--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Over our history there are always those…" description: "\"Over our history there are always those who want to take this wall of separation and remove a brick here or there or damage it more than that. I think ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/720/harry-a-blackmun-19399_atheism_over-our-history-there-are-always-those_3219269.jpg" --- # Over our history there are always those who want to take… ![“Over our history there are always those who want to take this wall of separation and remove a brick here or there or damage it more than that. I think one has to be vigilant and constantly on the alert.” quote by Harry A. Blackmun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/720/harry-a-blackmun-19399_atheism_over-our-history-there-are-always-those_3219269.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/720/harry-a-blackmun-19399_atheism_over-our-history-there-are-always-those_3219269.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/720/harry-a-blackmun-19399_atheism_over-our-history-there-are-always-those_3219269.jpg) > “Over our history there are always those who want to take this wall of separation and remove a brick here or there or damage it more than that. I think one has to be vigilant and constantly on the alert.” [Harry A. Blackmun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-a-blackmun/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Vigilance is needed to protect against incremental erosion of important safeguards. **In simple terms:** Watch for small attacks on big protections. Key Takeaway Stay alert, defend boundaries. Themes justice vigilance rights societal safeguards Mood cautious serious Type legal political When to use this quote - legal reforms - civil rights activism - policy monitoring - community advocacy Key Concepts constitutional law incremental erosion public policy Questions to Reflect On - What safeguards are you overlooking? - How can you maintain constant vigilance? A Different Perspective Even small changes can accumulate into major damage. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Atheism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheism/) [Damage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/damage/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Positive atheism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/positive-atheism/) [Separation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/separation/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Wall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wall/) ## Related quotes > [I want a strong border. I do want a wall. Walls do work, you just have to speak to the folks in Israel. Walls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-want-a-strong-border-i-do-want-a-wall-walls-do-work-you-just-have/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [ \[Donald\] Trump is touching a nerve because people want the wall to be built. They want to see an end to illegal immigration. They… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kasich/donald-trump-is-touching-a-nerve-because-people-want-the-wall-to-be/) [John Kasich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kasich/) > [I don't want a wall being built around the Netherlands.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geert-wilders/i-don-t-want-a-wall-being-built-around-the-netherlands/) [Geert Wilders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geert-wilders/) > [I want to build the wall. We need the wall. And the Border Patrol, ICE, they all want the wall. We stop the drugs.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-want-to-build-the-wall-we-need-the-wall-and-the-border-patrol-ice/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [The key to overcoming resistance to change is to frame your actions and continually adjust them as you move forward to so that those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stewart-d-friedman/the-key-to-overcoming-resistance-to-change-is-to-frame-your-actions/) [Stewart D. Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stewart-d-friedman/) > [Always be vigilant -when we cry we see- control your action, work ceaselessly and pray fervently...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olajide-oluwatobiloba/always-be-vigilant-when-we-cry-we-see-control-your-action-work/) [Olajide Oluwatobiloba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olajide-oluwatobiloba/) > [Time cools, time clarifies; no mood can be maintained quite unaltered through the course of hours. 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Blackmun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-a-blackmun/) > [From this day forward, I no longer shall tinker with the machinery of death,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-a-blackmun/from-this-day-forward-i-no-longer-shall-tinker-with-the-machinery-of/) [Harry A. Blackmun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-a-blackmun/) > [I no longer shall tinker with the machinery of death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-a-blackmun/i-no-longer-shall-tinker-with-the-machinery-of-death/) [Harry A. Blackmun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-a-blackmun/) > [In order to get beyond racism, we must first take account of race. There is no other way. And in order to treat some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-a-blackmun/in-order-to-get-beyond-racism-we-must-first-take-account-of-race/) [Harry A. Blackmun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-a-blackmun/) > [Of one thing, however, I am certain. Just as an execution without adequate safeguards is unacceptable, so too is an execution when the condemned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-a-blackmun/of-one-thing-however-i-am-certain-just-as-an-execution-without/) [Harry A. Blackmun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-a-blackmun/) > [Disapproval of homosexuality cannot justify invading the houses, hearts and minds of citizens who choose to live their lives differently.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-a-blackmun/disapproval-of-homosexuality-cannot-justify-invading-the-houses/) [Harry A. Blackmun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-a-blackmun/) > [Abortion raises moral and spiritual questions over which honorable persons can disagree sincerely and profoundly. But those disagreements did not then and do not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-a-blackmun/abortion-raises-moral-and-spiritual-questions-over-which-honorable/) [Harry A. 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