--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The responsibility of the attorney…" description: "\"The responsibility of the attorney general is to change things and bring us closer to the ideals expressed in our founding documents.\" — Eric Holder" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e5d/eric-holder-7429_attorney_the-responsibility-of-the-attorney-gener_2603536.jpg" --- # The responsibility of the attorney general is to change… ![“The responsibility of the attorney general is to change things and bring us closer to the ideals expressed in our founding documents.” quote by Eric Holder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e5d/eric-holder-7429_attorney_the-responsibility-of-the-attorney-gener_2603536.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e5d/eric-holder-7429_attorney_the-responsibility-of-the-attorney-gener_2603536.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e5d/eric-holder-7429_attorney_the-responsibility-of-the-attorney-gener_2603536.jpg) > “The responsibility of the attorney general is to change things and bring us closer to the ideals expressed in our founding documents.” [Eric Holder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-holder/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The attorney general must actively reform to align the nation with its founding ideals. **In simple terms:** Attorney general should work to realize founding principles. Key Takeaway Push for reforms that reflect constitutional values. Themes law government reform justice ideals Mood determined optimistic Type political inspirational When to use this quote - policy drafting - legislative advocacy - public speaking - community outreach Key Concepts civic duty institutional change public policy Questions to Reflect On - What reforms best reflect our founding documents? - How can the AG overcome institutional resistance? A Different Perspective Change is limited by political opposition and bureaucratic inertia. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attorney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attorney/) [Attorney general](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attorney-general/) [Bring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bring/) [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Change things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change-things/) [Closer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/closer/) [Documents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/documents/) [Expressed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expressed/) [Founding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/founding/) [General](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/general/) [General Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/general-change-1965389/) [Ideals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideals/) [Ideals Expressed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideals-expressed-1965391/) [Our](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/our/) [Responsibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responsibility/) [Responsibility Attorney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responsibility-attorney-1965390/) [Things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things/) [Us](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/us/) ## Related quotes > [ \[T\]he effects of general change \[in literature\] are most tellingly recorded not in alteration of the best products, but in the transformation of the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-jay-gould/t-he-effects-of-general-change-in-literature-are-most-tellingly/) [Stephen Jay Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-jay-gould/) > [Any attorney general who is not an activist is not doing his or her job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-holder/any-attorney-general-who-is-not-an-activist-is-not-doing-his-or-her/) [Eric Holder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-holder/) > [I am the attorney general of the United States. 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You have a special responsibility as the nation's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-holder/although-the-attorney-general-is-a-part-of-the-president-s-team-you/) [Eric Holder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-holder/) > [I'd like to continue being involved with issues that animated my time as attorney general - criminal-justice reform and civil rights especially. I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-holder/i-d-like-to-continue-being-involved-with-issues-that-animated-my-time/) [Eric Holder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-holder/) > [I was raised - professionally - in the Public Integrity Section. I started in 1976, stayed there for 12 years. It was formed after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-holder/i-was-raised-professionally-in-the-public-integrity-section-i-started/) [Eric Holder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-holder/) > [If I were attorney general in Kansas in 1953, I would not have defended a Kansas statute that put in place separate-but-equal facilities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-holder/if-i-were-attorney-general-in-kansas-in-1953-i-would-not-have/) [Eric Holder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-holder/) > [Kids who I grew up with, who I played ball with, basketball, baseball, and went to parties with - for whatever reason - they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-holder/kids-who-i-grew-up-with-who-i-played-ball-with-basketball-baseball/) [Eric Holder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-holder/) > [There are a whole variety of reasons I want to be attorney general, a whole variety of things that I do as attorney general…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-holder/there-are-a-whole-variety-of-reasons-i-want-to-be-attorney-general-a/) [Eric Holder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-holder/) > [On a personal level, I've seen a lot in my time as attorney general, but few things have affected me as greatly as my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-holder/on-a-personal-level-i-ve-seen-a-lot-in-my-time-as-attorney-general/) [Eric Holder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-holder/) > [I am asking my Attorney General to create a special unit of federal prosecutors and leading state attorneys general to expand our investigations into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-am-asking-my-attorney-general-to-create-a-special-unit-of-federal/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Protecting the rights of service members was an important part of my work as Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-perez/protecting-the-rights-of-service-members-was-an-important-part-of-my/) [Thomas Perez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-perez/) > [On March 12, 2004, acting attorney general James B. Comey and the Justice Department's top leadership reached the brink of resignation over electronic surveillance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barton-gellman/on-march-12-2004-acting-attorney-general-james-b-comey-and-the/) [Barton Gellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barton-gellman/) > [My wife and daughters work. My campaign manager in 2005 was a working mother. I appointed 5 women to my senior staff as Attorney General.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-mcdonnell/my-wife-and-daughters-work-my-campaign-manager-in-2005-was-a-working/) [Bob McDonnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-mcdonnell/) ## More by Eric Holder > [Though this nation has proudly thought of itself as an ethnic melting pot, in things racial we have always been and I believe continue…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-holder/though-this-nation-has-proudly-thought-of-itself-as-an-ethnic-melting/) [Eric Holder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-holder/) > [The full resources of the Department of Justice have been committed to the investigation into Michael Brown's death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-holder/the-full-resources-of-the-department-of-justice-have-been-committed/) [Eric Holder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-holder/) > [Ferguson and St. Louis County are not the first places that we have become engaged to ensure fair and equitable policing, and they will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-holder/ferguson-and-st-louis-county-are-not-the-first-places-that-we-have/) [Eric Holder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-holder/) > [Some have argued that the President is required to get permission from a federal court before taking action against a United States citizen who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-holder/some-have-argued-that-the-president-is-required-to-get-permission/) [Eric Holder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-holder/) > [I look forward to working with the NRA to come up with ways in which we can use common sense approaches to reduce the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-holder/i-look-forward-to-working-with-the-nra-to-come-up-with-ways-in-which/) [Eric Holder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-holder/) > [This is going to be a very transparent Justice Department. 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It has put a wedge between the United States and at least some of its allies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-holder/guantanamo-is-a-chief-recruiting-tool-for-al-qaida-it-has-put-a-wedge/) [Eric Holder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-holder/) > [I don't have any intention of resigning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-holder/i-don-t-have-any-intention-of-resigning/) [Eric Holder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-holder/) > [Michael Brown's tragic death has revealed a deep distrust between some in the Ferguson community and its police force. It also developed a need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-holder/michael-brown-s-tragic-death-has-revealed-a-deep-distrust-between/) [Eric Holder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-holder/) [Explore all 91 Eric Holder quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-holder/) ## More Attorney quotes > [My wife and daughters work. My campaign manager in 2005 was a working mother. 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He is accused by the political leaders of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-verges/here-i-am-looking-for-a-document-issued-by-a-public-attorney-i-don-t/) [Jacques Verges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-verges/) > [Protecting the rights of service members was an important part of my work as Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-perez/protecting-the-rights-of-service-members-was-an-important-part-of-my/) [Thomas Perez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-perez/) > [ \[Michael\] Felix and other immigration attorneys say it's possible \[Melania\] Trump was doing what a lot of models do - working illegally on a… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hansi-lo-wang/michael-felix-and-other-immigration-attorneys-say-it-s-possible/) [Hansi Lo Wang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hansi-lo-wang/) > [Modern society includes three types of men who can never think very highly of the world--the priest, the physician, and the attorney-at-law. 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