--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The First Amendment was added to the…" description: "\"The First Amendment was added to the Constitution to stand as a guarantee that neither the power nor the prestige of the Federal Government would be us..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/523/hugo-black-10272_amendment_the-first-amendment-was-added-to-the-con_2363798.jpg" --- # The First Amendment was added to the Constitution to stand… ![“The First Amendment was added to the Constitution to stand as a guarantee that neither the power nor the prestige of the Federal Government would be used to control, support or influence the kinds of prayer the American people can say - that the people.” quote by Hugo Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/523/hugo-black-10272_amendment_the-first-amendment-was-added-to-the-con_2363798.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/523/hugo-black-10272_amendment_the-first-amendment-was-added-to-the-con_2363798.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/523/hugo-black-10272_amendment_the-first-amendment-was-added-to-the-con_2363798.jpg) > “The First Amendment was added to the Constitution to stand as a guarantee that neither the power nor the prestige of the Federal Government would be used to control, support or influence the kinds of prayer the American people can say - that the people.” [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 First Amendment protects citizens from government control or influence over prayer, ensuring religious freedom. **In simple terms:** Government cannot dictate or influence personal prayer. Key Takeaway Guard religious liberty. Themes constitutional law religious freedom first amendment Mood cautious thoughtful Type legal political When to use this quote - public policy - legal advocacy - personal worship Key Concepts government limits individual rights Questions to Reflect On - How should government handle public prayer? - What limits protect both faith and order? A Different Perspective Balancing free exercise with public policy can be contentious. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Added Constitution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/added-constitution-5798033/) [Amendment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amendment/) [Amendment Added](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amendment-added-5798032/) [American people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-people/) [Constitution Stand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constitution-stand-3093153/) [Federal government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/federal-government/) [First amendment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-amendment/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) ## Related quotes > [Does the U.S. Constitution stand for anything in an era of government excess? Can that founding document, which is supposed to restrain the power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-thomas/does-the-u-s-constitution-stand-for-anything-in-an-era-of-government/) [Cal Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-thomas/) > [I stand by the Constitution and I stand by the Second Amendment and it's something that I take pride in. It's something that I'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-martinez/i-stand-by-the-constitution-and-i-stand-by-the-second-amendment-and/) [J. D. Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-martinez/) > [In vain they seek to hide behind the flag and the Constitution. In their blindness they forget what the flag and the Constitution stand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/in-vain-they-seek-to-hide-behind-the-flag-and-the-constitution-in/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [An unconditional right to say what one pleases about public affairs is what I consider to be the minimum guarantee of the First Amendment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugo-black/an-unconditional-right-to-say-what-one-pleases-about-public-affairs/) [Hugo Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugo-black/) > [I am for the First Amendment from the first word to the last. I believe it means what it says.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugo-black/i-am-for-the-first-amendment-from-the-first-word-to-the-last-i/) [Hugo Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugo-black/) > [The First Amendment's language leaves no room for inference that abridgments of speech and press can be made just because they are slight. That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugo-black/the-first-amendment-s-language-leaves-no-room-for-inference-that/) [Hugo Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugo-black/) > [The First Amendment has erected a wall between church and state. That wall must be kept high and impregnable. We could not approve the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugo-black/the-first-amendment-has-erected-a-wall-between-church-and-state-that-2/) [Hugo Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugo-black/) > [The very reason for the First Amendment is to make the people of this country free to think, speak, write and worship as they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugo-black/the-very-reason-for-the-first-amendment-is-to-make-the-people-of-this/) [Hugo Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugo-black/) > [Compelling a man by law to pay his money to elect candidates or advocate law or doctrines he is against differs only in degree,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugo-black/compelling-a-man-by-law-to-pay-his-money-to-elect-candidates-or/) [Hugo Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugo-black/) > [The First Amendment has erected a wall between church and state. That wall must be kept high and impregnable. We could not approve the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugo-black/the-first-amendment-has-erected-a-wall-between-church-and-state-that/) [Hugo Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugo-black/) > [The "establishment of religion" clause of the First Amendment means at least this: Neither a state nor the Federal Government can set up a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugo-black/the-establishment-of-religion-clause-of-the-first-amendment-means-at/) [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/) > [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/) > [Our First Amendment expresses a far different calculus for regulating speech than for regulating nonexpressive conduct and that is as it should be. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-dershowitz/our-first-amendment-expresses-a-far-different-calculus-for-regulating/) [Alan Dershowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-dershowitz/) > [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/) ## 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. 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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": "The First Amendment was added to the Constitution to stand as a guarantee that neither the power nor the prestige of the Federal Government would be used to control, support or influence the kinds of prayer the American people can say - that the people.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Hugo Black" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugo-black/the-first-amendment-was-added-to-the-constitution-to-stand-as-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Amendment" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugo-black/the-first-amendment-was-added-to-the-constitution-to-stand-as-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/523/hugo-black-10272_amendment_the-first-amendment-was-added-to-the-con_2363798.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/523/hugo-black-10272_amendment_the-first-amendment-was-added-to-the-con_2363798.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/523/hugo-black-10272_amendment_the-first-amendment-was-added-to-the-con_2363798.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The First Amendment was added to the Constitution to stand as a guarantee that neither the power nor the…” — 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 First Amendment was added to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugo-black/the-first-amendment-was-added-to-the-constitution-to-stand-as-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugo-black/the-first-amendment-was-added-to-the-constitution-to-stand-as-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 } } ] } ```