--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I am for the First Amendment from the…" description: "\"I am for the First Amendment from the first word to the last. I believe it means what it says.\" — Hugo Black" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f6/hugo-black-10272_amendment_i-am-for-the-first-amendment-from-the-fi_2665033.png" --- # I am for the First Amendment from the first word to the… ![“I am for the First Amendment from the first word to the last. I believe it means what it says.” quote by Hugo Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f6/hugo-black-10272_amendment_i-am-for-the-first-amendment-from-the-fi_2665033.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f6/hugo-black-10272_amendment_i-am-for-the-first-amendment-from-the-fi_2665033.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f6/hugo-black-10272_amendment_i-am-for-the-first-amendment-from-the-fi_2665033.png) > “I am for the First Amendment from the first word to the last. I believe it means what it says.” [Hugo Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugo-black/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker asserts that the First Amendment should be taken at face value, without reinterpretation. **In simple terms:** Treat the amendment literally as written. Key Takeaway Uphold literal interpretation of constitutional rights. Themes law constitution interpretation Mood formal serious Type legal political When to use this quote - court rulings - legislative drafting - civil rights advocacy Key Concepts originalism legal theory Questions to Reflect On - Should constitutional meaning evolve? - How to balance original intent with modern needs? A Different Perspective Literal reading may ignore evolving societal contexts. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Amendment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amendment/) [Amendment Word](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amendment-word-2458680/) [Amendments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amendments/) [Belief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/) [Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Believe Means](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe-means-1698503/) [First amendment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-amendment/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [I believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-believe/) [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [Lasts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lasts/) [Liberty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberty/) [Mean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mean/) [Means Says](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/means-says-1760206/) [Word Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/word-believe-359097/) ## Related quotes > [“Do you know what the word believe means?” I’m holding my breath. “No.” I think it means that you have no proof. Or you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-kaye-quinn/do-you-know-what-the-word-believe-means-i-m-holding-my-breath-no-i/) [Susan Kaye Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-kaye-quinn/) > [The word 'security' is a broad, vague generality whose contours should not be invoked to abrogate the fundamental law embodied in the First Amendment.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugo-black/the-word-security-is-a-broad-vague-generality-whose-contours-should/) [Hugo Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugo-black/) > [I do not believe that it can be too often repeated that the freedoms of speech, press, petition and assembly guaranteed by the First…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugo-black/i-do-not-believe-that-it-can-be-too-often-repeated-that-the-freedoms/) [Hugo Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugo-black/) > [How can you believe in the word BELIEVE when theres a lie in the center? When theres an END of every FRIEND? When theres…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reymon-iglesia/how-can-you-believe-in-the-word-believe-when-theres-a-lie-in-the/) [Reymon Iglesia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reymon-iglesia/) > [No man means all he says, and yet very few say all they mean, for words are slippery and thought is viscous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/no-man-means-all-he-says-and-yet-very-few-say-all-they-mean-for-words/) [Henry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-adams/) > [No one means all he says, and yet very few say all they mean, for words are slippery and thought is viscous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/no-one-means-all-he-says-and-yet-very-few-say-all-they-mean-for-words/) [Henry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-adams/) > [Content means a film that makes a difference, it means it says something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivek-agnihotri/content-means-a-film-that-makes-a-difference-it-means-it-says/) [Vivek Agnihotri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivek-agnihotri/) > [A government that says what it means, and means what it says.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-abbott/a-government-that-says-what-it-means-and-means-what-it-says/) [Tony Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-abbott/) > [“I chose this guy because he always says what he means and means what he says. -Twivortiare-”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ika-natassa/i-chose-this-guy-because-he-always-says-what-he-means-and-means-what/) [Ika Natassa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ika-natassa/) > [The mark of an honest man... is that he means what he says and knows what he means.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/the-mark-of-an-honest-man-is-that-he-means-what-he-says-and-knows/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [“not listen to the mad ramblings of a broken man. He means none of what he says and only half of what he doesn’t.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-hall/not-listen-to-the-mad-ramblings-of-a-broken-man-he-means-none-of-what/) [Marie Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-hall/) > [No one means all he says, and yet very few say all they mean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-brooks-adams/no-one-means-all-he-says-and-yet-very-few-say-all-they-mean/) [Henry Brooks Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-brooks-adams/) > [“Do not listen to the mad ramblings of a broken man. He means none of what he says and only half of what he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-hall/do-not-listen-to-the-mad-ramblings-of-a-broken-man-he-means-none-of/) [Marie Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-hall/) > [“It means what it says," he managed, staring at her again. "There's not a lot of subtlety in this particular strip." She took the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/it-means-what-it-says-he-managed-staring-at-her-again-there-s-not-a/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) > [I DONT UNDERSTAND WHAT THIS MEANS OR WHAT THIS SAYS BUT ITS JUST SAD LOL...YOLO](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dub-tepper/i-dont-understand-what-this-means-or-what-this-says-but-its-just-sad/) [DUB$TEPPER](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dub-tepper/) ## More by Hugo Black > [Our Constitution was not written in the sands to be washed away by each wave of new judges blown in by each successive political…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugo-black/our-constitution-was-not-written-in-the-sands-to-be-washed-away-by/) [Hugo Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugo-black/) > [Freedom to speak and write about public questions is as important to the life of our government as is the heart to the human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugo-black/freedom-to-speak-and-write-about-public-questions-is-as-important-to/) [Hugo Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugo-black/) > [From the very beginning, our state and national constitutions and laws have laid great emphasis on procedural and substantive safeguards designed to assure fair…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugo-black/from-the-very-beginning-our-state-and-national-constitutions-and-laws/) [Hugo Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugo-black/) > [The flagrant disregard in the courtroom of elementary standards of proper conduct should not and cannot be tolerated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugo-black/the-flagrant-disregard-in-the-courtroom-of-elementary-standards-of/) [Hugo Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugo-black/) > [A union of government and religion tends to destroy government and to degrade religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugo-black/a-union-of-government-and-religion-tends-to-destroy-government-and-to/) [Hugo Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugo-black/) > [The lesson which wars and depressions have taught is that if we want peace, prosperity and happiness at home we must help to establish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugo-black/the-lesson-which-wars-and-depressions-have-taught-is-that-if-we-want/) [Hugo Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugo-black/) > [The public welfare demands that constitutional cases must be decided according to the terms of the Constitution itself, and not according to judges views…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugo-black/the-public-welfare-demands-that-constitutional-cases-must-be-decided/) [Hugo Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugo-black/) > [The Founding Fathers gave the free press the protection it must have to bare the secrets of government and inform the people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugo-black/the-founding-fathers-gave-the-free-press-the-protection-it-must-have/) [Hugo Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugo-black/) > [Freedom of speech means that you shall not do something to people either for the views they have, or the views they express, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugo-black/freedom-of-speech-means-that-you-shall-not-do-something-to-people/) [Hugo Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugo-black/) > [Words uttered under coercion are proof of loyalty to nothing but self-interest. Love of country must spring from willing hearts and free minds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugo-black/words-uttered-under-coercion-are-proof-of-loyalty-to-nothing-but-self/) [Hugo Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugo-black/) > [In my view, far from deserving condemnation for their courageous reporting, the New York Times, the Washington Post and other newspapers should be commended…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugo-black/in-my-view-far-from-deserving-condemnation-for-their-courageous/) [Hugo Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugo-black/) > [Loyalty must arise spontaneously from the hearts of people who love their country and respect their government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugo-black/loyalty-must-arise-spontaneously-from-the-hearts-of-people-who-love/) [Hugo Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugo-black/) > [The word 'security' is a broad, vague generality whose contours should not be invoked to abrogate the fundamental law embodied in the First Amendment.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugo-black/the-word-security-is-a-broad-vague-generality-whose-contours-should/) [Hugo Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugo-black/) > [Among religions in this country which do not teach what would generally be considered a belief in the existence of God are Buddhism, Taoism,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugo-black/among-religions-in-this-country-which-do-not-teach-what-would/) [Hugo Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugo-black/) > [That Amendment requires the state to be a neutral in its relations with groups of religious believers and nonbelievers; it does not require the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugo-black/that-amendment-requires-the-state-to-be-a-neutral-in-its-relations/) [Hugo Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugo-black/) [Explore all 66 Hugo Black quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugo-black/) ## More Amendment quotes > [There are a lot of people who want to retain the Eighth Amendment - I don't agree with that view myself - there are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-varadkar/there-are-a-lot-of-people-who-want-to-retain-the-eighth-amendment-i/) [Leo Varadkar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-varadkar/) > [“Let's just make this easy. I'm in favor of a Constitutional amendment that would read something like this: 'Neither the federal government, nor any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-boortz/let-s-just-make-this-easy-i-m-in-favor-of-a-constitutional-amendment/) [Neal Boortz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-boortz/) > [If you reduce the guns and the ammo, you'll reduce the murders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-moore/if-you-reduce-the-guns-and-the-ammo-you-ll-reduce-the-murders/) [Michael Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-moore/) > [Gun control laws don't work. What is worse, they act perversely. While legitimate users of firearms encounter intense regulation, scrutiny and bureaucratic control, illicit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-d-polsby/gun-control-laws-don-t-work-what-is-worse-they-act-perversely-while/) [Daniel D. Polsby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-d-polsby/) > [Can you understand why the Congress, most states and most cities refuse to pass legislation requiring the registration and licensing of any and all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/can-you-understand-why-the-congress-most-states-and-most-cities/) [Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/) > [This separation was absolute in our original Republic. But the sky-godders do not give up easily. In the 1950s they actually got the phrase…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/this-separation-was-absolute-in-our-original-republic-but-the-sky/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [Guns aren't the problem; sick people are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-sessions/guns-aren-t-the-problem-sick-people-are/) [Pete Sessions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-sessions/) > [The proliferation of right-to-carry laws throughout the states has drawn plaintive complaints from the criminal element. They feel that it makes their profession too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-cooper/the-proliferation-of-right-to-carry-laws-throughout-the-states-has/) [Jeff Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-cooper/) > [Gun violence has cost us too many political leaders, and hardly ever the worst ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/gun-violence-has-cost-us-too-many-political-leaders-and-hardly-ever/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [I don't think anybody who carries a rifle carries the future. Because I don't believe that you can really change the world by killing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shimon-peres/i-don-t-think-anybody-who-carries-a-rifle-carries-the-future-because/) [Shimon Peres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shimon-peres/) > [“my folks wouldn't read a book if you put a gun to their dicks. but they read people all day long and always get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-conroy/my-folks-wouldn-t-read-a-book-if-you-put-a-gun-to-their-dicks-but/) [Pat Conroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-conroy/) > [Anybody who pretends that how you read the 10th and 11th Amendment doesn't have a fundamental impact on the things we care about is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/anybody-who-pretends-that-how-you-read-the-10th-and-11th-amendment/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [I think we have two conflicting traditions in this country. I think it's important for us to recognize that we've got a tradition of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-think-we-have-two-conflicting-traditions-in-this-country-i-think-it/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Country lyrics often reference the NRA and firearms ownership as a way of life. Artists such as John Rich, Toby Keith, Sara Evans and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-pavlich/country-lyrics-often-reference-the-nra-and-firearms-ownership-as-a/) [Katie Pavlich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-pavlich/) > [“People who have attended Concealed Carry classes, and those already licensed, typically seem to demonstrate a higher degree of courtesy, responsibility and respect. Interestingly,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-behr/people-who-have-attended-concealed-carry-classes-and-those-already/) [Gary Behr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-behr/) [Browse all 2,041 Amendment quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amendment/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I am for the First Amendment from the first word to the last. 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