--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: People don't seem to understand that the…" description: "\"People don't seem to understand that the separation of powers is not about the power of these branches; it's there to protect individual liberty - it's..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7d/jonathan-turley-23780_about_people-don-t-seem-to-understand-that-the_1394975.png" --- # People don't seem to understand that the separation of… ![“People don't seem to understand that the separation of powers is not about the power of these branches; it's there to protect individual liberty - it's there to protect us from the concentration of power.” quote by Jonathan Turley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7d/jonathan-turley-23780_about_people-don-t-seem-to-understand-that-the_1394975.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7d/jonathan-turley-23780_about_people-don-t-seem-to-understand-that-the_1394975.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7d/jonathan-turley-23780_about_people-don-t-seem-to-understand-that-the_1394975.png) > “People don't seem to understand that the separation of powers is not about the power of these branches; it's there to protect individual liberty - it's there to protect us from the concentration of power.” [Jonathan Turley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-turley/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Separation of powers limits any branch's authority to safeguard personal freedoms from tyranny. **In simple terms:** Limits on government protect liberty. Key Takeaway Support checks and balances. Themes government liberty checks balances Mood cautious serious Type political educational When to use this quote - legislative drafting - judicial review - citizen advocacy - policy analysis Key Concepts Constitutional law political theory Questions to Reflect On - How can citizens monitor hidden power? - What mechanisms best prevent abuse? A Different Perspective Power can still concentrate through informal influence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [About](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/about/) [Branches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/branches/) [Branches Protect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/branches-protect-4872197/) [Concentration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/concentration/) [Constitution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constitution/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Individual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individual/) [Individual liberty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individual-liberty/) [Liberty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberty/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) [Power Branches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power-branches-4872199/) [Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/powers/) [Protect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/protect/) [Seem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seem/) [Separation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/separation/) [Separation of powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/separation-of-powers/) [Separation Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/separation-powers-550918/) [Understand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understand/) [Understand Separation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understand-separation-4872201/) [Us](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/us/) ## Related quotes > [I believe in the separation of powers. If a judge crosses the line between interpreting and making the law, he has crossed the line…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orrin-hatch/i-believe-in-the-separation-of-powers-if-a-judge-crosses-the-line/) [Orrin Hatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orrin-hatch/) > [One of the principles upon which the E.U. is built is the separation of powers and the independence of the judiciary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frans-timmermans/one-of-the-principles-upon-which-the-e-u-is-built-is-the-separation/) [Frans Timmermans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frans-timmermans/) > [I sometimes think that when he was at Harvard Law School, Mr. Obama cut class the day they got to the separation of powers,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-will/i-sometimes-think-that-when-he-was-at-harvard-law-school-mr-obama-cut/) [George Will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-will/) > [The bedrock principle of separation of powers ought to be upheld regardless of the (D) or (R) that rests behind a given president's name.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kayleigh-mcenany/the-bedrock-principle-of-separation-of-powers-ought-to-be-upheld/) [Kayleigh McEnany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kayleigh-mcenany/) > [The basic premise of the Constitution was a separation of powers and a system of checks and balances because man was perceived as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-moore/the-basic-premise-of-the-constitution-was-a-separation-of-powers-and/) [Roy Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-moore/) > [ “The political liberty, of the subject, (separation of powers), is a tranquility of mind arising from the opinion each person has of \[their\] safety.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baron-de-montesquieu/the-political-liberty-of-the-subject-separation-of-powers-is-a/) [Baron de Montesquieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baron-de-montesquieu/) > [Our political organization, based as it is on an eighteenth-century separation of powers and on a nineteenth-century nationalist state, is generally recognized to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carroll-quigley/our-political-organization-based-as-it-is-on-an-eighteenth-century/) [Carroll Quigley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carroll-quigley/) > [Under the doctrine of separation of powers, the manner in which the president personally exercises his assigned executive powers is not subject to questioning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-nixon/under-the-doctrine-of-separation-of-powers-the-manner-in-which-the/) [Richard M. Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-nixon/) > [“In any event, one must consider the broader implications of a frontal assault on the separation of powers as outdated, ineffective, and unaccountable. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-o-sargentich/in-any-event-one-must-consider-the-broader-implications-of-a-frontal/) [Thomas O. Sargentich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-o-sargentich/) > [“In a recurring theme among progressives, Croly condemned the Constitution’s separation of powers, a doctrine essential to averting centralized tyranny, as the main obstacle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-r-levin/in-a-recurring-theme-among-progressives-croly-condemned-the/) [Mark R. Levin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-r-levin/) > [I believe that the power to declare war is most important in limiting the powers of the national government in regard to the rights…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-yoo/i-believe-that-the-power-to-declare-war-is-most-important-in-limiting/) [John Yoo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-yoo/) > [The Supreme Court is the last line of defense for the separation of powers and for the rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-kavanaugh/the-supreme-court-is-the-last-line-of-defense-for-the-separation-of/) [Brett Kavanaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-kavanaugh/) > [I rise in support of the separation of powers as established by our Founding Fathers in the Constitution. The Constitution clearly delegates the power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-rohrabacher/i-rise-in-support-of-the-separation-of-powers-as-established-by-our/) [Dana Rohrabacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-rohrabacher/) > [It was the separation of powers upon which the framers placed their hopes for the preservation of the people's liberties. Despite this heritage, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-byrd/it-was-the-separation-of-powers-upon-which-the-framers-placed-their/) [Robert Byrd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-byrd/) > [The separation of powers is about legislative powers. 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If he swings, it will be from right to far right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-turley/there-s-no-question-that-roberts-will-vote-like-william-rehnquist-if/) [Jonathan Turley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-turley/) > [For many, the recent disclosure of massive warrantless surveillance programs of all citizens by the Obama administration has brought back memories of George Orwell's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-turley/for-many-the-recent-disclosure-of-massive-warrantless-surveillance/) [Jonathan Turley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-turley/) > [I supported Barack Obama. I wasn't very quiet about my support. 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