--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If we set the precedent of limiting the…" description: "\"If we set the precedent of limiting the First Amendment, in order to protect the sensibilities of those who are offended by flag burning, what will we ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c0/edward-kennedy-3423_amendments_if-we-set-the-precedent-of-limiting-the_431344.jpg" --- # If we set the precedent of limiting the First Amendment… ![“If we set the precedent of limiting the First Amendment, in order to protect the sensibilities of those who are offended by flag burning, what will we say the next time someone is offended by some other minority view, or by some other person's exercise of the freedom the Constitution is supposed…” quote by Edward Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c0/edward-kennedy-3423_amendments_if-we-set-the-precedent-of-limiting-the_431344.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c0/edward-kennedy-3423_amendments_if-we-set-the-precedent-of-limiting-the_431344.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c0/edward-kennedy-3423_amendments_if-we-set-the-precedent-of-limiting-the_431344.jpg) > “If we set the precedent of limiting the First Amendment, in order to protect the sensibilities of those who are offended by flag burning, what will we say the next time someone is offended by some other minority view, or by some other person's exercise of the freedom the Constitution is supposed to protect?” [Edward Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-kennedy/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Limiting free speech to protect feelings creates a slippery slope that threatens all constitutional freedoms. **In simple terms:** Restricting speech for offense endangers liberty. Key Takeaway Guard all speech, not just popular views. Themes free speech constitutional rights slippery slope minority rights Mood concerned thoughtful defensive Type political legal philosophical When to use this quote - court debates - public protests - media commentary - academic discourse Key Concepts civil liberties first amendment speech regulation Questions to Reflect On - How do we protect vulnerable groups without eroding free speech? - What limits, if any, should be placed on offensive expression? A Different Perspective Balancing protection from hate speech with free expression is complex. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Amendments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amendments/) [Constitution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constitution/) [Exercise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exercise/) [First amendment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-amendment/) [Flag burning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flag-burning/) [Flags](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flags/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Minorities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/minorities/) [Next time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/next-time/) [Order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/order/) [Precedent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/precedent/) [Sensibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sensibility/) ## Related quotes > [A 'living constitution' is a dead constitution, because it does not do the one and only thing a written constitution is supposed to do:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-gutzman/a-living-constitution-is-a-dead-constitution-because-it-does-not-do/) [Kevin Gutzman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-gutzman/) > [People were hysterical about Communism the way people today are hysterical about flag burning. I'm really against these people who try to show that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-child/people-were-hysterical-about-communism-the-way-people-today-are/) [Julia Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-child/) > [The flag is a symbol of our freedom, and burning it absolutely is one of the least patriotic things that a person could possibly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kat-timpf/the-flag-is-a-symbol-of-our-freedom-and-burning-it-absolutely-is-one/) [Kat Timpf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kat-timpf/) > [If the popular thing to do is to say you have to ban flag burning, even if it ultimately means we're compromising a core…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megyn-kelly/if-the-popular-thing-to-do-is-to-say-you-have-to-ban-flag-burning/) [Megyn Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megyn-kelly/) > [If there is a bedrock principle underlying the First Amendment, it is that the government may not prohibit the expression of an idea simply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-brennan/if-there-is-a-bedrock-principle-underlying-the-first-amendment-it-is/) [William J. Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-brennan/) > [The image by Barry Blitt of Barack Obama and Michelle in the White House with him dressed as a terrorist, her dressed as an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francoise-mouly/the-image-by-barry-blitt-of-barack-obama-and-michelle-in-the-white/) [Francoise Mouly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francoise-mouly/) > [A flag is supposed to represent everything that a country does. It doesn't only represent the good things. If you burn the flag, you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/a-flag-is-supposed-to-represent-everything-that-a-country-does-it/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [A bunch of bong-smoking, America-bashing, flag-burning, yoga-posing, incense-burning, dolphin-saving, salmon-eating hypocrites. These are the sensitive, liberal people who are always yelling about people's freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-jeni/a-bunch-of-bong-smoking-america-bashing-flag-burning-yoga-posing/) [Richard Jeni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-jeni/) > [Let me be clear: It's not that I'm not a patriot because I want to keep flag-burning legal, it's that I want to keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kat-timpf/let-me-be-clear-it-s-not-that-i-m-not-a-patriot-because-i-want-to/) [Kat Timpf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kat-timpf/) > [You believe that flag burning shows disrespect towards those who have fought to preserve our freedoms. Punishing protestors shows an even more profound disrespect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-ruwart/you-believe-that-flag-burning-shows-disrespect-towards-those-who-have/) [Mary Ruwart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-ruwart/) > [Don't like flag-burning? Fine. Hate flag-burning? Me too! The thing is, though, hating something doesn't always mean that the answer is to call on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kat-timpf/don-t-like-flag-burning-fine-hate-flag-burning-me-too-the-thing-is/) [Kat Timpf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kat-timpf/) > [At least in my country, we have come to accept the flags burning, but what we cannot accept is violence, burning of embassies and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-fried/at-least-in-my-country-we-have-come-to-accept-the-flags-burning-but/) [Daniel Fried](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-fried/) > [Even if the flag burning amendment does become law, the larger problem will remain of how to respectfully dispose of older, tattered flags. Well,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/even-if-the-flag-burning-amendment-does-become-law-the-larger-problem/) [Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/) > [Flag-burning is plain wrong, and I'll stand up for free speech - even speech I don't like.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-k-ross/flag-burning-is-plain-wrong-and-i-ll-stand-up-for-free-speech-even/) [Deborah K. Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-k-ross/) > [When I went to law school, which after all was back in the dark ages, we never looked beyond our borders for precedents. As…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-day-o-connor/when-i-went-to-law-school-which-after-all-was-back-in-the-dark-ages/) [Sandra Day O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-day-o-connor/) ## More by Edward Kennedy > [It's disgraceful that year after year, Congress has bowed to the tobacco lobby and refused to act.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-kennedy/it-s-disgraceful-that-year-after-year-congress-has-bowed-to-the/) [Edward Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-kennedy/) > [Sometimes a party must sail against the wind. We cannot heed the call of those who say it is time to furl the sail.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-kennedy/sometimes-a-party-must-sail-against-the-wind-we-cannot-heed-the-call/) [Edward Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-kennedy/) > [The torture and other sadistic abuses of prisoners in Iraq have done immense damage already to America's reputation in the world, and the worst…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-kennedy/the-torture-and-other-sadistic-abuses-of-prisoners-in-iraq-have-done/) [Edward Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-kennedy/) > [The great adventures which our opponents offer is a voyage into the past. Progress is our heritage, not theirs. What is right for us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-kennedy/the-great-adventures-which-our-opponents-offer-is-a-voyage-into-the/) [Edward Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-kennedy/) > [Justice Lewis Powell spoke for all of us when he said: Equal justice under law is perhaps the most inspiring idea of our society.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-kennedy/justice-lewis-powell-spoke-for-all-of-us-when-he-said-equal-justice/) [Edward Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-kennedy/) > [Frankly, I don't mind not being President. I just mind that someone else is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-kennedy/frankly-i-don-t-mind-not-being-president-i-just-mind-that-someone/) [Edward Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-kennedy/) > [ \[W\]ords are fine, but it has to be what a generation reads into those words. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-kennedy/w-ords-are-fine-but-it-has-to-be-what-a-generation-reads-into-those/) [Edward Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-kennedy/) > [Earlier this week ... scientists announced the completion of a task that once seemed unimaginable; and that is, the deciphering of the entire DNA…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-kennedy/earlier-this-week-scientists-announced-the-completion-of-a-task-that/) [Edward Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-kennedy/) > [She's a wonderful, wonderful person, and we're looking to a happy and wonderful night - ah, life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-kennedy/she-s-a-wonderful-wonderful-person-and-we-re-looking-to-a-happy-and/) [Edward Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-kennedy/) > [I applaud the fact that the president has reached out to the members of Judiciary Committee. And I applaud. the fact that he has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-kennedy/i-applaud-the-fact-that-the-president-has-reached-out-to-the-members/) [Edward Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-kennedy/) > [ur struggle is not with some monarch named George who inherited the crown - although it often seems that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-kennedy/ur-struggle-is-not-with-some-monarch-named-george-who-inherited-the/) [Edward Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-kennedy/) > [We are giving assurance to the American families that help is on its way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-kennedy/we-are-giving-assurance-to-the-american-families-that-help-is-on-its/) [Edward Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-kennedy/) > [The AMA puts the lives and well being of the American citizens well below it's own special interest...It deserves to be ignored, rejected, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-kennedy/the-ama-puts-the-lives-and-well-being-of-the-american-citizens-well/) [Edward Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-kennedy/) > [I won't yield to anyone about guns in our society. I know enough about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-kennedy/i-won-t-yield-to-anyone-about-guns-in-our-society-i-know-enough-about/) [Edward Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-kennedy/) > [From the windows of my office in Boston ... I can see the Golden Stairs from Boston Harbor where all eight of my great-grandparents…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-kennedy/from-the-windows-of-my-office-in-boston-i-can-see-the-golden-stairs/) [Edward Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-kennedy/) [Explore all 131 Edward Kennedy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-kennedy/) ## More Amendments quotes > [This separation was absolute in our original Republic. But the sky-godders do not give up easily. In the 1950s they actually got the phrase…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/this-separation-was-absolute-in-our-original-republic-but-the-sky/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [The First Amendment makes confidence in the common sense of our people and in the maturity of their judgement the great postulate of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-o-douglas/the-first-amendment-makes-confidence-in-the-common-sense-of-our/) [William O. Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-o-douglas/) > [Anybody who pretends that how you read the 10th and 11th Amendment doesn't have a fundamental impact on the things we care about is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/anybody-who-pretends-that-how-you-read-the-10th-and-11th-amendment/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [I have a lot of guns on my ranch. I don't use them for hunting. I'm not a hunter. It's for protection. The Second…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-norris/i-have-a-lot-of-guns-on-my-ranch-i-don-t-use-them-for-hunting-i-m-not/) [Chuck Norris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-norris/) > [All human situations have their inconveniences. We feel those of the present but neither see nor feel those of the future; and hence we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/all-human-situations-have-their-inconveniences-we-feel-those-of-the/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [If, in the opinion of the people, the distribution or modification of the constitutional powers be in any particular wrong, let it be corrected…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/if-in-the-opinion-of-the-people-the-distribution-or-modification-of/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [The First Amendment exists to protect our religious liberty--to ensure that all Americans are able to seek out worship God with all our hearts,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/the-first-amendment-exists-to-protect-our-religious-liberty-to-ensure/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [Laws that forbid the carrying of arms . . . disarm only those who are neither inclined nor determined to commit crimes . .…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/laws-that-forbid-the-carrying-of-arms-disarm-only-those-who-are/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [As civil rulers, not having their duty to the people duly before them, may attempt to tyrannize,... The people are confirmed by the next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tench-coxe/as-civil-rulers-not-having-their-duty-to-the-people-duly-before-them/) [Tench Coxe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tench-coxe/) > [The lessons of the First Amendment are as urgent in the modern world as the 18th Century when it was written. One timeless lesson…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-kennedy/the-lessons-of-the-first-amendment-are-as-urgent-in-the-modern-world/) [Anthony Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-kennedy/) > [The American people intuitively understand this, which is why the majority of Catholics practice birth control and some of those opposed to gay marriage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-american-people-intuitively-understand-this-which-is-why-the/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I think the reality is that copyright law has for a very long time been a tiny little part of American jurisprudence, far removed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-lessig/i-think-the-reality-is-that-copyright-law-has-for-a-very-long-time/) [Lawrence Lessig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-lessig/) > [What country can preserve its liberties if its rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/what-country-can-preserve-its-liberties-if-its-rulers-are-not-warned/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [The First Amendment defends all forms of speech including hate speech, which is why groups like Ku Klux Klan are allowed to utter their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/the-first-amendment-defends-all-forms-of-speech-including-hate-speech/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [The Second Amendment has no place in modern society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-dershowitz/the-second-amendment-has-no-place-in-modern-society/) [Alan Dershowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-dershowitz/) [Browse all 709 Amendments quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amendments/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If we set the precedent of limiting the First Amendment, in order to protect the sensibilities of those who are offended by flag burning, what will we say the next time someone is offended by some other minority view, or by some other person's exercise of the freedom the Constitution is supposed to protect?", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Edward Kennedy" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-kennedy/if-we-set-the-precedent-of-limiting-the-first-amendment-in-order-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Amendments" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-kennedy/if-we-set-the-precedent-of-limiting-the-first-amendment-in-order-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c0/edward-kennedy-3423_amendments_if-we-set-the-precedent-of-limiting-the_431344.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c0/edward-kennedy-3423_amendments_if-we-set-the-precedent-of-limiting-the_431344.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c0/edward-kennedy-3423_amendments_if-we-set-the-precedent-of-limiting-the_431344.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If we set the precedent of limiting the First Amendment, in order to protect the sensibilities of those who…” — Edward Kennedy", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Edward Kennedy", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-kennedy/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If we set the precedent of...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-kennedy/if-we-set-the-precedent-of-limiting-the-first-amendment-in-order-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-kennedy/if-we-set-the-precedent-of-limiting-the-first-amendment-in-order-to/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```