Constitution Quote by Joseph Sobran
“Like psychoanalysis, constitutional jurisprudence has become a game without rules. By defying the plain meaning of words, ignoring context and history, and using a little ingenuity, you can make the Constitution mean anything you like.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Constitution and the Supreme Court, 1996
It criticizes how some jurists stretch constitutional interpretation beyond original intent, treating it like a flexible game.
In simple terms: Legal interpretation can be twisted to fit any agenda.
Key Takeaway
Beware of over‑broad readings.
Themes
law
interpretation
politics
judiciary
Mood
critical
skeptical
Type
analytical
commentary
When to use this quote
- court rulings
- legislative drafting
- academic debate
- public policy
- media commentary
Key Concepts
originalism
textualism
judicial activism
Questions to Reflect On
- How do we balance flexibility with fidelity?
- What safeguards protect original meaning?
A Different Perspective
Such flexibility can undermine legal certainty and public trust.
![“...[T]he Constitution conferred only a few specific powers on the federal government, all others being denied to it (as the Tenth Amendment would make plain). Unfortunately, only a tiny fraction of the U.S. population today - subtle logicians like you - can grasp such nuances. Too bad. The…” quote by Joseph Sobran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/e81/joseph-sobran-6902_amendments_t-he-constitution-conferred-only-a-few-s_384248.jpg)
![“...[T]oday's Washington is about as attentive to the Tenth Amendment as the Unitarian Church is to the Book of Revelation.” quote by Joseph Sobran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/b72/joseph-sobran-6902_amendments_t-oday-s-washington-is-about-as-attentiv_404524.jpg)
![“Next came the Patent laws. These began in England in 1624; and, in this country, with the adoption of our constitution. Before then [these?], any man might instantly use what another had invented; so that the inventor had no special advantage from his own invention. The patent system changed this…” quote by Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/449/abraham-lincoln-88_adoption_next-came-the-patent-laws-these-began-in_1828.jpg)
