--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The two most important documents…" description: "\"The two most important documents affecting the destiny of America are the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States. Both t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd2/david-o-mckay-2062_america_the-two-most-important-documents-affecti_1356928.jpg" --- # The two most important documents affecting the destiny of… ![“The two most important documents affecting the destiny of America are the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States. Both these immortal papers relate primarily to the freedom of the individual.” quote by David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd2/david-o-mckay-2062_america_the-two-most-important-documents-affecti_1356928.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd2/david-o-mckay-2062_america_the-two-most-important-documents-affecti_1356928.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd2/david-o-mckay-2062_america_the-two-most-important-documents-affecti_1356928.jpg) > “The two most important documents affecting the destiny of America are the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States. Both these immortal papers relate primarily to the freedom of the individual.” [David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The Declaration and Constitution shape America by protecting individual liberty, making them foundational to the nation’s destiny. **In simple terms:** These two papers protect personal freedom. Key Takeaway Study and uphold constitutional rights. Themes freedom law citizenship Mood thoughtful patriotic Type historical political When to use this quote - voting - public debate - legal challenges Key Concepts political theory civil rights Questions to Reflect On - What responsibilities come with these freedoms? - How do these texts influence modern policy? A Different Perspective Interpretations of these documents evolve over time. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Constitution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constitution/) [Constitution of the united states](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constitution-of-the-united-states/) [Declaration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/declaration/) [Declaration of independence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/declaration-of-independence/) [Destiny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/destiny/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Independence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/independence/) [Individual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individual/) [United states](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/united-states/) ## Related quotes > [“Both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States were brought forth under the inspiration of God to establish and maintain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-b-hinckley/both-the-declaration-of-independence-and-the-constitution-of-the/) [Gordon B. Hinckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-b-hinckley/) > [In America we have a Declaration of Independence, but our history, our advancements, our global strength all point to an American declaration of interdependence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-booker/in-america-we-have-a-declaration-of-independence-but-our-history-our/) [Cory Booker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-booker/) > [ \[Joseph Smith\] foresaw the time when the destiny of the nation would be in danger and would hang as by a thread. Thank God… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-taft-benson/joseph-smith-foresaw-the-time-when-the-destiny-of-the-nation-would-be/) [Ezra Taft Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-taft-benson/) > [The Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, the Civil War-when I really think about them they all seem about as likely as the parting of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-vowell/the-declaration-of-independence-the-constitution-the-civil-war-when-i/) [Sarah Vowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-vowell/) > [It took us in this country 11 years to get from the Declaration of Independence to the Constitution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-mcconnell/it-took-us-in-this-country-11-years-to-get-from-the-declaration-of/) [Mitch McConnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-mcconnell/) > [If the citizens of the United States are to turn away from the Communist Manifesto and preserve the purpose of the Declaration of Independence,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-norris/if-the-citizens-of-the-united-states-are-to-turn-away-from-the/) [Chuck Norris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-norris/) > [The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of these United States are covenants we have made not only with ourselves, but with all mankind.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/the-declaration-of-independence-and-the-constitution-of-these-united/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [For business owners, there are many important documents to learn to read. One of the most important is the profit and loss statement, known…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-l-johnson/for-business-owners-there-are-many-important-documents-to-learn-to/) [Darren L Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-l-johnson/) > [The three most important documents a free society gives are a birth certificate, a passport, and a library card.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-three-most-important-documents-a-free-society-gives-are-a-birth/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Our destiny is tied up with the destiny of America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/our-destiny-is-tied-up-with-the-destiny-of-america/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [The destiny of the colored American ... is the destiny of America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/the-destiny-of-the-colored-american-is-the-destiny-of-america/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [Having an emergency kit full of supplies and important documents is essential for your and your family's well-being during a storm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-paulina-luna/having-an-emergency-kit-full-of-supplies-and-important-documents-is/) [Anna Paulina Luna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-paulina-luna/) > [I think now we're seeing the pendulum switch back to this idea where conversations are more important, if not more important than documents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khoi-vinh/i-think-now-we-re-seeing-the-pendulum-switch-back-to-this-idea-where/) [Khoi Vinh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khoi-vinh/) > [The destiny of America is to carry the gospel of Jesus Christ to all men everywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/the-destiny-of-america-is-to-carry-the-gospel-of-jesus-christ-to-all/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [“At the end of the day, the circumstances of your life-- what you look like,where you come from, how much money you have, what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/at-the-end-of-the-day-the-circumstances-of-your-life-what-you-look/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) ## More by David O. McKay > [But there is a beauty every girl has—a gift from God, as pure as the sunlight, and as sacred as life. It is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/but-there-is-a-beauty-every-girl-has-a-gift-from-god-as-pure-as-the/) [David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/) > [Free agency is a gift of God…The world does not comprehend the significance of that divine gift to the individual. It is as inherent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/free-agency-is-a-gift-of-god-the-world-does-not-comprehend-the/) [David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/) > [The latest I like to be to meeting is 15 minutes early](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/the-latest-i-like-to-be-to-meeting-is-15-minutes-early/) [David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/) > [Adversity itself may lead toward and not away from God and spiritual enlightenment; and privation may prove a source of strength if we can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/adversity-itself-may-lead-toward-and-not-away-from-god-and-spiritual/) [David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/) > [No parent can consistently teach faith in Christ who profanes the name of Deity. Profanity is never heard in the well-ordered home. Swearing is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/no-parent-can-consistently-teach-faith-in-christ-who-profanes-the/) [David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/) > [ \[One\] principle that actuated the lives of the fathers who founded our Constitution was faith in God. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/one-principle-that-actuated-the-lives-of-the-fathers-who-founded-our/) [David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/) > [“No thing worth while is obtained in this life without sacrificing, without putting forth effort. The evil one thrusts things upon us but God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/no-thing-worth-while-is-obtained-in-this-life-without-sacrificing/) [David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/) > [There are seeds of happiness in every soul. Our mental attitude and dispositions constitute the environment in which these seeds germinate. There is as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/there-are-seeds-of-happiness-in-every-soul-our-mental-attitude-and/) [David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/) > [The most powerful thing in the world is an idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/the-most-powerful-thing-in-the-world-is-an-idea/) [David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/) > [He who harbors hatred and bitterness injures himself far more than the one towards whom he manifests these evil propensities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/he-who-harbors-hatred-and-bitterness-injures-himself-far-more-than/) [David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/) > [The Gospel of Jesus Christ can make bad men good and good men better, can alter human nature, and can change human lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/the-gospel-of-jesus-christ-can-make-bad-men-good-and-good-men-better/) [David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/) > [The basis of all sin is selfishness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/the-basis-of-all-sin-is-selfishness/) [David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/) > [“When you are tempted to stay away from that seventies' meeting, from that elder's meeting, from that deacons' quorum and you shrink from going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/when-you-are-tempted-to-stay-away-from-that-seventies-meeting-from/) [David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/) > [And what is true education? It is awakening a love for truth; giving a just sense of duty; opening the eyes of the soul…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/and-what-is-true-education-it-is-awakening-a-love-for-truth-giving-a/) [David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/) > [Today, as never before, the issue is clearly defined-liberty and freedom of choice, or oppression and subjugation for the individual and for nations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/today-as-never-before-the-issue-is-clearly-defined-liberty-and/) [David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/) [Explore all 188 David O. McKay quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/) ## More America quotes > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [Well, The Day the Earth Caught Fire was a story... I don't if anybody knows what it is but it was about... in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-guest/well-the-day-the-earth-caught-fire-was-a-story-i-don-t-if-anybody/) [Val Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-guest/) > [So here's what I want you to know, and here's what I want all our men and women in uniform to know: Because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-here-s-what-i-want-you-to-know-and-here-s-what-i-want-all-our-men/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Today, the world looks to America for leadership. And America looks to its Corps of Marines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/today-the-world-looks-to-america-for-leadership-and-america-looks-to/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/) [Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/) > [ I'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumors, I'll die, deal? Thank you America. \[salutes\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/i-ll-smoke-i-ll-cough-i-ll-get-the-tumors-i-ll-die-deal-thank-you/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [America is a democracy and has no Hitler, but I am afraid for her future; there are hard times ahead for the American people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/america-is-a-democracy-and-has-no-hitler-but-i-am-afraid-for-her/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [I'm gonna bring America together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-m-gonna-bring-america-together/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [In the nineteenth century some parts of the world were unexplored, but there was almost no restriction on travel.:; Up to 1914 you did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/in-the-nineteenth-century-some-parts-of-the-world-were-unexplored-but/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [We need a system that serves our needs, not the needs of others. Remember, under a Trump administration it's called America first. Remember that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-need-a-system-that-serves-our-needs-not-the-needs-of-others/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/) [Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/) > [You live overseas, you see these exotic places and you want to know about them. But, weirdly, it also made me homesick for all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-jennings/you-live-overseas-you-see-these-exotic-places-and-you-want-to-know/) [Ken Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-jennings/) > [Freedom in every sense but primarily political sense, a rise in repression that stems from a repression of sexuality. 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