---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The Supreme Court has ruled that they…"
description: "\"The Supreme Court has ruled that they cannot have a nativity scene in Washington, D.C. This wasn't for any religious reasons. They couldn't find three ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7cd/jay-leno-210_christmas_the-supreme-court-has-ruled-that-they-ca_821272.png"
---

#  The Supreme Court has ruled that they cannot have a…

![“The Supreme Court has ruled that they cannot have a nativity scene in Washington, D.C. This wasn't for any religious reasons. They couldn't find three wise men and a virgin.” quote by Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7cd/jay-leno-210_christmas_the-supreme-court-has-ruled-that-they-ca_821272.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7cd/jay-leno-210_christmas_the-supreme-court-has-ruled-that-they-ca_821272.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7cd/jay-leno-210_christmas_the-supreme-court-has-ruled-that-they-ca_821272.png)

> “The Supreme Court has ruled that they cannot have a nativity scene in Washington, D.C. This wasn't for any religious reasons. They couldn't find three wise men and a virgin.”

[Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The ruling was based on a technicality about missing characters, not on religious grounds.

**In simple terms:** The court blocked the scene because it lacked required figures.

Key Takeaway

Check details before assuming motives.

Themes

law religion media public policy

Mood

skeptical critical

Type

satirical commentary

When to use this quote

- court decisions
- news reporting
- public debates
- media analysis

Key Concepts

legal interpretation satire political commentary

Questions to Reflect On

- What legal standards apply to public displays?
- How does satire affect perception of legal issues?

A Different Perspective

The explanation may oversimplify complex legal reasoning.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Christmas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christmas/) [Court](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/court/) [Funny christmas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny-christmas/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Nativity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nativity/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Religious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religious/) [Supreme court](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/supreme-court/) [Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wise/)

## Related quotes

> [Really, at a time when theyre debating when and where a nativity scene can be used, this is the kind of stuff we need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-tesh/really-at-a-time-when-theyre-debating-when-and-where-a-nativity-scene/)

[John Tesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-tesh/)

> [The ACLU spent this entire holiday season protesting public displays of the nativity scene. Yeah, that's the problem with America right now: Public displays…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-miller/the-aclu-spent-this-entire-holiday-season-protesting-public-displays/)

[Dennis Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-miller/)

> [Wait until Christmas morning to place Jesus in your Nativity scene.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/wait-until-christmas-morning-to-place-jesus-in-your-nativity-scene/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Really, at a time when they're debating when and where a nativity scene can be used, this is the kind of stuff we need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-tesh/really-at-a-time-when-they-re-debating-when-and-where-a-nativity/)

[John Tesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-tesh/)

> [The Christmas season is also that time of year when the business world implores us to consider the material as more important than the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-brent-bozell-jr/the-christmas-season-is-also-that-time-of-year-when-the-business/)

L. Brent Bozell, Jr

> [I went to a white school over here in Mason, Michigan. The white man made the mistake of letting me read his history books.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/i-went-to-a-white-school-over-here-in-mason-michigan-the-white-man/)

[Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/)

> [As I was running for Congress in 2018, people across my district voiced a clear concern that Washington wasn't working for them, and was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abigail-spanberger/as-i-was-running-for-congress-in-2018-people-across-my-district/)

[Abigail Spanberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abigail-spanberger/)

> [Black Americans are the only people in history who are for education instead of liberation. George Washington wasn't beating up on British for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-gregory/black-americans-are-the-only-people-in-history-who-are-for-education/)

[Dick Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-gregory/)

> [The white man made the mistake of letting me read his history books. He made the mistake of teaching me that Patrick Henry was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/the-white-man-made-the-mistake-of-letting-me-read-his-history-books/)

[Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/)

> [My dad said, "As long as you're happy." I used to think it was kind of a very simple idea or philosophy because he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-izzard/my-dad-said-as-long-as-you-re-happy-i-used-to-think-it-was-kind-of-a/)

[Eddie Izzard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-izzard/)

> [I've always been a spiritual person who believed in a Higher Power. So, I've always had my 1-on-1 with God, even if I wasn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ja-rule/i-ve-always-been-a-spiritual-person-who-believed-in-a-higher-power-so/)

[Ja Rule](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ja-rule/)

> [Mum wasn't at all religious, but she thought that going to the theatre was as important a ceremonial, communal experience that a person could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hayley-atwell/mum-wasn-t-at-all-religious-but-she-thought-that-going-to-the-theatre/)

[Hayley Atwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hayley-atwell/)

> [“Karla wasn’t the religious type, but with certain men she was willing to get down on her knees and pray.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-j-lawless/karla-wasn-t-the-religious-type-but-with-certain-men-she-was-willing/)

[M.J. Lawless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-j-lawless/)

> [“I wasn’t religious. Didn’t believe in a higher power. Mundane government was crappy enough, the idea of a divine one simultaneously scared me and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wildbow/i-wasn-t-religious-didn-t-believe-in-a-higher-power-mundane/)

wildbow

> [I always had a really natural faith as a kid. Where I knew God existed and it felt very free and pretty wild and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bear-grylls/i-always-had-a-really-natural-faith-as-a-kid-where-i-knew-god-existed/)

[Bear Grylls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bear-grylls/)

## More by Jay Leno

> [If you restore a car, and you're making money, then you're doing it wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/if-you-restore-a-car-and-you-re-making-money-then-you-re-doing-it/)

[Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/)

> [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/)

[Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/)

> [Michael Jackson has a new baby boy; no word yet who the father is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/michael-jackson-has-a-new-baby-boy-no-word-yet-who-the-father-is/)

[Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/)

> [There is a nationwide shortage of drugs for Attention Deficit Disorder. The FDA says they're not sure how it happened. I guess somebody wasn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/there-is-a-nationwide-shortage-of-drugs-for-attention-deficit/)

[Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/)

> [“Leno said the rainy weather in California "couldn't have come at a worse possible time. Today was the day NBC was supposed to burn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/leno-said-the-rainy-weather-in-california-couldn-t-have-come-at-a/)

[Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/)

> [Donald Trump said he will not decide about a possible run for the presidency until after the current season of Celebrity Apprentice wraps up.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/donald-trump-said-he-will-not-decide-about-a-possible-run-for-the/)

[Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/)

> [American forces in Iraq found $650 million in American cash sealed in a hidden cottage. See, this is why President Bush wants to invade…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/american-forces-in-iraq-found-650-million-in-american-cash-sealed-in/)

[Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/)

> [I wanted to have a career in sports when I was young, but I had to give up the idea. I'm only six feet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/i-wanted-to-have-a-career-in-sports-when-i-was-young-but-i-had-to/)

[Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/)

> [Texas Gov. Rick Perry referred to the Mexican city of Juarez as the most dangerous city in America. In his defense, he probably just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/texas-gov-rick-perry-referred-to-the-mexican-city-of-juarez-as-the/)

[Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/)

> [You can tell you ate too much for Thanksgiving when you have to let your bathrobe out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/you-can-tell-you-ate-too-much-for-thanksgiving-when-you-have-to-let/)

[Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/)

> [The Mayans have predicted the world is supposed to end on December 21. If the world doesn't end on December 21, you can bet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/the-mayans-have-predicted-the-world-is-supposed-to-end-on-december-21/)

[Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/)

> [The Globe reports that North Korean dictator Kim Jong-Il raises money by selling fake Viagra pills. What it is about this guy? None of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/the-globe-reports-that-north-korean-dictator-kim-jong-il-raises-money/)

[Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/)

> [Here is your government at work. A congressman from Colorado said he wants to draft a rule that would make it unethical to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/here-is-your-government-at-work-a-congressman-from-colorado-said-he/)

[Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/)

> [Jack Abramoff is going to testify against some of the other weasels in Congress. A lobbyist testifying against congressmen? How many Bibles are going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/jack-abramoff-is-going-to-testify-against-some-of-the-other-weasels/)

[Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/)

> [Tomorrow, America's most famous hockey mom, Sarah Palin, will drop the ceremonial first puck at the Philadelphia Flyers game. Right afterwards, she'll get out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/tomorrow-america-s-most-famous-hockey-mom-sarah-palin-will-drop-the/)

[Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/)

[Explore all 900 Jay Leno quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/)

## More Christmas quotes

> [The notion of a non-religious Christmas is ridiculous. But so is the insistence on the part of Christians that politicians and retailers carry out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-campos-duffy/the-notion-of-a-non-religious-christmas-is-ridiculous-but-so-is-the/)

[Rachel Campos-Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-campos-duffy/)

> [As we are coming to the end of the year, I want you to forget about the past, the failure, the negative thoughts or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-we-are-coming-to-the-end-of-the-year-i-want-you-to-forget-about/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I once bought my kids a set of batteries for Christmas with a note on it saying, toys not included.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-manning/i-once-bought-my-kids-a-set-of-batteries-for-christmas-with-a-note-on/)

[Bernard Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-manning/)

> [May you have the spirit of Christmas which is Peace, the gladness of Christmas which is Hope, and the Heart of Christmas which is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/may-you-have-the-spirit-of-christmas-which-is-peace-the-gladness-of/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [To my future children; you will know the true meaning of Christmas just not you get gifts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-my-future-children-you-will-know-the-true-meaning-of-christmas/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [No sane local official who has hung up an empty stocking over the municipal fireplace is going to shoot Santa Claus just before a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-smith/no-sane-local-official-who-has-hung-up-an-empty-stocking-over-the/)

[Al Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-smith/)

> [A new heart for a New Year, always!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/a-new-heart-for-a-new-year-always/)

[Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/)

> [Santa Claus has nothing to do with it," the latke said. "Christmas and Hanukah are completely different things." "But different things can often blend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/santa-claus-has-nothing-to-do-with-it-the-latke-said-christmas-and/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [For Christmas one year I bought my son a BB gun. He bought me a t-shirt with a bulls eye on the back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-dangerfield/for-christmas-one-year-i-bought-my-son-a-bb-gun-he-bought-me-a-t/)

[Rodney Dangerfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-dangerfield/)

> [“Why did he hesitate? He finally admitted to himself that he was like an American child who was almost completely certain about Santa Claus,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/why-did-he-hesitate-he-finally-admitted-to-himself-that-he-was-like/)

[Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/)

> [There seems a magic in the very name of Christmas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/there-seems-a-magic-in-the-very-name-of-christmas/)

[Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/)

> [Heaven? Floating about with everyone you ever knew for eternity? Me family does me 'ed in after one day at xmas, I'd rather be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-pilkington/heaven-floating-about-with-everyone-you-ever-knew-for-eternity-me/)

[Karl Pilkington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-pilkington/)

> [Like everyone in his right mind, I feared Santa Claus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/like-everyone-in-his-right-mind-i-feared-santa-claus/)

[Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/)

> [“I stopped keeping an eye out for Santa Claus on Christmas Eve because, when I was five, my mother told me that Santa was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/i-stopped-keeping-an-eye-out-for-santa-claus-on-christmas-eve-because/)

[Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/)

> [On Hanukkah, the first dark night, Light yourself a candle bright. I'll you, if you will me invite To dance within that gentle light.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-gordon/on-hanukkah-the-first-dark-night-light-yourself-a-candle-bright-i-ll/)

[Nick Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-gordon/)

[Browse all 5,100 Christmas quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christmas/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "The Supreme Court has ruled that they cannot have a nativity scene in Washington, D.C. This wasn't for any religious reasons. They couldn't find three wise men and a virgin.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Jay Leno"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/the-supreme-court-has-ruled-that-they-cannot-have-a-nativity-scene-in/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Christmas"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/the-supreme-court-has-ruled-that-they-cannot-have-a-nativity-scene-in/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7cd/jay-leno-210_christmas_the-supreme-court-has-ruled-that-they-ca_821272.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7cd/jay-leno-210_christmas_the-supreme-court-has-ruled-that-they-ca_821272.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7cd/jay-leno-210_christmas_the-supreme-court-has-ruled-that-they-ca_821272.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The Supreme Court has ruled that they cannot have a nativity scene in Washington, D.C. This wasn't for any…” — Jay Leno",
                "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": "Jay Leno",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "The Supreme Court has ruled that...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/the-supreme-court-has-ruled-that-they-cannot-have-a-nativity-scene-in/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/the-supreme-court-has-ruled-that-they-cannot-have-a-nativity-scene-in/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
