Amendments Quote by Frances Farenthold
“There is no question that under the Equal Rights Amendment there will be debates at times, indecision at times, litigation at times. Has anyone proposed that we rescind the First Amendment on free speech because there is too much litigation over it? Has anyone suggested the same for the Fourteenth Amendment I don't suppose there has ever been a constitutional amendment with so much litigation?”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Congressional hearing, 1972, United States
Amending the Constitution leads to frequent legal battles; questioning the First or would be extreme, and the Fourteenth Amendment already faces heavy litigation.
In simple terms: Amendments cause many lawsuits; rescinding rights is unlikely.
Key Takeaway
Protect constitutional rights despite litigation.
Themes
law
politics
civil rights
Mood
analytical
concerned
Type
legal
political
When to use this quote
- court cases
- policy debates
- public advocacy
- educational curricula
Key Concepts
constitutional amendment
litigation
free speech
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we balance legal clarity with rights protection?
- Is frequent litigation a sign of a healthy democracy?
A Different Perspective
Some view litigation as necessary for rights protection.
![“In this country [the USA], you have got to tolerate things you do not like in order to preserve the First Amendment, in order to preserve democracy, and if people start bullying people into fearing that if I say something I could offend people, that is exactly why we have a constitution.” quote by Harvey Levin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/573/harvey-levin-62730_amendments_in-this-country-the-usa-you-have-got-to_2347504.jpg)
