--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The Constitution is a living, breathing…" description: "\"The Constitution is a living, breathing document that can speak to you and nobody else.\" — Lindsey Graham" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f06/lindsey-graham-3593_constitution_the-constitution-is-a-living-breathing-d_479362.jpg" --- # The Constitution is a living, breathing document that can… ![“The Constitution is a living, breathing document that can speak to you and nobody else.” quote by Lindsey Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f06/lindsey-graham-3593_constitution_the-constitution-is-a-living-breathing-d_479362.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f06/lindsey-graham-3593_constitution_the-constitution-is-a-living-breathing-d_479362.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f06/lindsey-graham-3593_constitution_the-constitution-is-a-living-breathing-d_479362.jpg) > “The Constitution is a living, breathing document that can speak to you and nobody else.” [Lindsey Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsey-graham/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The Constitution adapts to each generation, speaking uniquely to individuals. **In simple terms:** Constitution changes with time for each person. Key Takeaway Embrace its evolving relevance. Themes law government interpretation Mood thoughtful reflective Type political philosophical When to use this quote - political debate - legal education - citizen engagement Key Concepts constitutionalism living document Questions to Reflect On - How does personal experience shape constitutional meaning? - Can a document truly speak to one person? A Different Perspective Interpretations can be subjective and politically driven. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Constitution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constitution/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) ## Related quotes > [Saying the Constitution is a living document is the same as saying we don't have a Constitution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-e-williams/saying-the-constitution-is-a-living-document-is-the-same-as-saying-we/) [Walter E. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-e-williams/) > [Constitution is a living document; no strict constructionism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/constitution-is-a-living-document-no-strict-constructionism/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [That's the argument of flexibility and it goes something like this: The Constitution is over 200 years old and societies change. It has to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-scalia/that-s-the-argument-of-flexibility-and-it-goes-something-like-this/) [Antonin Scalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-scalia/) > [To say the Constitution is living is to say that it's dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/to-say-the-constitution-is-living-is-to-say-that-it-s-dead/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [Unfortunately, people are re-interpreting the Constitution as a living document, and it's not. It's a solid-based document and it shouldn't be played with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-norris/unfortunately-people-are-re-interpreting-the-constitution-as-a-living/) [Chuck Norris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-norris/) > [We need to put people on the bench that understand the Constitution is not a living and breathing document. It is to be interpreted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/we-need-to-put-people-on-the-bench-that-understand-the-constitution/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [Liberals see the Constitution itself as 'living' and 'evolving' that is, gradually turning into something that would have been unrecognizable to its authors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-sobran/liberals-see-the-constitution-itself-as-living-and-evolving-that-is/) [Joseph Sobran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-sobran/) > [May the Lord be with us at all times, under all circumstances; may he bring into our lives a burning desire to uphold the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-reuben-clark/may-the-lord-be-with-us-at-all-times-under-all-circumstances-may-he/) [J. Reuben Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-reuben-clark/) > [I used to say that the Constitution is not a living document. It's dead, dead, dead. But I've gotten better. I no longer say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-scalia/i-used-to-say-that-the-constitution-is-not-a-living-document-it-s/) [Antonin Scalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-scalia/) > [I believe that the Constitution is an enduring document.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ketanji-brown-jackson/i-believe-that-the-constitution-is-an-enduring-document/) [Ketanji Brown Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ketanji-brown-jackson/) > [Sometimes you even start to sound like the character because you're living and breathing them every day on the set. It gets into your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dormer/sometimes-you-even-start-to-sound-like-the-character-because-you-re/) [Richard Dormer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dormer/) > [Venus is a walking, living, breathing legend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bianca-andreescu/venus-is-a-walking-living-breathing-legend/) [Bianca Andreescu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bianca-andreescu/) > [Love should be as natural as living and breathing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/love-should-be-as-natural-as-living-and-breathing/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [I think theater is more about living and breathing, versus TV, which can vary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-mullally/i-think-theater-is-more-about-living-and-breathing-versus-tv-which/) [Megan Mullally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-mullally/) > [My worry is that opera will become an historic art form as opposed to a living, breathing thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/renee-fleming/my-worry-is-that-opera-will-become-an-historic-art-form-as-opposed-to/) [Renee Fleming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/renee-fleming/) ## More by Lindsey Graham > [We're failing when it comes to controlling spending.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsey-graham/we-re-failing-when-it-comes-to-controlling-spending/) [Lindsey Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsey-graham/) > [The legal system in Afghanistan is very immature and porous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsey-graham/the-legal-system-in-afghanistan-is-very-immature-and-porous/) [Lindsey Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsey-graham/) > [There's a lot of things we can do to balance out what Obama's done and going forward show the American people the Republican Party…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsey-graham/there-s-a-lot-of-things-we-can-do-to-balance-out-what-obama-s-done/) [Lindsey Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsey-graham/) > [I intend to make America strong again. I'm going to be the champion of the middle class, where I came from. If you make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsey-graham/i-intend-to-make-america-strong-again-i-m-going-to-be-the-champion-of/) [Lindsey Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsey-graham/) > [The sooner we get started with alternative energy sources and recognize that fossil fuels makes us less secure as a nation, and more dangerous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsey-graham/the-sooner-we-get-started-with-alternative-energy-sources-and/) [Lindsey Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsey-graham/) > [Well, thank God for a media that will ask questions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsey-graham/well-thank-god-for-a-media-that-will-ask-questions/) [Lindsey Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsey-graham/) > [My advice is if we can't replace Obamacare by ourselves, to go to the Democrats and say this. 10% of the sick people in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsey-graham/my-advice-is-if-we-can-t-replace-obamacare-by-ourselves-to-go-to-the/) [Lindsey Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsey-graham/) > [We’re not generating enough angry white guys to stay in business for the long term.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsey-graham/we-re-not-generating-enough-angry-white-guys-to-stay-in-business-for/) [Lindsey Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsey-graham/) > [From a policy point of view, I don't think it's the right approach. I don't like the idea of having millions of people here…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsey-graham/from-a-policy-point-of-view-i-don-t-think-it-s-the-right-approach-i/) [Lindsey Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsey-graham/) > [I think comprehensive immigration reform while securing your border and dealing rationale with 11 million is the only way we're going to solve this problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsey-graham/i-think-comprehensive-immigration-reform-while-securing-your-border/) [Lindsey Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsey-graham/) > [I don't see any coronation coming my way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsey-graham/i-don-t-see-any-coronation-coming-my-way/) [Lindsey Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsey-graham/) > [Conservatives have a different view of a lot of issues versus our friends on the other side. The election determines how that shakes out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsey-graham/conservatives-have-a-different-view-of-a-lot-of-issues-versus-our/) [Lindsey Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsey-graham/) > [It's one thing to shoot yourself in the foot. Just don't reload the gun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsey-graham/it-s-one-thing-to-shoot-yourself-in-the-foot-just-don-t-reload-the-gun/) [Lindsey Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsey-graham/) > [At the end of the day, I think I understand the dynamic that we face. And I'm best prepared to be commander in chief…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsey-graham/at-the-end-of-the-day-i-think-i-understand-the-dynamic-that-we-face/) [Lindsey Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsey-graham/) > [There will never be a bill without a pathway to citizenship signed by the president...And in turn there will never be a pathway to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsey-graham/there-will-never-be-a-bill-without-a-pathway-to-citizenship-signed-by/) [Lindsey Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsey-graham/) [Explore all 126 Lindsey Graham quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsey-graham/) ## More Constitution quotes > [ Next came the Patent laws. These began in England in 1624; and, in this country, with the adoption of our constitution. Before then \[these?\],… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/next-came-the-patent-laws-these-began-in-england-in-1624-and-in-this/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/) [Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/) > [In this choice of inheritance we have given to our frame of polity the image of a relation in blood; binding up the constitution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/in-this-choice-of-inheritance-we-have-given-to-our-frame-of-polity/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [As for doing good; that is one of the professions which is full. Moreover I have tried it fairly and, strange as it may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/as-for-doing-good-that-is-one-of-the-professions-which-is-full/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [While not widely reported, our victories in Iraq are plentiful. National elections, a democratic parliament and the drafting of a constitution are just some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-gillmor/while-not-widely-reported-our-victories-in-iraq-are-plentiful/) [Paul Gillmor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-gillmor/) > [In a recent decision of the Supreme Court, not made, however, by the full court, and concurred in by only four justices, it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bates-clark/in-a-recent-decision-of-the-supreme-court-not-made-however-by-the/) [John Bates Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bates-clark/) > [The judiciary must not take on the coloration of whatever may be popular at the moment. We are guardian of rights, and we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-bird/the-judiciary-must-not-take-on-the-coloration-of-whatever-may-be/) [Rose Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-bird/) > [There is not a revolution that succe Women are suffering because they are being excluded. The high military council excluded women from the committee…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nawal-el-saadawi/there-is-not-a-revolution-that-succe-women-are-suffering-because-they/) [Nawal El Saadawi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nawal-el-saadawi/) > [Free government is founded in jealousy, and not in confidence; it is jealousy, and not confidence, which prescribes limited constitutions, to bind down those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/free-government-is-founded-in-jealousy-and-not-in-confidence-it-is/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [The American Constitution declares 'All men are born equal.' The British Socialist Party add: 'All men must be kept equal'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/the-american-constitution-declares-all-men-are-born-equal-the-british/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [“The Court has a special responsibility to ensure that the Constitution works in practice. While education, including the transmission of our civic values from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-breyer/the-court-has-a-special-responsibility-to-ensure-that-the/) [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 > [Nothing from man's hands, nor law, nor constitution, can be final. Truth alone is final.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-sumner/nothing-from-man-s-hands-nor-law-nor-constitution-can-be-final-truth/) [Charles Sumner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-sumner/) > [“I am apprehensive, Sir, that in the warmth of my feelings, I may have uttered expressions, which were too vehement. If such has been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/i-am-apprehensive-sir-that-in-the-warmth-of-my-feelings-i-may-have/) [Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/) > [Conservative political opinion in America cleaves to the tradition of the judge as passive interpreter, believing that his absolute loyalty to authoritative law is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/learned-hand/conservative-political-opinion-in-america-cleaves-to-the-tradition-of/) [Learned Hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/learned-hand/) [Browse all 4,507 Constitution quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constitution/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The Constitution is a living, breathing document that can speak to you and nobody else.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Lindsey Graham" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsey-graham/the-constitution-is-a-living-breathing-document-that-can-speak-to-you/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Constitution" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsey-graham/the-constitution-is-a-living-breathing-document-that-can-speak-to-you/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f06/lindsey-graham-3593_constitution_the-constitution-is-a-living-breathing-d_479362.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f06/lindsey-graham-3593_constitution_the-constitution-is-a-living-breathing-d_479362.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f06/lindsey-graham-3593_constitution_the-constitution-is-a-living-breathing-d_479362.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The Constitution is a living, breathing document that can speak to you and nobody else.” — Lindsey Graham", "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": "Lindsey Graham", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsey-graham/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The Constitution is a living, breathing...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsey-graham/the-constitution-is-a-living-breathing-document-that-can-speak-to-you/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsey-graham/the-constitution-is-a-living-breathing-document-that-can-speak-to-you/#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 } } ] } ```