--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Nothing is more important in the…" description: "\"Nothing is more important in the preservation of peace than to secure among the great mass of the people living under constitutional government a just ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b2e/elihu-root-16522_conception_nothing-is-more-important-in-the-preserv_1020133.jpg" --- # Nothing is more important in the preservation of peace… ![“Nothing is more important in the preservation of peace than to secure among the great mass of the people living under constitutional government a just conception of the rights which their nation has against others and of the duties their nation owes to others.” quote by Elihu Root](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b2e/elihu-root-16522_conception_nothing-is-more-important-in-the-preserv_1020133.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b2e/elihu-root-16522_conception_nothing-is-more-important-in-the-preserv_1020133.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b2e/elihu-root-16522_conception_nothing-is-more-important-in-the-preserv_1020133.jpg) > “Nothing is more important in the preservation of peace than to secure among the great mass of the people living under constitutional government a just conception of the rights which their nation has against others and of the duties their nation owes to others.” [Elihu Root](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elihu-root/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Peace depends on citizens understanding both their rights and duties under constitutional law. **In simple terms:** People must know rights and duties for peace. Key Takeaway Educate the public on civic responsibilities. Themes civic education peace rights and duties Mood thoughtful serious Type educational political When to use this quote - civic education - public policy - community building - international relations Key Concepts constitutional law social contract national identity Questions to Reflect On - How can societies teach constitutional rights effectively? - What duties are most overlooked? A Different Perspective May all citizens grasp these concepts, peace may falter. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Conception](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conception/) [Constitutional government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constitutional-government/) [Duty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/duty/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Mass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mass/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Preservation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/preservation/) [Rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rights/) ## Related quotes > [The growth of modern constitutional government compels for its successful practice the exercise of reason and considerate judgment by the individual citizens who constitute…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elihu-root/the-growth-of-modern-constitutional-government-compels-for-its/) [Elihu Root](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elihu-root/) > [It is a remarkable fact in the political history of man that there is scarcely an instance of a free constitutional government which has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-calhoun/it-is-a-remarkable-fact-in-the-political-history-of-man-that-there-is/) [John C. Calhoun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-calhoun/) > [The growth of constitutional government, as we now understand it, was promoted by the establishment of two different sets of machinery for making laws…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-bushnell-hart/the-growth-of-constitutional-government-as-we-now-understand-it-was/) [Albert Bushnell Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-bushnell-hart/) > [There is a difference between constitutional government and judicial dictatorship, and I think it's time we remembered that our Constitution was not put together…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-keyes/there-is-a-difference-between-constitutional-government-and-judicial/) [Alan Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-keyes/) > [We are in desperate need of a return to limited, constitutional government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-long/we-are-in-desperate-need-of-a-return-to-limited-constitutional/) [Wendy Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-long/) > [I think any good judge recognizes his or her place in our constitutional government, and that place is not to upset the will of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hardiman/i-think-any-good-judge-recognizes-his-or-her-place-in-our/) [Thomas Hardiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hardiman/) > [Constitutional government, as designed by the framers, will survive only with a righteous people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-taft-benson/constitutional-government-as-designed-by-the-framers-will-survive/) [Ezra Taft Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-taft-benson/) > [“It is ... particularly true of constitutional government that its atmosphere is opinion … It does not remain fixed in any unchanging form, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/it-is-particularly-true-of-constitutional-government-that-its/) [Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) > [The aim of constitutional government is to preserve the Republic; that of revolutionary government is to lay its foundation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximilien-robespierre/the-aim-of-constitutional-government-is-to-preserve-the-republic-that/) [Maximilien Robespierre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximilien-robespierre/) > [To the contrary, the government they devised was defective from the start, requiring several amendments, a civil war and momentous social transformation to attain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thurgood-marshall/to-the-contrary-the-government-they-devised-was-defective-from-the/) [Thurgood Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thurgood-marshall/) > [A government on the principles on which constitutional governments arising out of society are established, cannot have the right of altering itself. If it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/a-government-on-the-principles-on-which-constitutional-governments/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [“Neither the fanatics nor the faint-hearted are needed. And our duty as a Party is not to our Party alone, but to the nation,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/neither-the-fanatics-nor-the-faint-hearted-are-needed-and-our-duty-as/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [Armies for the preservation of peace do not exist; they exist only for the triumphant exertion of war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-hitler/armies-for-the-preservation-of-peace-do-not-exist-they-exist-only-for/) [Adolf Hitler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-hitler/) > [The preservation of peace and the guaranteeing of man's basic freedoms and rights require courage and eternal vigilance: courage to speak and act -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haile-selassie/the-preservation-of-peace-and-the-guaranteeing-of-man-s-basic/) [Haile Selassie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haile-selassie/) > [My own idea is that if the men hold any meetings or attempt to form any organization, we should be prepared to be fully…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-m-schwab/my-own-idea-is-that-if-the-men-hold-any-meetings-or-attempt-to-form/) [Charles M. Schwab](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-m-schwab/) ## More by Elihu Root > [I guess you will have to go to jail. If that is the result of not understanding the Income Tax Law, I will meet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elihu-root/i-guess-you-will-have-to-go-to-jail-if-that-is-the-result-of-not/) [Elihu Root](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elihu-root/) > [Human life is held in much higher esteem, and the taking of it, whether in private quarrel or by judicial procedure, is looked upon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elihu-root/human-life-is-held-in-much-higher-esteem-and-the-taking-of-it-whether/) [Elihu Root](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elihu-root/) > [The line of least resistance in the progress of civilization is to make that theoretical postulate real by the continually increasing force of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elihu-root/the-line-of-least-resistance-in-the-progress-of-civilization-is-to/) [Elihu Root](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elihu-root/) > [It is not uncommon in modern times to see governments straining every nerve to keep the peace, and the people whom they represent, with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elihu-root/it-is-not-uncommon-in-modern-times-to-see-governments-straining-every/) [Elihu Root](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elihu-root/) > [Politics is the practical exercise of the art of self-government, and somebody must attend to it if we are to have self-government; somebody must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elihu-root/politics-is-the-practical-exercise-of-the-art-of-self-government-and/) [Elihu Root](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elihu-root/) > [Nobody knows through how many thousands of years fighting men have made a place for themselves while the weak and peaceable have gone to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elihu-root/nobody-knows-through-how-many-thousands-of-years-fighting-men-have/) [Elihu Root](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elihu-root/) > [Prejudice and passion and suspicion are more dangerous than the incitement of self-interest or the most stubborn adherence to real differences of opinion regarding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elihu-root/prejudice-and-passion-and-suspicion-are-more-dangerous-than-the/) [Elihu Root](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elihu-root/) > [The attractive idea that we can now have a parliament of man with authority to control the conduct of nations by legislation or an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elihu-root/the-attractive-idea-that-we-can-now-have-a-parliament-of-man-with/) [Elihu Root](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elihu-root/) > [The mere assemblage of peace loving people to interchange convincing reasons for their common faith, mere exhortation and argument to the public in favor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elihu-root/the-mere-assemblage-of-peace-loving-people-to-interchange-convincing/) [Elihu Root](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elihu-root/) > [The popular tendency is to listen approvingly to the most extreme statements and claims of politicians and orators who seek popularity by declaring their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elihu-root/the-popular-tendency-is-to-listen-approvingly-to-the-most-extreme/) [Elihu Root](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elihu-root/) > [In the first place, when there is a policy of intentional aggression, inspired by a desire to get possession of the territory or the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elihu-root/in-the-first-place-when-there-is-a-policy-of-intentional-aggression/) [Elihu Root](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elihu-root/) > [The framers of the Constitution realized that . . . there needed to be some guardian of the sober second thought, and so they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elihu-root/the-framers-of-the-constitution-realized-that-there-needed-to-be-some/) [Elihu Root](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elihu-root/) > [Human nature must have come much nearer perfection than it is now, or will be in many generations, to exclude from such a control…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elihu-root/human-nature-must-have-come-much-nearer-perfection-than-it-is-now-or/) [Elihu Root](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elihu-root/) > [It is not a question of religion, or of creed, or of party; it is a question of declaring and maintaining the great American…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elihu-root/it-is-not-a-question-of-religion-or-of-creed-or-of-party-it-is-a/) [Elihu Root](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elihu-root/) > [About half the practice of a decent lawyer is telling would-be clients that they are damned fools and should shut up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elihu-root/about-half-the-practice-of-a-decent-lawyer-is-telling-would-be/) [Elihu Root](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elihu-root/) [Explore all 39 Elihu Root quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elihu-root/) ## More Conception quotes > [“Conception is the beginning of human life. From the time that an ovum is fertilized a new life begins that is neither that of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/declaration-on-procured-abortion-congregation-for-the-doctrine-of-the-faith-1974/conception-is-the-beginning-of-human-life-from-the-time-that-an-ovum/) Declaration on Procured Abortion Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith 1974 > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [“Take sex, for instance.' 'What do you want me to do with it?' 'Try to be serious for a moment. Take the sex life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mortimer/take-sex-for-instance-what-do-you-want-me-to-do-with-it-try-to-be/) [John Mortimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mortimer/) > [Bring the viewer to your side, include him in your thought. He is not a bystander. You have the power to increase his perceptions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothea-lange/bring-the-viewer-to-your-side-include-him-in-your-thought-he-is-not-a/) [Dorothea Lange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothea-lange/) > [Most conservatives - by which I mean normal people - have little conception of the aggressive and revolutionary force that confronts them. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-bethell/most-conservatives-by-which-i-mean-normal-people-have-little/) [Tom Bethell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-bethell/) > [I started with the belief that every person who came to the laboratory was free to accept or to reject the dictates of authority.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-milgram/i-started-with-the-belief-that-every-person-who-came-to-the/) [Stanley Milgram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-milgram/) > [For the utilitarian, there is a fact of the matter about the good (the general happiness, or whatever conception of the good the utilitarian…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-w-wood/for-the-utilitarian-there-is-a-fact-of-the-matter-about-the-good-the/) [Allen W. 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Krauss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-m-krauss/) > [Of Rhetoric various definitions have been given by different writers; who, however, seem not so much to have disagreed in their conceptions of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-whately/of-rhetoric-various-definitions-have-been-given-by-different-writers/) [Richard Whately](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-whately/) > [Music comes from the heart and returns to the heart... music is spontaneous, impulsive expression... its range is without limit... music is forever growing...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leopold-stokowski/music-comes-from-the-heart-and-returns-to-the-heart-music-is/) [Leopold Stokowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leopold-stokowski/) > [The oppressed without hope are mysteriously quiet. 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