--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Whether interpreting the Constitution or…" description: "\"Whether interpreting the Constitution or filling in the blanks of a law or a regulation, every word of the court's opinion can widen or narrow our righ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e5/herb-kohl-25520_blow_whether-interpreting-the-constitution-or_1557901.jpg" --- # Whether interpreting the Constitution or filling in the… ![“Whether interpreting the Constitution or filling in the blanks of a law or a regulation, every word of the court's opinion can widen or narrow our rights as Americans and either protect us or leave us more vulnerable to any winds that blow.” quote by Herb Kohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e5/herb-kohl-25520_blow_whether-interpreting-the-constitution-or_1557901.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e5/herb-kohl-25520_blow_whether-interpreting-the-constitution-or_1557901.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e5/herb-kohl-25520_blow_whether-interpreting-the-constitution-or_1557901.jpg) > “Whether interpreting the Constitution or filling in the blanks of a law or a regulation, every word of the court's opinion can widen or narrow our rights as Americans and either protect us or leave us more vulnerable to any winds that blow.” [Herb Kohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-kohl/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Each word in a legal opinion shapes rights, potentially expanding or restricting freedoms. **In simple terms:** Legal language defines rights. Key Takeaway Read opinions critically to protect rights. Themes law rights interpretation Mood analytical cautious Type legal educational When to use this quote - court hearings - policy analysis - citizen advocacy Key Concepts jurisprudence legislative intent Questions to Reflect On - What impact does a single word have on civil liberties? - How can citizens stay informed about legal changes? A Different Perspective Complex legal language can be ambiguous, leading to misinterpretation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Americans Protect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/americans-protect-5837609/) [Blow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blow/) [Constitution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constitution/) [Constitution Filling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constitution-filling-5837610/) [Court](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/court/) [Filling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/filling/) [Filling in](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/filling-in/) [Interpreting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interpreting/) [Interpreting Constitution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interpreting-constitution-1025785/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Narrow Rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/narrow-rights-5837608/) [Opinion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opinion/) [Protect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/protect/) [Regulation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/regulation/) [Rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rights/) [Rights Americans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rights-americans-581278/) [Vulnerable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vulnerable/) [Wind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wind/) ## Related quotes > [ If confirmed, \[Judge of the Supreme Court\] will write the words that will either broaden or narrow our rights for the rest of your… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-kohl/if-confirmed-judge-of-the-supreme-court-will-write-the-words-that/) [Herb Kohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-kohl/) > [Unfortunately, people are re-interpreting the Constitution as a living document, and it's not. It's a solid-based document and it shouldn't be played with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-norris/unfortunately-people-are-re-interpreting-the-constitution-as-a-living/) [Chuck Norris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-norris/) > [The court's injected itself in the definition of marriage, deciding whether or not human life is worth protecting, permitting government to transfer private property…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-brownback/the-court-s-injected-itself-in-the-definition-of-marriage-deciding/) [Sam Brownback](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-brownback/) > [It is difficult to maintain the illusion that we are interpreting a Constitution, rather than inventing one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-scalia/it-is-difficult-to-maintain-the-illusion-that-we-are-interpreting-a/) [Antonin Scalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-scalia/) > [For those of us on the front lines fighting Washington's power grabs, Judge Gorsuch's commitment to interpreting the Constitution and the laws as they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-hawley/for-those-of-us-on-the-front-lines-fighting-washington-s-power-grabs/) [Josh Hawley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-hawley/) > [The most persistent threat to freedom, to the rights of Americans, is fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-meany/the-most-persistent-threat-to-freedom-to-the-rights-of-americans-is/) [George Meany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-meany/) > [If Trump's actions as President reflect his campaign rhetoric, the ACLU and other capable organizations like it will be critical for defending the Bill…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reid-hoffman/if-trump-s-actions-as-president-reflect-his-campaign-rhetoric-the/) [Reid Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reid-hoffman/) > [ I'm going to stand up for what \[Donald Trump\] says and does that is threatening to Americans, to the lives of Americans, the rights… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-m-going-to-stand-up-for-what-donald-trump-says-and-does-that-is/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [I know that we will be judged in history by not only how we disrupt terrorism but how we protect the civil liberties and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mueller/i-know-that-we-will-be-judged-in-history-by-not-only-how-we-disrupt/) [Robert Mueller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mueller/) > [Americans may not always live up to the Bill of Rights, but Americans do not ban books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-a-smith/americans-may-not-always-live-up-to-the-bill-of-rights-but-americans/) [Bradley A. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-a-smith/) > [Pro-choice supporters are often heard using the cool language of the courts and the vocabulary of rights. Americans who are deeply ambivalent about abortion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-goodman/pro-choice-supporters-are-often-heard-using-the-cool-language-of-the/) [Ellen Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-goodman/) > [We must always embrace individual liberty and enforce the constitutional rights of all Americans-rich and poor, immigrant and native, black and white.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/we-must-always-embrace-individual-liberty-and-enforce-the/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [Gays and lesbians began to gain civil rights when Americans realized that their brothers, cousins, daughters were gay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-kristof/gays-and-lesbians-began-to-gain-civil-rights-when-americans-realized/) [Nicholas Kristof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-kristof/) > [We've won wars before and we've certainly retained our rights as Americans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-leahy/we-ve-won-wars-before-and-we-ve-certainly-retained-our-rights-as/) [Patrick Leahy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-leahy/) > [I do think that the success, although still not complete... in the recognition of equal rights... to all Americans, regardless of color, creed and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/i-do-think-that-the-success-although-still-not-complete-in-the/) [Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/) ## More by Herb Kohl > [ A nominee \[to Supreme Court\] must possess the competence, character and temperament to serve on the bench. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-kohl/a-nominee-to-supreme-court-must-possess-the-competence-character-and/) [Herb Kohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-kohl/) > [Judicial excellence requires an understanding that the law is more than an intellectual game and more than a mental exercise. He or she must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-kohl/judicial-excellence-requires-an-understanding-that-the-law-is-more/) [Herb Kohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-kohl/) > [Even as we pour hundreds of billions of dollars into our efforts in the Middle East, there is much that needs to be done…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-kohl/even-as-we-pour-hundreds-of-billions-of-dollars-into-our-efforts-in/) [Herb Kohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-kohl/) > [We need to take steps to strengthen and mend Social Security so that its promise of a secure retirement is just as real for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-kohl/we-need-to-take-steps-to-strengthen-and-mend-social-security-so-that/) [Herb Kohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-kohl/) > [Judicial excellence requires candor before confirmation. We are being asked to give the nominee enormous power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-kohl/judicial-excellence-requires-candor-before-confirmation-we-are-being/) [Herb Kohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-kohl/) > [We give Supreme Court justices this freedom because we expect them to remain above the pull of politics, to avoid the effects of public…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-kohl/we-give-supreme-court-justices-this-freedom-because-we-expect-them-to/) [Herb Kohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-kohl/) > [Before we decide to trust you with this power, we ask you to stand before the public and explain your views. Justice may be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-kohl/before-we-decide-to-trust-you-with-this-power-we-ask-you-to-stand/) [Herb Kohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-kohl/) > [When the President makes something a priority, we see action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-kohl/when-the-president-makes-something-a-priority-we-see-action/) [Herb Kohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-kohl/) > [Over the course of more than 200 years, it has found a right to equal education regardless of race. It has guaranteed an attorney…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-kohl/over-the-course-of-more-than-200-years-it-has-found-a-right-to-equal/) [Herb Kohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-kohl/) > [We need to fight the plague of the uninsured the way we have fought other threats to our way of life and our basic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-kohl/we-need-to-fight-the-plague-of-the-uninsured-the-way-we-have-fought/) [Herb Kohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-kohl/) > [Its time to stop defending a system that is clearly in dire need of reform, stop issuing reports and setting up new roadblocks, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-kohl/its-time-to-stop-defending-a-system-that-is-clearly-in-dire-need-of/) [Herb Kohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-kohl/) > [I will vote my hopes and not my fears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-kohl/i-will-vote-my-hopes-and-not-my-fears/) [Herb Kohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-kohl/) > [Judicial excellence means that a Supreme Court justice must have a sense of the values from which our core of our political- economic system…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-kohl/judicial-excellence-means-that-a-supreme-court-justice-must-have-a/) [Herb Kohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-kohl/) > [ If confirmed, \[Judge of the Supreme Court\] will write the words that will either broaden or narrow our rights for the rest of your… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-kohl/if-confirmed-judge-of-the-supreme-court-will-write-the-words-that/) [Herb Kohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-kohl/) > [The judicial branch has, in its finest hours, stood firmly on the side of individuals against those who would trample their rights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-kohl/the-judicial-branch-has-in-its-finest-hours-stood-firmly-on-the-side/) [Herb Kohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-kohl/) [Explore all 23 Herb Kohl quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-kohl/) ## More Blow quotes > [The wind always seems to blow against catchers when they are running.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-garagiola/the-wind-always-seems-to-blow-against-catchers-when-they-are-running/) [Joe Garagiola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-garagiola/) > [Blow, winds, and crack your cheeks! Rage! Blow! You cataracts and hurricanoes, spout Till you have drenched our teeples, drowned the cocks! You sulphurour…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/blow-winds-and-crack-your-cheeks-rage-blow-you-cataracts-and/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [If he wants to blow his head off, let him. I don't give a damn about Jim Bakker.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-hahn/if-he-wants-to-blow-his-head-off-let-him-i-don-t-give-a-damn-about/) [Jessica Hahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-hahn/) > [If we blow ourselves up we will do it by misapplication of science; if we manage to keep from blowing ourselves up, it will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/if-we-blow-ourselves-up-we-will-do-it-by-misapplication-of-science-if/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [Not I, not I, but the wind that blows through me! A fine wind is blowing the new direction of Time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-h-lawrence/not-i-not-i-but-the-wind-that-blows-through-me-a-fine-wind-is-blowing/) [D. H. Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-h-lawrence/) > [The only two good words that can be said for a hurricane are that it gives sufficient warning of its approach, and that it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-atherton/the-only-two-good-words-that-can-be-said-for-a-hurricane-are-that-it/) [Gertrude Atherton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-atherton/) > [Music is a wind that blows away the years, memories, and fear, that crouching animal I carry inside me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/music-is-a-wind-that-blows-away-the-years-memories-and-fear-that/) [Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/) > [The supposedly immaterial soul, we now know, can be bisected with a knife, altered by chemicals, started or stopped by electricity, and extinguished by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pinker/the-supposedly-immaterial-soul-we-now-know-can-be-bisected-with-a/) [Steven Pinker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pinker/) > [One of the wonderful things about Portlandia - and I'm not just blowing smoke, although I can blow smoke, but I'm not - is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-raab/one-of-the-wonderful-things-about-portlandia-and-i-m-not-just-blowing/) [Scott Raab](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-raab/) > [I would always find a way to blow the deal and I'm not sure why. I think there was part of me that wasn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-isaac/i-would-always-find-a-way-to-blow-the-deal-and-i-m-not-sure-why-i/) [Oscar Isaac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-isaac/) > [Letters crossing in the post, unfamiliar tunes heard three times in one day, the way that blows of fate descend upon the same bowed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fay-weldon/letters-crossing-in-the-post-unfamiliar-tunes-heard-three-times-in/) [Fay Weldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fay-weldon/) > [Truth is, right now two bombs could drop out of the sky and blow up this house and whatever building you're in and just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mackaye/truth-is-right-now-two-bombs-could-drop-out-of-the-sky-and-blow-up/) [Ian MacKaye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mackaye/) > [The old saying is true: If you have only the Word, you dry up. If you have only the Spirit, you blow up. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cymbala/the-old-saying-is-true-if-you-have-only-the-word-you-dry-up-if-you/) [Jim Cymbala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cymbala/) > [I can turn an idea into a business before you know it's going to be important. My first step will blow by you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-cuban/i-can-turn-an-idea-into-a-business-before-you-know-it-s-going-to-be/) [Mark Cuban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-cuban/) > [The Brick House was one of the toughest joints I ever played in ... Guys would drink and fight one another like circle saws.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-armstrong/the-brick-house-was-one-of-the-toughest-joints-i-ever-played-in-guys/) [Louis Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-armstrong/) [Browse all 2,324 Blow quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blow/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Whether interpreting the Constitution or filling in the blanks of a law or a regulation, every word of the court's opinion can widen or narrow our rights as Americans and either protect us or leave us more vulnerable to any winds that blow.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Herb Kohl" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-kohl/whether-interpreting-the-constitution-or-filling-in-the-blanks-of-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Blow" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-kohl/whether-interpreting-the-constitution-or-filling-in-the-blanks-of-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e5/herb-kohl-25520_blow_whether-interpreting-the-constitution-or_1557901.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e5/herb-kohl-25520_blow_whether-interpreting-the-constitution-or_1557901.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e5/herb-kohl-25520_blow_whether-interpreting-the-constitution-or_1557901.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Whether interpreting the Constitution or filling in the blanks of a law or a regulation, every word of the…” — Herb Kohl", "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": "Herb Kohl", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-kohl/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Whether interpreting the Constitution or filling...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-kohl/whether-interpreting-the-constitution-or-filling-in-the-blanks-of-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-kohl/whether-interpreting-the-constitution-or-filling-in-the-blanks-of-a/#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 } } ] } ```