---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is impossible to swear an oath to the…"
description: "\"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...."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/88c/martin-schulz-2953_constitution_it-is-impossible-to-swear-an-oath-to-the_386840.jpg"
---

#  It is impossible to swear an oath to the German Basic Law…

![“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.” quote by Martin Schulz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/88c/martin-schulz-2953_constitution_it-is-impossible-to-swear-an-oath-to-the_386840.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/88c/martin-schulz-2953_constitution_it-is-impossible-to-swear-an-oath-to-the_386840.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/88c/martin-schulz-2953_constitution_it-is-impossible-to-swear-an-oath-to-the_386840.jpg)

> “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.”

[Martin Schulz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-schulz/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

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.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Constitution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constitution/) [Constitution Liberal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constitution-liberal-1488754/) [Constitutions World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constitutions-world-3498239/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Impossible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impossible/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Liberal Constitutions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberal-constitutions-3498237/) [Models](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/models/) [Oath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oath/) [Oath German](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oath-german-3498238/) [Realizing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/realizing/) [Swear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/swear/) [Swear Oath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/swear-oath-2113975/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/)

## Related quotes

> [“Still, it was better to swear an oath and never follow through than not even to bother with the oath. Wasn't it?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-abercrombie/still-it-was-better-to-swear-an-oath-and-never-follow-through-than/)

[Joe Abercrombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-abercrombie/)

> [As Members of Congress, we swear an oath to uphold the United States Constitution. It means something to be an American because we believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-tiahrt/as-members-of-congress-we-swear-an-oath-to-uphold-the-united-states/)

[Todd Tiahrt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-tiahrt/)

> [But listen to me first and swear an oath to use all your eloquence and strength to look after me and protect me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/but-listen-to-me-first-and-swear-an-oath-to-use-all-your-eloquence/)

[Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/)

> [When I left Kentucky at age 18 to attend the U.S. Naval Academy and lifted my right hand to swear the oath to defend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-mcgrath/when-i-left-kentucky-at-age-18-to-attend-the-u-s-naval-academy-and/)

[Amy McGrath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-mcgrath/)

> [America never was America to me And yet I swear this oath - America will be!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/langston-hughes/america-never-was-america-to-me-and-yet-i-swear-this-oath-america/)

[Langston Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/langston-hughes/)

> [For me, the essence of the great American Dream is spiritual. I believe that our Constitution is inspired and that it is based on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/for-me-the-essence-of-the-great-american-dream-is-spiritual-i-believe/)

[Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/)

> [We are living out the liberal dream of our founders. The Constitution, the very liberal document - we have gone beyond English common law,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-colmes/we-are-living-out-the-liberal-dream-of-our-founders-the-constitution/)

[Alan Colmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-colmes/)

> [When conservative judges strike down laws, it's because of what's in the Constitution. When liberal judges strike down laws (or impose new laws), it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-coulter/when-conservative-judges-strike-down-laws-it-s-because-of-what-s-in/)

[Ann Coulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-coulter/)

> [Conservative concepts believe in little government - take care of yourself, and that makes men who invent things like the constitution! Liberal thought has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-stine/conservative-concepts-believe-in-little-government-take-care-of/)

[Brad Stine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-stine/)

> [All presidents swear an oath to the Constitution to keep this country united, and when the country fell apart, Lincoln had to put it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/all-presidents-swear-an-oath-to-the-constitution-to-keep-this-country/)

[Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/)

> [“In 531, Tribonian authored a regulation that required that before any trial or hearing could begin, everyone, including litigants and officials, was obliged to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-rosen/in-531-tribonian-authored-a-regulation-that-required-that-before-any/)

[William Rosen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-rosen/)

> [“Self talk and self prayer: When you audible the first and correctly interpret, the white coats correct you in a nuthouse. When you audible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-spellman/self-talk-and-self-prayer-when-you-audible-the-first-and-correctly/)

[Brian Spellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-spellman/)

> [Thousands of Americans have given their lives in Afghanistan and Iraq upholding their oaths and defending this nation. Chelsea Manning broke her oath and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/thousands-of-americans-have-given-their-lives-in-afghanistan-and-iraq/)

[John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/)

> [You are also asked to take an oath, and that's the oath of service. The oath of service is not to secrecy, but to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/you-are-also-asked-to-take-an-oath-and-that-s-the-oath-of-service-the/)

[Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/)

> [A liar freely gives his oath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-malloch/a-liar-freely-gives-his-oath/)

[Douglas Malloch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-malloch/)

## More by Martin Schulz

> [Things are going well in Germany because the economy is booming and as an export-driven nation, we are profiting from the fact that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-schulz/things-are-going-well-in-germany-because-the-economy-is-booming-and/)

[Martin Schulz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-schulz/)

> [We have committed ourselves to pursue joint policies, but then national governments say, "We aren't bound by that." That is a dramatic situation, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-schulz/we-have-committed-ourselves-to-pursue-joint-policies-but-then/)

[Martin Schulz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-schulz/)

> [It was clear to me that the White House's solemn atmosphere would not civilize Trump. But the merciless nepotism with which he conducts politics,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-schulz/it-was-clear-to-me-that-the-white-house-s-solemn-atmosphere-would-not/)

[Martin Schulz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-schulz/)

> [For me, respect is an extremely important political term. Since I began campaigning, it has been at the heart of each of my speeches.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-schulz/for-me-respect-is-an-extremely-important-political-term-since-i-began/)

[Martin Schulz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-schulz/)

> [European policy is always an interplay of rationality and emotion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-schulz/european-policy-is-always-an-interplay-of-rationality-and-emotion/)

[Martin Schulz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-schulz/)

> [When it comes to climate protection, the whole world will have to pay the price. But if Donald Trump intends to conclude a trade…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-schulz/when-it-comes-to-climate-protection-the-whole-world-will-have-to-pay/)

[Martin Schulz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-schulz/)

> [The EU is a community of values, not military buildups.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-schulz/the-eu-is-a-community-of-values-not-military-buildups/)

[Martin Schulz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-schulz/)

> [The old fundamental principles must continue to apply, even in our changing society: Democracy knows neither master nor slave. Equal education opportunities for all,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-schulz/the-old-fundamental-principles-must-continue-to-apply-even-in-our/)

[Martin Schulz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-schulz/)

> [I would have oriented myself in case of Donald Trump according to what former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder said to then - U.S. President…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-schulz/i-would-have-oriented-myself-in-case-of-donald-trump-according-to/)

[Martin Schulz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-schulz/)

> [We are in the middle of a tough, ideological conflict that is being waged across the entire continent. On the one side are those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-schulz/we-are-in-the-middle-of-a-tough-ideological-conflict-that-is-being/)

[Martin Schulz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-schulz/)

> [You have to let the people vote when it comes to a new constitution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-schulz/you-have-to-let-the-people-vote-when-it-comes-to-a-new-constitution/)

[Martin Schulz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-schulz/)

> [The share of wealth held by the minority is much greater than the share held by the majority. We have to draw our own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-schulz/the-share-of-wealth-held-by-the-minority-is-much-greater-than-the/)

[Martin Schulz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-schulz/)

> [France is ready for a European revolution and it is Germany that is pulling the brakes. For a long time, it was the other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-schulz/france-is-ready-for-a-european-revolution-and-it-is-germany-that-is/)

[Martin Schulz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-schulz/)

> [Trump believes politics is a staged fight. But it is not. Still, clear words are sometimes needed in politics. In that sense, I believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-schulz/trump-believes-politics-is-a-staged-fight-but-it-is-not-still-clear/)

[Martin Schulz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-schulz/)

> [Many who have voted for the AfD, or who intend to do so, aren't doing so because they are dyed-in-the-wool enemies of democracy. Rather,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-schulz/many-who-have-voted-for-the-afd-or-who-intend-to-do-so-aren-t-doing/)

[Martin Schulz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-schulz/)

[Explore all 144 Martin Schulz quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-schulz/)

## 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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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": "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.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Martin Schulz"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-schulz/it-is-impossible-to-swear-an-oath-to-the-german-basic-law-without/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Constitution"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-schulz/it-is-impossible-to-swear-an-oath-to-the-german-basic-law-without/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/88c/martin-schulz-2953_constitution_it-is-impossible-to-swear-an-oath-to-the_386840.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/88c/martin-schulz-2953_constitution_it-is-impossible-to-swear-an-oath-to-the_386840.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/88c/martin-schulz-2953_constitution_it-is-impossible-to-swear-an-oath-to-the_386840.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“It is impossible to swear an oath to the German Basic Law without realizing that our constitution is among…” — Martin Schulz",
                "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": "Martin Schulz",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-schulz/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "It is impossible to swear an...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-schulz/it-is-impossible-to-swear-an-oath-to-the-german-basic-law-without/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-schulz/it-is-impossible-to-swear-an-oath-to-the-german-basic-law-without/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
