--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The Establishment Clause . . . stands as…" description: "\"The Establishment Clause . . . stands as an expression of principle on the part of the Founders . . . that religion is too personal, too sacred, too ho..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d1/hugo-black-10272_church_the-establishment-clause-stands-as-an-ex_1858382.png" --- # The Establishment Clause . . . stands as an expression of… ![“The Establishment Clause . . . stands as an expression of principle on the part of the Founders . . . that religion is too personal, too sacred, too holy, to permit its 'unhallowed perversion' by a civil magistrate.” quote by Hugo Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d1/hugo-black-10272_church_the-establishment-clause-stands-as-an-ex_1858382.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d1/hugo-black-10272_church_the-establishment-clause-stands-as-an-ex_1858382.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d1/hugo-black-10272_church_the-establishment-clause-stands-as-an-ex_1858382.png) > “The Establishment Clause . . . stands as an expression of principle on the part of the Founders . . . that religion is too personal, too sacred, too holy, to permit its 'unhallowed perversion' by a civil magistrate.” [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 Founders believed religion should remain private, free from governmental distortion or control. **In simple terms:** Religion belongs in the private sphere, not government. Key Takeaway Protect religious freedom from state interference. Themes separation of church and state individual rights government limits Mood thoughtful serious Type legal political When to use this quote - legislation - court rulings - public policy Key Concepts theocracy civil liberty state power Questions to Reflect On - How should government handle religious symbols? - Can personal faith influence public law? A Different Perspective Balancing religious expression with secular governance is complex. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/church/) [Establishment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/establishment/) [Establishment clause](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/establishment-clause/) [Expression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expression/) [Founders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/founders/) [Holy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/holy/) [Perversion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perversion/) [Principles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principles/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Sacred](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sacred/) ## Related quotes > [The Establishment Clause stands as an expression of principle on the part of the Founders of our Constitution that religion is too personal, too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugo-black/the-establishment-clause-stands-as-an-expression-of-principle-on-the/) [Hugo Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugo-black/) > ["Respecting" means concerning or with reference to. But it also means with respect~ that is "reverence," "good-will," "regard" to. Taking into account this richer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-paul-stevens/respecting-means-concerning-or-with-reference-to-but-it-also-means/) [John Paul Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-paul-stevens/) > [ Approving some religious claims while deeming others unworthy of accommodation could be 'perceived as favoring one religion over another,' the very 'risk the \[Constitution's\]… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/approving-some-religious-claims-while-deeming-others-unworthy-of/) [Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bader-ginsburg/) > [The Free Exercise Clause at the very least was designed to guarantee freedom of conscience by prohibiting any degree of compulsion in matters of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-a-blackmun/the-free-exercise-clause-at-the-very-least-was-designed-to-guarantee/) [Harry A. Blackmun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-a-blackmun/) > [A profession that we are a nation "under God" is identical, for establishment clause purposes, to a profession that we are a nation "under…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-goodwin/a-profession-that-we-are-a-nation-under-god-is-identical-for/) Alfred Goodwin > [Pulling a crystalline, cogent rule out of the murk of the court's First Amendment, public forum, and Establishment Clause doctrine is an act of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dahlia-lithwick/pulling-a-crystalline-cogent-rule-out-of-the-murk-of-the-court-s/) [Dahlia Lithwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dahlia-lithwick/) > [With respect to public acknowledgment of religious belief, it is entirely clear from our nation's historical practices that the Establishment Clause permits this disregard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-scalia/with-respect-to-public-acknowledgment-of-religious-belief-it-is/) [Antonin Scalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-scalia/) > [It is impossible to build sound constitutional doctrine upon a mistaken understanding of Constitutional history... The establishment clause has been expressly freighted with Jefferson's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-rehnquist/it-is-impossible-to-build-sound-constitutional-doctrine-upon-a/) [William Rehnquist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-rehnquist/) > [The establishment clause was transformed from a shield for religion into a cover for the official sanctioning of religious tolerance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-e-reed-jr/the-establishment-clause-was-transformed-from-a-shield-for-religion/) [Ralph E. Reed, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-e-reed-jr/) > [The Establishment Clause prohibits government from making adherence to a religion relevant in any way to a person's standing in the political community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-day-o-connor/the-establishment-clause-prohibits-government-from-making-adherence/) [Sandra Day O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-day-o-connor/) > [“One must state it plainly. Religion comes from the period of human prehistory where nobody—not even the mighty Democritus who concluded that all matter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/one-must-state-it-plainly-religion-comes-from-the-period-of-human/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [“while one can debate whether a particular Founder was religiously devout, there is little question that many regularly attended Christian worship and participated in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-k-green/while-one-can-debate-whether-a-particular-founder-was-religiously/) [Steven K. Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-k-green/) > [That is good. It is a law of nature. That is the way with all founders of religion. Without persecution superior ideas cannot penetrate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/that-is-good-it-is-a-law-of-nature-that-is-the-way-with-all-founders/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [What is absurd is not the teachings of the founders of religion, it's what followers subsequently make of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cleese/what-is-absurd-is-not-the-teachings-of-the-founders-of-religion-it-s/) [John Cleese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cleese/) > [My cut-off line is, you don't make fun of the prophet founders of a religion. That would just alienate people. But you can make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omid-djalili/my-cut-off-line-is-you-don-t-make-fun-of-the-prophet-founders-of-a/) [Omid Djalili](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omid-djalili/) ## 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 Church quotes > [While the 1963 Birmingham church bombing is the most historic, there also was a series of church burnings in the 1990s. Recognition of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthea-butler/while-the-1963-birmingham-church-bombing-is-the-most-historic-there/) [Anthea Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthea-butler/) > [If I had my brothers I think with just a little bit of the correct marketing, I'd like to be almost exclusively in small…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-bozzio/if-i-had-my-brothers-i-think-with-just-a-little-bit-of-the-correct/) [Terry Bozzio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-bozzio/) > [Turn over the pages of history and read the damning record of the church's opposition to every advance in every field of science. . . .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/upton-sinclair/turn-over-the-pages-of-history-and-read-the-damning-record-of-the/) [Upton Sinclair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/upton-sinclair/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Jeff Chu's pilgrimage across America to discover his own place as a gay man in the Christian church as well as attitudes about being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-freitas/jeff-chu-s-pilgrimage-across-america-to-discover-his-own-place-as-a/) [Donna Freitas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-freitas/) > [God is not calling us to go to church; he is calling us to be his church, the hope of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-groeschel/god-is-not-calling-us-to-go-to-church-he-is-calling-us-to-be-his/) [Craig Groeschel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-groeschel/) > [The emerging church movement has come to believe that the ultimate context of the spiritual aspirations of a follower of Jesus Christ is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samir-selmanovic/the-emerging-church-movement-has-come-to-believe-that-the-ultimate/) [Samir Selmanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samir-selmanovic/) > [ T\]he church is not a place. It's not a building. It's not a preaching point. It's not a spiritual service provider. It's a people… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-dever/t-he-church-is-not-a-place-it-s-not-a-building-it-s-not-a-preaching/) [Mark Dever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-dever/) > [There could be no more powerful argument against mixing religion and government than the success of independent African American churches in placing racial segregation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jacoby/there-could-be-no-more-powerful-argument-against-mixing-religion-and/) [Susan Jacoby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jacoby/) > [Worship is not about personality, temperament, personal limitations, church background, or comfort. It is about God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wimber/worship-is-not-about-personality-temperament-personal-limitations/) [John Wimber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wimber/) > [A beggarly people, A church and no steeple.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-b-macaulay/a-beggarly-people-a-church-and-no-steeple/) [Thomas B. Macaulay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-b-macaulay/) > [Pound St. Paul's Church into atoms, and consider any single atom; it is to be sure, good for nothing; but put all these atoms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/pound-st-paul-s-church-into-atoms-and-consider-any-single-atom-it-is/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [The religion of art, like the religion of politics, was born from the ruins of Christianity. Art inherited from the old religion the power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavio-paz/the-religion-of-art-like-the-religion-of-politics-was-born-from-the/) [Octavio Paz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavio-paz/) > [The minute you walk outside of your church on Sunday you're in mission territory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-barron/the-minute-you-walk-outside-of-your-church-on-sunday-you-re-in/) [Robert Barron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-barron/) > [I'm not ashamed of the things I believe and why I believe them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-huckabee/i-m-not-ashamed-of-the-things-i-believe-and-why-i-believe-them/) [Mike Huckabee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-huckabee/) [Browse all 9,430 Church quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/church/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The Establishment Clause . . . stands as an expression of principle on the part of the Founders . . . that religion is too personal, too sacred, too holy, to permit its 'unhallowed perversion' by a civil magistrate.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Hugo Black" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugo-black/the-establishment-clause-stands-as-an-expression-of-principle-on-the-2/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Church" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugo-black/the-establishment-clause-stands-as-an-expression-of-principle-on-the-2/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d1/hugo-black-10272_church_the-establishment-clause-stands-as-an-ex_1858382.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d1/hugo-black-10272_church_the-establishment-clause-stands-as-an-ex_1858382.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d1/hugo-black-10272_church_the-establishment-clause-stands-as-an-ex_1858382.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The Establishment Clause . . . stands as an expression of principle on the part of the Founders . . . that…” — Hugo Black", "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": "Hugo Black", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugo-black/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The Establishment Clause . . ....", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugo-black/the-establishment-clause-stands-as-an-expression-of-principle-on-the-2/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugo-black/the-establishment-clause-stands-as-an-expression-of-principle-on-the-2/#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 } } ] } ```