Constitution Quote by George Carlin
“I have a suggestion that I think would help fight serious crime. Signs. There are lots of signs for minor infractions: No Smoking, Stay Off the Grass, Keep Out, and they seem to work fairly well. I think we should also have signs for major crimes: Murder Strictly Prohibited, NO Raping People, Thank You for Not Kidnapping Anyone. It's certainly worth a try. I'm convinced Watergate would never have happened if there had just been a sign in the Oval Office that said, Malfeasance of Office Is Strictly Against the Law, or Thank You for Not Undermining the Constitution.”
About This Quote
Source Stand‑up Comedy: “Signs” routine, 1992
He jokes that explicit warnings could deter serious crimes, suggesting that clear prohibitions might prevent wrongdoing.
In simple terms: Signs might stop crimes if they clearly forbid them.
Key Takeaway
Use clear, public warnings to discourage illegal acts.
Themes
crime prevention
humor
social commentary
Mood
satirical
critical
Type
social
political
When to use this quote
- public signage
- policy proposals
- community education
- media campaigns
Key Concepts
law
psychology
communication
Questions to Reflect On
- Would a sign really stop a determined offender?
- How do cultural attitudes affect compliance?
A Different Perspective
People may ignore signs; deeper causes of crime aren’t addressed by warnings alone.
![“Next came the Patent laws. These began in England in 1624; and, in this country, with the adoption of our constitution. Before then [these?], any man might instantly use what another had invented; so that the inventor had no special advantage from his own invention. The patent system changed this…” quote by Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/449/abraham-lincoln-88_adoption_next-came-the-patent-laws-these-began-in_1828.jpg)
