--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have a suggestion that I think would…" description: "\"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, ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/092/george-carlin-155_constitution_i-have-a-suggestion-that-i-think-would-h_1666273.jpg" --- # I have a suggestion that I think would help fight serious… ![“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…” quote by George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/092/george-carlin-155_constitution_i-have-a-suggestion-that-i-think-would-h_1666273.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/092/george-carlin-155_constitution_i-have-a-suggestion-that-i-think-would-h_1666273.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/092/george-carlin-155_constitution_i-have-a-suggestion-that-i-think-would-h_1666273.jpg) > “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.” [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. 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. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Constitution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constitution/) [Crime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crime/) [Crimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crimes/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [Kidnapping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kidnapping/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Malfeasance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/malfeasance/) [Murder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/murder/) [No smoking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/no-smoking/) [Office](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/office/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Smoking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smoking/) [Suggestions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suggestions/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Watergate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/watergate/) ## Related quotes > [It's wild to be visiting New York and crossing the street and having someone yell out at me, 'Hey, Rusty!' Or to be recognized…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-patrick-martin/it-s-wild-to-be-visiting-new-york-and-crossing-the-street-and-having/) Graham Patrick Martin > [Well, if crime fighters fight crime and fire fighters fight fire, what do freedom fighters fight? They never mention that part to us, do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/well-if-crime-fighters-fight-crime-and-fire-fighters-fight-fire-what-2/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [Well, if crime fighters fight crime and fire fighters fight fire, what do freedom fighters fight?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/well-if-crime-fighters-fight-crime-and-fire-fighters-fight-fire-what/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [After Watergate, which happened when I was in college, I became increasingly inspired by journalism as a way to change the world. It sounds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-talbot/after-watergate-which-happened-when-i-was-in-college-i-became/) [David Talbot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-talbot/) > [The Democrats loved Jimmy Carter, even though - and, by the way, take a look at some economic circumstances. In 1980, the economy of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/the-democrats-loved-jimmy-carter-even-though-and-by-the-way-take-a/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [In the seventies, a group of American artists seized the means not of production but of reproduction. They tore apart visual culture at a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-saltz/in-the-seventies-a-group-of-american-artists-seized-the-means-not-of/) [Jerry Saltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-saltz/) > [What matters to us is the revelation of the swindle, fraud, or defalcation. This makes known to the world that things have not been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-p-kindleberger/what-matters-to-us-is-the-revelation-of-the-swindle-fraud-or/) [Charles P. Kindleberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-p-kindleberger/) > [Turn off your televisions. Ignore the Newt-Mitt-Rick- Barack reality show. It is as relevant to your life as the gossip on “Jersey Shore.” The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hedges/turn-off-your-televisions-ignore-the-newt-mitt-rick-barack-reality/) [Chris Hedges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hedges/) > [I absolutely reject that idea that the press is liberal and what it does is liberal. In my view, it's like accusing a doctor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-suskind/i-absolutely-reject-that-idea-that-the-press-is-liberal-and-what-it/) [Ron Suskind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-suskind/) > [“Next let go of your hate or malfeasance of all others.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-vickers/next-let-go-of-your-hate-or-malfeasance-of-all-others/) [Lee Vickers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-vickers/) > [The ethical rule is from Samuel Johnson who believed that maintenance of easily removable ignorance by a responsible office holder was treacherous malfeasance in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/the-ethical-rule-is-from-samuel-johnson-who-believed-that-maintenance/) [Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/) > [But, if recent history has taught us anything, it’s that self-regulation doesn’t work in finance, and that worries about reputation are a weak deterrent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-surowiecki/but-if-recent-history-has-taught-us-anything-it-s-that-self/) [James Surowiecki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-surowiecki/) > [... Any pension fund manager who doesn't have the vast majority-and I mean 70% or 80% of his or her portfolio-in passive investments is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merton-miller/any-pension-fund-manager-who-doesn-t-have-the-vast-majority-and-i/) [Merton Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merton-miller/) > [The imperial projects will continue, Wall Street will be unimpeded in its malfeasance and criminal activity, social programs will continue to be cut, maybe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hedges/the-imperial-projects-will-continue-wall-street-will-be-unimpeded-in/) [Chris Hedges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hedges/) > [A fundamental premise of American democratic theory is that government exists to serve the people. ... Public records are one portal through which the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-day-o-connor/a-fundamental-premise-of-american-democratic-theory-is-that/) [Sandra Day O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-day-o-connor/) ## More by George Carlin > [I never go anywhere or do anything that transports me outside the boundaries of my mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/i-never-go-anywhere-or-do-anything-that-transports-me-outside-the/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [With the proper training, I could've been an evil genius.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/with-the-proper-training-i-could-ve-been-an-evil-genius/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [Comedy, although it is not one of the fine arts - it's a vulgar art, it's one of the people's arts, it's the spoken…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/comedy-although-it-is-not-one-of-the-fine-arts-it-s-a-vulgar-art-it-s/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [“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/) > [“TOMORROW IS ANOTHER DAY. Not true. Today is another day. We have no idea what tomorrow is going to be. It might turn out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/tomorrow-is-another-day-not-true-today-is-another-day-we-have-no-idea/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [I was a loner as a child. I had an imaginary friend - I didn't bother with him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/i-was-a-loner-as-a-child-i-had-an-imaginary-friend-i-didn-t-bother/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [Kilometers are shorter than miles. Save gas, take your next trip in kilometers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/kilometers-are-shorter-than-miles-save-gas-take-your-next-trip-in/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [“If you guys want to get a MOM tattoo and save a little money, just get two letters done. Get about a one-inch capital…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/if-you-guys-want-to-get-a-mom-tattoo-and-save-a-little-money-just-get/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [You've built up so much speed that you HIT 70! After that it's a day-by-day thing; you HIT Wednesday!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/you-ve-built-up-so-much-speed-that-you-hit-70-after-that-it-s-a-day/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [It ended suddenly for Brenda, more slowly for me. My runs began getting shorter and less pleasurable. I'd feel bad after only one day,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/it-ended-suddenly-for-brenda-more-slowly-for-me-my-runs-began-getting/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [Is there another word for synonym?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/is-there-another-word-for-synonym/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [The whole idea of the pursuit of goods and possessions has completely corrupted the human experience, along with religion, which I think limits the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/the-whole-idea-of-the-pursuit-of-goods-and-possessions-has-completely/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [These days many politicians are demanding change. Just like homeless people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/these-days-many-politicians-are-demanding-change-just-like-homeless/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [You know the good part about all those executions in Texas? Fewer Texans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/you-know-the-good-part-about-all-those-executions-in-texas-fewer/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [What was the best thing before sliced bread?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/what-was-the-best-thing-before-sliced-bread/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) [Explore all 1,098 George Carlin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) ## More Constitution quotes > [ Next came the Patent laws. These began in England in 1624; and, in this country, with the adoption of our constitution. Before then \[these?\],… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/next-came-the-patent-laws-these-began-in-england-in-1624-and-in-this/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/) [Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/) > [In this choice of inheritance we have given to our frame of polity the image of a relation in blood; binding up the constitution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/in-this-choice-of-inheritance-we-have-given-to-our-frame-of-polity/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [As for doing good; that is one of the professions which is full. Moreover I have tried it fairly and, strange as it may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/as-for-doing-good-that-is-one-of-the-professions-which-is-full/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [While not widely reported, our victories in Iraq are plentiful. National elections, a democratic parliament and the drafting of a constitution are just some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-gillmor/while-not-widely-reported-our-victories-in-iraq-are-plentiful/) [Paul Gillmor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-gillmor/) > [In a recent decision of the Supreme Court, not made, however, by the full court, and concurred in by only four justices, it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bates-clark/in-a-recent-decision-of-the-supreme-court-not-made-however-by-the/) [John Bates Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bates-clark/) > [The judiciary must not take on the coloration of whatever may be popular at the moment. We are guardian of rights, and we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-bird/the-judiciary-must-not-take-on-the-coloration-of-whatever-may-be/) [Rose Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-bird/) > [There is not a revolution that succe Women are suffering because they are being excluded. The high military council excluded women from the committee…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nawal-el-saadawi/there-is-not-a-revolution-that-succe-women-are-suffering-because-they/) [Nawal El Saadawi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nawal-el-saadawi/) > [Free government is founded in jealousy, and not in confidence; it is jealousy, and not confidence, which prescribes limited constitutions, to bind down those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/free-government-is-founded-in-jealousy-and-not-in-confidence-it-is/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [The American Constitution declares 'All men are born equal.' The British Socialist Party add: 'All men must be kept equal'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/the-american-constitution-declares-all-men-are-born-equal-the-british/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [“The Court has a special responsibility to ensure that the Constitution works in practice. While education, including the transmission of our civic values from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-breyer/the-court-has-a-special-responsibility-to-ensure-that-the/) [Stephen Breyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-breyer/) > [The Constitution is very clear on the - on the declaration of war or reacting to international crimes - crimes against nations. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-pitts/the-constitution-is-very-clear-on-the-on-the-declaration-of-war-or/) Joe Pitts > [Nothing from man's hands, nor law, nor constitution, can be final. Truth alone is final.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-sumner/nothing-from-man-s-hands-nor-law-nor-constitution-can-be-final-truth/) [Charles Sumner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-sumner/) > [“I am apprehensive, Sir, that in the warmth of my feelings, I may have uttered expressions, which were too vehement. If such has been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/i-am-apprehensive-sir-that-in-the-warmth-of-my-feelings-i-may-have/) [Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/) > [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/) [Browse all 4,507 Constitution quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constitution/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "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.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "George Carlin" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/i-have-a-suggestion-that-i-think-would-help-fight-serious-crime-signs/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Constitution" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/i-have-a-suggestion-that-i-think-would-help-fight-serious-crime-signs/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/092/george-carlin-155_constitution_i-have-a-suggestion-that-i-think-would-h_1666273.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/092/george-carlin-155_constitution_i-have-a-suggestion-that-i-think-would-h_1666273.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/092/george-carlin-155_constitution_i-have-a-suggestion-that-i-think-would-h_1666273.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I have a suggestion that I think would help fight serious crime. Signs. There are lots of signs for minor…” — George Carlin", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "George Carlin", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I have a suggestion that I...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/i-have-a-suggestion-that-i-think-would-help-fight-serious-crime-signs/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/i-have-a-suggestion-that-i-think-would-help-fight-serious-crime-signs/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```