--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We will suggest he is led to these…" description: "\"“We will suggest he is led to these conclusions by a distorted view of the social and legal landscape. Where exemptions give believers an equal shot at..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b80/john-corvino-15517_ethics_we-will-suggest-he-is-led-to-these-concl_1755709.jpg" --- # We will suggest he is led to these conclusions by a… ![“We will suggest he is led to these conclusions by a distorted view of the social and legal landscape. Where exemptions give believers an equal shot at living with integrity, Corvino sees favoritism. Where statutes give the occasional religious liberty claimant her day in court, he sees a teeming…” quote by John Corvino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b80/john-corvino-15517_ethics_we-will-suggest-he-is-led-to-these-concl_1755709.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b80/john-corvino-15517_ethics_we-will-suggest-he-is-led-to-these-concl_1755709.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b80/john-corvino-15517_ethics_we-will-suggest-he-is-led-to-these-concl_1755709.jpg) > ““We will suggest he is led to these conclusions by a distorted view of the social and legal landscape. Where exemptions give believers an equal shot at living with integrity, Corvino sees favoritism. Where statutes give the occasional religious liberty claimant her day in court, he sees a teeming mass of claims about to choke the workings of government. Where a sprawling body of regulations sits, rife with exemptions for everyday secular purposes, Corvino sees a system of laws so necessary in its details that religious exemptions might be ruinous. In conservative professionals facing steep fines on conscience, Corvino sees new Puritans; and in their bureaucratic harassers, he sees freedom fighters. Down the path to exemptions he sees a slippery slope; when society doesn’t tumble, he imagines it stopped by legal barriers that aren’t there, because they aren’t needed. And at the horizon—where others search for harmony with the transcendent, their path cleared by freedoms of conscience and religion—he sees at best a socially useful mirage.”” [John Corvino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-corvino/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The author argues that legal exemptions can be over‑interpreted, creating a slippery‑slope narrative that may misrepresent reality. **In simple terms:** Exemptions can be exaggerated into fear‑mongering. Key Takeaway Balance protection of rights with realistic policy. Themes law religion ethics policy slippery slope Mood analytical cautious serious Type legal philosophical When to use this quote - legislative drafting - court cases - advocacy - public debate - education Key Concepts constitutional law civil liberties exemptions policy analysis Questions to Reflect On - When do exemptions protect versus hinder? - How can law avoid slippery‑slope arguments? A Different Perspective Risk of stifling legitimate religious accommodations. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Conscience Corvino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conscience-corvino-1646280/) [Corvino Sees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corvino-sees-1646282/) [Ethics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ethics/) [Exemptions Believers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exemptions-believers-1646281/) [Integrity Corvino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/integrity-corvino-1646283/) [Purposes Corvino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purposes-corvino-1646279/) [Religious liberty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religious-liberty/) [Slippery slope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slippery-slope/) ## Related quotes > [Any departure from fact is the first step on a slippery slope toward unbelievability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-a-henry-iii/any-departure-from-fact-is-the-first-step-on-a-slippery-slope-toward/) [William A. Henry III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-a-henry-iii/) > [Once we start thinking of ourselves as polluted, there is not much incentive to behave well, and the trip down the slippery slope is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-ariely/once-we-start-thinking-of-ourselves-as-polluted-there-is-not-much/) [Dan Ariely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-ariely/) > [“Next, the cranky priest was waiting for Emily when she returned home and demanded to hear her confession. Funnily, she omitted her great sex…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annette-j-dunlea/next-the-cranky-priest-was-waiting-for-emily-when-she-returned-home/) [Annette J Dunlea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annette-j-dunlea/) > [I walked along that slippery slope where if you fail through lack of faith, you sell your soul to the devil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-shocked/i-walked-along-that-slippery-slope-where-if-you-fail-through-lack-of/) [Michelle Shocked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-shocked/) > [My favorite Scripture is Philippians 4:13, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." God is our strength; his love, demonstrated through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devon-franklin/my-favorite-scripture-is-philippians-4-13-i-can-do-all-things-through/) [DeVon Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devon-franklin/) > [I think the only productive way to approach characters, and frankly people in life, is through empathy. The minute we call someone a villain,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryce-pinkham/i-think-the-only-productive-way-to-approach-characters-and-frankly/) [Bryce Pinkham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryce-pinkham/) > [The premise of Nossiter in 'Mondovino' would have been a lot more accurate when I started writing about wine in 1978 than when the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-parker-jr/the-premise-of-nossiter-in-mondovino-would-have-been-a-lot-more/) [Robert M. Parker, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-parker-jr/) > [Many Europeans are concerned that stronger sanctions are a slippery slope toward war unless the U.S. is at the table.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-ross/many-europeans-are-concerned-that-stronger-sanctions-are-a-slippery/) [Dennis Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-ross/) > [I see women in their 30s getting plastic surgery, pulling this up and tucking that back. It's like a slippery slope - once you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/halle-berry/i-see-women-in-their-30s-getting-plastic-surgery-pulling-this-up-and/) [Halle Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/halle-berry/) > [People don't think about the fact that when Barack Obama's parents had him it was illegal for them to be married in several states…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-washington/people-don-t-think-about-the-fact-that-when-barack-obama-s-parents/) [Kerry Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-washington/) > [I wish the press were paying more attention to the erosion of the Constitution and the slippery slope that we're getting into, by giving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-lee/i-wish-the-press-were-paying-more-attention-to-the-erosion-of-the/) [Barbara Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-lee/) > [Torture is such a slippery slope; as soon as you allow a society or any legal system to do that, almost instantly you get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iain-banks/torture-is-such-a-slippery-slope-as-soon-as-you-allow-a-society-or/) [Iain Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iain-banks/) > [Never bend the rules. You bend the rules a little bit and then it's a slippery slope.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-peterffy/never-bend-the-rules-you-bend-the-rules-a-little-bit-and-then-it-s-a/) [Thomas Peterffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-peterffy/) > [I think we get into very dangerous territory when we start to define who can and cannot be a feminist. It's such a slippery…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-valenti/i-think-we-get-into-very-dangerous-territory-when-we-start-to-define/) [Jessica Valenti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-valenti/) > [“Users of slippery slope arguments should take skiing lessons—you really can choose to stop.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-warburton/users-of-slippery-slope-arguments-should-take-skiing-lessons-you/) [Nigel Warburton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-warburton/) ## More by John Corvino > [“twenty-three years of RFRAs to produce anarchy,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-corvino/twenty-three-years-of-rfras-to-produce-anarchy/) [John Corvino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-corvino/) > [“In short, when it comes to colonial America, religious persecution—in the sense of persecution both based in religion and aimed at religion—was as American…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-corvino/in-short-when-it-comes-to-colonial-america-religious-persecution-in/) [John Corvino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-corvino/) > [“bigotry to consist in stubborn and unjustified animus toward people, typically (though not always) in the context of a larger system of subordination.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-corvino/bigotry-to-consist-in-stubborn-and-unjustified-animus-toward-people/) [John Corvino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-corvino/) > [“Why the double standard of counting dignitary harm (in addition to material harms) against conscience claims, but not at all against speech? This is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-corvino/why-the-double-standard-of-counting-dignitary-harm-in-addition-to/) [John Corvino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-corvino/) > [“but that they would be forced to participate in or help celebrate”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-corvino/but-that-they-would-be-forced-to-participate-in-or-help-celebrate/) [John Corvino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-corvino/) > [“No one doubts that relocating a growing congregation is inconvenient. So is relocating a growing shoe store, supermarket, or household. But it doesn’t follow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-corvino/no-one-doubts-that-relocating-a-growing-congregation-is-inconvenient/) [John Corvino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-corvino/) > [“As philosophy professor Dale Miller asks, “if the business owner is willing to accept less responsibility for her decisions, then why should she expect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-corvino/as-philosophy-professor-dale-miller-asks-if-the-business-owner-is/) [John Corvino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-corvino/) > [“Do not let the focus on bakers and florists obscure this point: It is currently legal in most states to fire people for being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-corvino/do-not-let-the-focus-on-bakers-and-florists-obscure-this-point-it-is/) [John Corvino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-corvino/) > [“Sacred cows don’t tip easily.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-corvino/sacred-cows-don-t-tip-easily/) [John Corvino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-corvino/) > [“the law cannot respect the conscience of flesh-and-blood human beings unless it also recognizes conscience claims brought by the corporations they form.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-corvino/the-law-cannot-respect-the-conscience-of-flesh-and-blood-human-beings/) [John Corvino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-corvino/) > [“By treating blacks as inferior, such policies were an affront to their dignity. This would be true even if these policies had not been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-corvino/by-treating-blacks-as-inferior-such-policies-were-an-affront-to-their/) [John Corvino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-corvino/) > [“The plain fact is that Kim Davis wanted to hold gay people to a different standard than her fellow divorcees: For gays, she would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-corvino/the-plain-fact-is-that-kim-davis-wanted-to-hold-gay-people-to-a/) [John Corvino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-corvino/) > [“Yet it is the dissenters seeking a peaceful settlement”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-corvino/yet-it-is-the-dissenters-seeking-a-peaceful-settlement/) [John Corvino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-corvino/) > [ “The Nobel Prize-winning physicist Steven Weinberg has put the point sharply: “With or without \[religion\], you would have good people doing good things and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-corvino/the-nobel-prize-winning-physicist-steven-weinberg-has-put-the-point/) [John Corvino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-corvino/) > [“Whether a distinction is invidious—rooted in harmful attitudes or ideas about a group and so likely to spread contempt—depends not on whether it’s conduct-…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-corvino/whether-a-distinction-is-invidious-rooted-in-harmful-attitudes-or/) [John Corvino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-corvino/) [Explore all 43 John Corvino quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-corvino/) ## More Ethics quotes > [Self-respect and a clear conscience are powerful components of integrity and are the basis for enriching your relationships with others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/self-respect-and-a-clear-conscience-are-powerful-components-of/) [Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/) > [“Knowledge without conscience is but the ruin of the soul.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabelaise/knowledge-without-conscience-is-but-the-ruin-of-the-soul/) [Rabelaise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabelaise/) > [He who mistrusts most should be trusted least.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theognis-of-megara/he-who-mistrusts-most-should-be-trusted-least/) [Theognis of Megara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theognis-of-megara/) > [Writing adds up to the conscience of our times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-firrell/writing-adds-up-to-the-conscience-of-our-times/) [Martin Firrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-firrell/) > [Ethics is the activity of man directed to secure the inner perfection of his own personality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/ethics-is-the-activity-of-man-directed-to-secure-the-inner-perfection/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [My conscience is really active. So I feel bad about spending excess amount of money on things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/syd/my-conscience-is-really-active-so-i-feel-bad-about-spending-excess/) [Syd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/syd/) > [Records, radio, television, movies, magazines-all are monopolized by the money managers who are guided by one ethic, the words wealth and power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-taft-benson/records-radio-television-movies-magazines-all-are-monopolized-by-the/) [Ezra Taft Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-taft-benson/) > [Let us be thankful for health and competence, and, above all, for a quiet conscience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/izaak-walton/let-us-be-thankful-for-health-and-competence-and-above-all-for-a/) [Izaak Walton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/izaak-walton/) > [Making money doesn't oblige people to forfeit their honor or their conscience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-de-rothschild/making-money-doesn-t-oblige-people-to-forfeit-their-honor-or-their/) [Guy de Rothschild](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-de-rothschild/) > [“If we cannot be happy and powerful and prey on others, we invent conscience and prey on ourselves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/if-we-cannot-be-happy-and-powerful-and-prey-on-others-we-invent/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [There is no perfect justice, just as there is no absolute in ethics. But there is perfect injustice, and we know it when we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-dershowitz/there-is-no-perfect-justice-just-as-there-is-no-absolute-in-ethics/) [Alan Dershowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-dershowitz/) > [I think the ethics and morals of genetic engineering are very complicated. It intrigues me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-spottiswoode/i-think-the-ethics-and-morals-of-genetic-engineering-are-very/) [Roger Spottiswoode](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-spottiswoode/) > [What our species needs, above all else, is a generally accepted ethical system that is compatible with the scientific knowledge we now possess.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/what-our-species-needs-above-all-else-is-a-generally-accepted-ethical/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Ethics is not definable, is not implementable, because it is not conscious; it involves not only our thinking, but also our feeling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valdemar-w-setzer/ethics-is-not-definable-is-not-implementable-because-it-is-not/) [Valdemar W Setzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valdemar-w-setzer/) > [Any time you give a man something he doesn't earn, you cheapen him. Our kids earn what they get, and that includes respect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-hayes/any-time-you-give-a-man-something-he-doesn-t-earn-you-cheapen-him-our/) [Woody Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-hayes/) [Browse all 4,548 Ethics quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ethics/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“We will suggest he is led to these conclusions by a distorted view of the social and legal landscape. Where exemptions give believers an equal shot at living with integrity, Corvino sees favoritism. Where statutes give the occasional religious liberty claimant her day in court, he sees a teeming mass of claims about to choke the workings of government. Where a sprawling body of regulations sits, rife with exemptions for everyday secular purposes, Corvino sees a system of laws so necessary in its details that religious exemptions might be ruinous. In conservative professionals facing steep fines on conscience, Corvino sees new Puritans; and in their bureaucratic harassers, he sees freedom fighters. Down the path to exemptions he sees a slippery slope; when society doesn’t tumble, he imagines it stopped by legal barriers that aren’t there, because they aren’t needed. 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