-thing-about-hitting-kids-is-think-about-if-you-were-doing-the/) [Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/) > [Plainly, the environment must be a living one, directed by a higher intelligence, arranged by an adult who is prepared for his mission.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/plainly-the-environment-must-be-a-living-one-directed-by-a-higher/) [Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/) > [Almost everywhere we find . . . the use of various coercive measures, to rid ourselves as quickly as possible of the child withinus--i.e.,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-miller/almost-everywhere-we-find-the-use-of-various-coercive-measures-to-rid/) [Alice Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-miller/) > [Education, for most people, means trying to lead the child to resemble the typical adult of his society . . . but for me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-piaget/education-for-most-people-means-trying-to-lead-the-child-to-resemble/) [Jean Piaget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-piaget/) > [I do not believe in public shaming. I do believe that young adults go to college to learn things, and that this process will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-weingarten/i-do-not-believe-in-public-shaming-i-do-believe-that-young-adults-go/) [Gene Weingarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-weingarten/) > [The Role of Deliberate Practice in the Acquisition of Expert Performance”: “The differences between expert performers and normal adults are not immutable, that is,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-anders-ericsson/the-role-of-deliberate-practice-in-the-acquisition-of-expert/) K. 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