Constitution Quote by Martin Schulz
“It is impossible to swear an oath to the German Basic Law without realizing that our constitution is among the most liberal constitutions in the world. As the head of government in such a country, I would stand up to all those who call into question this free, open and tolerant model of society.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: European Parliament Address, 2017
He affirms the German Basic Law as highly liberal and pledges to defend its free, open, and tolerant principles against critics.
In simple terms: Germany’s constitution is very liberal; he will defend it.
Key Takeaway
Uphold liberal values, confront dissent.
Themes
law
liberalism
political duty
Mood
defensive
assertive
Type
political
ideological
When to use this quote
- parliamentary debates
- public protests
- policy making
- international diplomacy
Key Concepts
constitutional law
human rights
democracy
Questions to Reflect On
- What limits should be placed on criticism of liberal societies?
- How to protect tolerance without suppressing dissent?
A Different Perspective
Balancing free speech with defending liberal values can be complex.
![“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)
