--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: They may not be conscripted against their…" description: "\"They may not be conscripted against their will as the foot soldiers in a federal crusade.\" — John Paul Stevens" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/076/john-paul-stevens-12128_against_they-may-not-be-conscripted-against-thei_1377377.jpg" --- # They may not be conscripted against their will as the foot… ![“They may not be conscripted against their will as the foot soldiers in a federal crusade.” quote by John Paul Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/076/john-paul-stevens-12128_against_they-may-not-be-conscripted-against-thei_1377377.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/076/john-paul-stevens-12128_against_they-may-not-be-conscripted-against-thei_1377377.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/076/john-paul-stevens-12128_against_they-may-not-be-conscripted-against-thei_1377377.jpg) > “They may not be conscripted against their will as the foot soldiers in a federal crusade.” [John Paul Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-paul-stevens/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote warns that forcing individuals into military service against their will is morally problematic, likening it to a forced crusade. **In simple terms:** Conscripting against will is unethical. Key Takeaway Respect individual autonomy. Themes ethics military individual rights government power conscription Mood serious reflective Type legal political When to use this quote - policy debate - legal analysis - human rights advocacy Key Concepts civil liberty state coercion moral responsibility Questions to Reflect On - Is forced service ever morally permissible? - How can societies balance security and personal freedom? A Different Perspective Compulsory service may still be justified in extreme national emergencies. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Against](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/against/) [Conscripted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conscripted-604068/) [Conscripted Foot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conscripted-foot-4760773/) [Crusade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crusade/) [Federal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/federal/) [Federal Crusade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/federal-crusade-4760771/) [Foot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/foot/) [Foot Soldiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/foot-soldiers-2431495/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [Soldiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soldiers/) [Soldiers Federal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soldiers-federal-4760772/) [Will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/will/) ## Related quotes > [My mum is bright, ambitious, well read, political and very bolshie: when my dad was conscripted into the Army and posted to Libya, she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-brand/my-mum-is-bright-ambitious-well-read-political-and-very-bolshie-when/) [Jo Brand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-brand/) > [Still, I love a campaign. I'm never happier than when I'm fighting shoulder to shoulder with our growing army of foot soldiers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jess-phillips/still-i-love-a-campaign-i-m-never-happier-than-when-i-m-fighting/) [Jess Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jess-phillips/) > [“The bravest are usually those whom we do not know or hear about, those anonymous men who dig the trenches, who produce the food.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-sionil-jos/the-bravest-are-usually-those-whom-we-do-not-know-or-hear-about-those/) [F. Sionil José](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-sionil-jos/) > [No matter how excluded you have become from Christmas, it is a genuinely inclusive matter; frankly, you are conscripted into it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-rinder/no-matter-how-excluded-you-have-become-from-christmas-it-is-a/) [Robert Rinder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-rinder/) > [“I understood much later that this was the day of ‘the largest seaborne invasion in history’ or ‘the biggest military operation ever mounted’ –…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holger-eckhertz/i-understood-much-later-that-this-was-the-day-of-the-largest-seaborne/) [Holger Eckhertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holger-eckhertz/) > [“He had volunteered early, rather than waiting to be conscripted, for he felt a duty and an obligation to serve, and believed that ...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iain-pears/he-had-volunteered-early-rather-than-waiting-to-be-conscripted-for-he/) [Iain Pears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iain-pears/) > [Our poetry emulates the recent progress in military strategy: Our army's strength is the foot soldiers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-grillparzer/our-poetry-emulates-the-recent-progress-in-military-strategy-our-army/) [Franz Grillparzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-grillparzer/) > [I was conscripted to military service, and my gut feeling was to refuse to serve. I did not want to kill other people. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/torbjorn-tannsjo/i-was-conscripted-to-military-service-and-my-gut-feeling-was-to/) [Torbjorn Tannsjo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/torbjorn-tannsjo/) > [“I was conscripted during the war and even made to do coolie labor. The sneakers I now wear when I work in the fields…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osamu-dazai/i-was-conscripted-during-the-war-and-even-made-to-do-coolie-labor-the/) [Osamu Dazai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osamu-dazai/) > [I did not volunteer for the Waffen SS, but was, as were thousands of my year group, conscripted. I did not then know as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gunter-grass/i-did-not-volunteer-for-the-waffen-ss-but-was-as-were-thousands-of-my/) [Gunter Grass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gunter-grass/) > [A major of colored troops is here with his party capturing negroes, with or without their consent…They are being conscripted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-a-logan/a-major-of-colored-troops-is-here-with-his-party-capturing-negroes/) [John A. Logan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-a-logan/) > [Firefighters are indispensable foot soldiers here at home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-dodd/firefighters-are-indispensable-foot-soldiers-here-at-home/) [Christopher Dodd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-dodd/) > [Nobody has yet found a way of bombing that can prevent foot soldiers from walking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/nobody-has-yet-found-a-way-of-bombing-that-can-prevent-foot-soldiers/) [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) > [“More than ever, we ordinary civilians are the foot soldiers in the war on terrorism.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-bird/more-than-ever-we-ordinary-civilians-are-the-foot-soldiers-in-the-war/) [Chris Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-bird/) > [As soon as we lay ourselves entirely at His feet, we have enough light given to us to guide our own steps. We are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-eliot/as-soon-as-we-lay-ourselves-entirely-at-his-feet-we-have-enough-light/) [George Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-eliot/) ## More by John Paul Stevens > [When the commission finds that a pig has entered the parlor, the exercise of its regulatory power does not depend on proof that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-paul-stevens/when-the-commission-finds-that-a-pig-has-entered-the-parlor-the/) [John Paul Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-paul-stevens/) > [The practice of executing such offenders is a relic of the past and is inconsistent with evolving standards of decency in a civilized society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-paul-stevens/the-practice-of-executing-such-offenders-is-a-relic-of-the-past-and/) [John Paul Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-paul-stevens/) > [It is not our job to apply laws that have not yet been written.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-paul-stevens/it-is-not-our-job-to-apply-laws-that-have-not-yet-been-written/) [John Paul Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-paul-stevens/) > [As a matter of constitutional tradition, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, we presume that governmental regulation of the content of speech…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-paul-stevens/as-a-matter-of-constitutional-tradition-in-the-absence-of-evidence-to/) [John Paul Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-paul-stevens/) > [I announced my dissent in the Citizens United orally, and I stumbled in my announcement. I had a little difficulty expressing myself. And that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-paul-stevens/i-announced-my-dissent-in-the-citizens-united-orally-and-i-stumbled/) [John Paul Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-paul-stevens/) > [Public officials, including state legislators, have a duty to act impartially.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-paul-stevens/public-officials-including-state-legislators-have-a-duty-to-act/) [John Paul Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-paul-stevens/) > [District of Columbia v. Heller, which recognized an individual right to possess a firearm under the Constitution, is unquestionably the most clearly incorrect decision…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-paul-stevens/district-of-columbia-v-heller-which-recognized-an-individual-right-to/) [John Paul Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-paul-stevens/) > [After all, a district judge who gives harsh sentences to Yankees fans and lenient sentences to Red Sox fans would not be acting reasonably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-paul-stevens/after-all-a-district-judge-who-gives-harsh-sentences-to-yankees-fans/) [John Paul Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-paul-stevens/) > [All I can say is I did the best I could, and I didn't do well enough on many occasions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-paul-stevens/all-i-can-say-is-i-did-the-best-i-could-and-i-didn-t-do-well-enough/) [John Paul Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-paul-stevens/) > [It almost seems I was writing two separate books, the first one about the time before I went on the court and the second…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-paul-stevens/it-almost-seems-i-was-writing-two-separate-books-the-first-one-about/) [John Paul Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-paul-stevens/) > [One thing, however, is certain. Although we may never know with complete certainty the identity of the winner of this year's presidential election, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-paul-stevens/one-thing-however-is-certain-although-we-may-never-know-with-complete/) [John Paul Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-paul-stevens/) > [I'm a person who plays Ping-Pong once in a while.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-paul-stevens/i-m-a-person-who-plays-ping-pong-once-in-a-while/) [John Paul Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-paul-stevens/) > [Anonymity is a shield from the tyranny of the majority.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-paul-stevens/anonymity-is-a-shield-from-the-tyranny-of-the-majority/) [John Paul Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-paul-stevens/) > [I think maybe the people in elected positions are more interested in preserving their jobs than in doing the best job possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-paul-stevens/i-think-maybe-the-people-in-elected-positions-are-more-interested-in/) [John Paul Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-paul-stevens/) > [When I joined the Supreme Court in 1975, both state and federal judges accepted the Court's unanimous decision in United States v. Miller as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-paul-stevens/when-i-joined-the-supreme-court-in-1975-both-state-and-federal-judges/) [John Paul Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-paul-stevens/) [Explore all 56 John Paul Stevens quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-paul-stevens/) ## More Against quotes > [I love casting against type and doing things you wouldn't expect, because I think you get more interesting performances that way. Hollywood loves to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-s-goyer/i-love-casting-against-type-and-doing-things-you-wouldn-t-expect/) [David S. Goyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-s-goyer/) > [I think I am against stereotype. Generally, Asian guys are more quiet - they study and have a good work ethic. Generally, I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-lee/i-think-i-am-against-stereotype-generally-asian-guys-are-more-quiet/) [Bobby Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-lee/) > [I'm not against gay people. I have a relative who is also gay. We can't help it if they were born that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manny-pacquiao/i-m-not-against-gay-people-i-have-a-relative-who-is-also-gay-we-can-t/) [Manny Pacquiao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manny-pacquiao/) > [It's going to be used in the last days to get people to come against Christ, and that's the issue: they come against the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-lahaye/it-s-going-to-be-used-in-the-last-days-to-get-people-to-come-against/) [Tim LaHaye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-lahaye/) > [We do not know which irresponsible Israeli prime minister will take office and decide to use nuclear weapons in the struggle against neighboring Arab…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mordechai-vanunu/we-do-not-know-which-irresponsible-israeli-prime-minister-will-take/) [Mordechai Vanunu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mordechai-vanunu/) > [In France they spend six months training policemen, then they give them a gun and put them on the streets, and I don't know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mathieu-kassovitz/in-france-they-spend-six-months-training-policemen-then-they-give/) [Mathieu Kassovitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mathieu-kassovitz/) > [France has not only built a bureaucratic barrier against American culture, it has constructed a notorious intellectual case against it as well. The French…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-cowen/france-has-not-only-built-a-bureaucratic-barrier-against-american/) [Tyler Cowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-cowen/) > [My problems are sort of more on a nuisance level. I can't stand scratchy clothes, I've got to have soft kinds of cotton against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/temple-grandin/my-problems-are-sort-of-more-on-a-nuisance-level-i-can-t-stand/) [Temple Grandin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/temple-grandin/) > [I don't have any regrets or hold any grudge against anyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cooper-kupp/i-don-t-have-any-regrets-or-hold-any-grudge-against-anyone/) [Cooper Kupp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cooper-kupp/) > [Ronaldo will always score against everyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giorgio-chiellini/ronaldo-will-always-score-against-everyone/) [Giorgio Chiellini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giorgio-chiellini/) > [Well, just that there would be somebody in the office and the voters - it was more or less an understanding in the entire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-breyer/well-just-that-there-would-be-somebody-in-the-office-and-the-voters/) [Stephen Breyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-breyer/) > [The Constitution is very clear on the - on the declaration of war or reacting to international crimes - crimes against nations. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-pitts/the-constitution-is-very-clear-on-the-on-the-declaration-of-war-or/) [Joe Pitts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-pitts/) > [It goes way, way back when we were under Sweden's rule. We always think they are better than us. We played against them so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saku-koivu/it-goes-way-way-back-when-we-were-under-sweden-s-rule-we-always-think/) [Saku Koivu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saku-koivu/) > [I'm against unanswerable concentrations of power, whether that be government or private industry or religious figures - anybody who is not accountable to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-suarez/i-m-against-unanswerable-concentrations-of-power-whether-that-be/) [Daniel Suarez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-suarez/) > [I'm an Indian and I shall not do anything that goes against my ethos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherlyn-chopra/i-m-an-indian-and-i-shall-not-do-anything-that-goes-against-my-ethos/) [Sherlyn Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherlyn-chopra/) [Browse all 2,190 Against quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/against/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "They may not be conscripted against their will as the foot soldiers in a federal crusade.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Paul Stevens" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-paul-stevens/they-may-not-be-conscripted-against-their-will-as-the-foot-soldiers/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Against" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-paul-stevens/they-may-not-be-conscripted-against-their-will-as-the-foot-soldiers/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/076/john-paul-stevens-12128_against_they-may-not-be-conscripted-against-thei_1377377.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/076/john-paul-stevens-12128_against_they-may-not-be-conscripted-against-thei_1377377.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/076/john-paul-stevens-12128_against_they-may-not-be-conscripted-against-thei_1377377.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“They may not be conscripted against their will as the foot soldiers in a federal crusade.” — John Paul Stevens", "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": "John Paul Stevens", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-paul-stevens/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "They may not be conscripted against...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-paul-stevens/they-may-not-be-conscripted-against-their-will-as-the-foot-soldiers/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-paul-stevens/they-may-not-be-conscripted-against-their-will-as-the-foot-soldiers/#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 } } ] } ```