--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Separation of church and state cannot…" description: "\"Separation of church and state cannot mean an absolute separation between moral principles and political power.\" — Edward Kennedy" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7a/edward-kennedy-3423_absolutes_separation-of-church-and-state-cannot-me_478845.jpg" --- # Separation of church and state cannot mean an absolute… ![“Separation of church and state cannot mean an absolute separation between moral principles and political power.” quote by Edward Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7a/edward-kennedy-3423_absolutes_separation-of-church-and-state-cannot-me_478845.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7a/edward-kennedy-3423_absolutes_separation-of-church-and-state-cannot-me_478845.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7a/edward-kennedy-3423_absolutes_separation-of-church-and-state-cannot-me_478845.jpg) > “Separation of church and state cannot mean an absolute separation between moral principles and political power.” [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. Separating church and state does not require removing all moral considerations from politics. **In simple terms:** Politics must still reflect moral values despite institutional separation. Key Takeaway Balance moral principles with political realities. Themes separation of church and state morality politics law governance Mood thoughtful analytical Type philosophical political When to use this quote - legislative drafting - public policy debates - judicial rulings - citizen activism Key Concepts secularism ethical governance political theory Questions to Reflect On - How can policymakers ensure moral integrity without breaching secular principles? - What moral frameworks should guide political power? A Different Perspective Absolute moral separation is impractical; values inevitably influence decisions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Absolutes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absolutes/) [Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/church/) [Church and state](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/church-and-state/) [Moral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moral/) [Moral principles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moral-principles/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [Political power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political-power/) [Principles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principles/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Separation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/separation/) [Separation of church and state](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/separation-of-church-and-state/) ## Related quotes > [The separation of church and state can sometimes be frustrating for women and men of deep religious faith. They may be tempted to misuse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-kennedy/the-separation-of-church-and-state-can-sometimes-be-frustrating-for/) [Edward Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-kennedy/) > [The separation of church and state is a misnomer. People misunderstand it. Of course, it comes from a phrase that was in a letter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-johnson/the-separation-of-church-and-state-is-a-misnomer-people-misunderstand/) [Mike Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-johnson/) > [US is a very religious country. Separation of church and state is part of our credo, but that it is hard to understand since…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-albright/us-is-a-very-religious-country-separation-of-church-and-state-is-part/) [Madeleine Albright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-albright/) > [“Do you know, where does this phrase "separation of Church and State" come from? It was not in Jefferson's letter to the Danbury Baptists...The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glen-urquhart/do-you-know-where-does-this-phrase-separation-of-church-and-state/) Glen Urquhart > [The separation of Church and State in everything relating to taxation should be absolute.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/the-separation-of-church-and-state-in-everything-relating-to-taxation/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [Quite often you hear people say, 'What about separation of church and state?' There is no such thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-severson/quite-often-you-hear-people-say-what-about-separation-of-church-and/) Dan Severson > [They have kept us in submission because they have talked about separation of church and state. 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It was not written into the Constitution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-buck/i-disagree-strongly-with-the-concept-of-separation-of-church-and/) [Ken Buck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-buck/) > [I questioned the faithful of all communions; I particularly sought the society of clergymen, who are the depositories of the various creeds and have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-de-tocqueville/i-questioned-the-faithful-of-all-communions-i-particularly-sought-the/) [Alexis de Tocqueville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-de-tocqueville/) > [ I do not make decisions \[as governor\] based on what have I learned through my Bible studies, what have I learned in my religious… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-schwarzenegger/i-do-not-make-decisions-as-governor-based-on-what-have-i-learned/) [Arnold Schwarzenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-schwarzenegger/) > [Where in the Constitution is the separation of church and state?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-o-donnell/where-in-the-constitution-is-the-separation-of-church-and-state/) [Christine O'Donnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-o-donnell/) > [“I'm completely in favor of the separation of Church and State. ... These two institutions screw us up enough on their own, so both…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/i-m-completely-in-favor-of-the-separation-of-church-and-state-these/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) ## 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 Absolutes quotes > [At the centre of the human heart is the longing for an absolute good, a longing which is always there and is never appeased…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-weil/at-the-centre-of-the-human-heart-is-the-longing-for-an-absolute-good/) [Simone Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-weil/) > [There is no perfect justice, just as there is no absolute in ethics. 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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/) > [Conservative political opinion in America cleaves to the tradition of the judge as passive interpreter, believing that his absolute loyalty to authoritative law is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/learned-hand/conservative-political-opinion-in-america-cleaves-to-the-tradition-of/) [Learned Hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/learned-hand/) > [So many times we come to Jesus in worship and ask Him for things that He already IS and has already done... What a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christy-nockels/so-many-times-we-come-to-jesus-in-worship-and-ask-him-for-things-that/) Christy Nockels > [Those are decisions only the Lord will make. I believe the love of God is absolute. He said he gave his son for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/those-are-decisions-only-the-lord-will-make-i-believe-the-love-of-god/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [“The Gods know what it is to be eternal, and they love to toy with mortals who use absolutes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephine-angelini/the-gods-know-what-it-is-to-be-eternal-and-they-love-to-toy-with/) [Josephine Angelini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephine-angelini/) > [Anarchy is the stepping stone to absolute power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/anarchy-is-the-stepping-stone-to-absolute-power/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [I was asked the other day if I would be interested in the Nobel Prize, but I think that for me it would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabriel-garc-a-m-rquez/i-was-asked-the-other-day-if-i-would-be-interested-in-the-nobel-prize/) [Gabriel Garcia Marquez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabriel-garc-a-m-rquez/) > [The only "definitive truth" for Buddhism is the absolute negation of any one truth as the Definitive Truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/the-only-definitive-truth-for-buddhism-is-the-absolute-negation-of/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [The nature of the Absolute is neither perceptible nor imperceptible; and with phenomena it is just the same. 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