--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The divorce between Church and State…" description: "\"The divorce between Church and State ought to be absolute. It ought to be so absolute that no Church property anywhere, in any state or in the nation, ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/97e/james-a-garfield-3517_church_the-divorce-between-church-and-state-oug_1143578.jpg" --- # The divorce between Church and State ought to be absolute… ![“The divorce between Church and State ought to be absolute. It ought to be so absolute that no Church property anywhere, in any state or in the nation, should be exempt from equal taxation; for if you exempt the property of any church organization, to that extent you impose a tax upon the whole…” quote by James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/97e/james-a-garfield-3517_church_the-divorce-between-church-and-state-oug_1143578.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/97e/james-a-garfield-3517_church_the-divorce-between-church-and-state-oug_1143578.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/97e/james-a-garfield-3517_church_the-divorce-between-church-and-state-oug_1143578.jpg) > “The divorce between Church and State ought to be absolute. It ought to be so absolute that no Church property anywhere, in any state or in the nation, should be exempt from equal taxation; for if you exempt the property of any church organization, to that extent you impose a tax upon the whole community.” [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Advocates total separation of church and state, arguing that any tax exemption for churches unfairly burdens the broader community. **In simple terms:** Churches should be taxed like any other entity. Key Takeaway Ensure equal taxation for all institutions. Themes separation of church and state tax fairness civil equality Mood thoughtful serious Type political philosophical When to use this quote - legislative debates - public budgeting - tax reform discussions - community advocacy Key Concepts public policy tax law religious liberty Questions to Reflect On - How would equal taxation affect church services? - What alternatives exist to protect religious freedom while ensuring fairness? A Different Perspective May face resistance from religious groups fearing loss of autonomy. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/church/) [Church and state](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/church-and-state/) [Community](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/community/) [Divorce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/divorce/) [Organization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/organization/) [Property](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/property/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Separation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/separation/) [Separation of church and state](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/separation-of-church-and-state/) [Taxation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taxation/) [Taxes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taxes/) ## Related quotes > [Declare Church and State forever separate and distinct, but each free within their proper spheres, and that all church property shall bear its own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ulysses-s-grant/declare-church-and-state-forever-separate-and-distinct-but-each-free-2/) [Ulysses S. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ulysses-s-grant/) > [The divorce between church and state should be absolute.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/the-divorce-between-church-and-state-should-be-absolute/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [The separation of Church and State in everything relating to taxation should be absolute.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/the-separation-of-church-and-state-in-everything-relating-to-taxation/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [No church property is taxed and so the infidel and the atheist and the man without religion are taxed to make up the deficit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/no-church-property-is-taxed-and-so-the-infidel-and-the-atheist-and/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [In 1850, I believe, the church property in the United States, which paid no tax, amounted to $87 million. In 1900, without a check,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ulysses-s-grant/in-1850-i-believe-the-church-property-in-the-united-states-which-paid/) [Ulysses S. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ulysses-s-grant/) > [I would like to call your attention to ... an evil that, if allowed to continue, will probably lead to great trouble ... It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ulysses-s-grant/i-would-like-to-call-your-attention-to-an-evil-that-if-allowed-to/) [Ulysses S. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ulysses-s-grant/) > [It is an absurd fiction that the churches are useful. They are nothing more than propaganda centers for superstitious faiths and doctrines. Church members…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-haldeman-julius/it-is-an-absurd-fiction-that-the-churches-are-useful-they-are-nothing/) [E. 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It was not written into the Constitution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-buck/i-disagree-strongly-with-the-concept-of-separation-of-church-and/) [Ken Buck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-buck/) > [I questioned the faithful of all communions; I particularly sought the society of clergymen, who are the depositories of the various creeds and have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-de-tocqueville/i-questioned-the-faithful-of-all-communions-i-particularly-sought-the/) [Alexis de Tocqueville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-de-tocqueville/) > [Church and state are, and must remain, separate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/church-and-state-are-and-must-remain-separate/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [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/) ## More by James A. 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