--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If laws acting upon private interests can…" description: "\"If laws acting upon private interests can not always be avoided, they should be confined within the narrowest limits, and left wherever possible to the..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/397/martin-van-buren-14496_acting_if-laws-acting-upon-private-interests-ca_1554495.jpg" --- # If laws acting upon private interests can not always be… ![“If laws acting upon private interests can not always be avoided, they should be confined within the narrowest limits, and left wherever possible to the legislatures of the States.” quote by Martin Van Buren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/397/martin-van-buren-14496_acting_if-laws-acting-upon-private-interests-ca_1554495.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/397/martin-van-buren-14496_acting_if-laws-acting-upon-private-interests-ca_1554495.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/397/martin-van-buren-14496_acting_if-laws-acting-upon-private-interests-ca_1554495.jpg) > “If laws acting upon private interests can not always be avoided, they should be confined within the narrowest limits, and left wherever possible to the legislatures of the States.” [Martin Van Buren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-van-buren/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. When private interests influence law, the federal government should limit its role and let states legislate whenever possible. **In simple terms:** Federal law should stay out of private matters, leaving decisions to states. Key Takeaway Prefer state-level solutions over federal overreach. Themes federalism states’ rights legislative limits private interests constitutional balance Mood cautious analytical reflective Type political legal philosophical When to use this quote - state legislation - business regulation - environmental policy - education standards - healthcare reform Key Concepts Federalism separation of powers subsidiarity Questions to Reflect On - How can we balance national consistency with state autonomy? - When should the federal government intervene in private matters? A Different Perspective State solutions may lack uniformity and could conflict across borders. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Avoided](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/avoided/) [Can not](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/can-not/) [Confined](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confined/) [Interest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interest/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Left](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/left/) [Legislature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/legislature/) [Legislatures](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/legislatures-581279/) [Legislatures States](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/legislatures-states-5817610/) [Limits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/limits/) [Limits Left](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/limits-left-2230706/) [Narrowest Limits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/narrowest-limits-2785742/) [Possible Legislatures](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possible-legislatures-5817609/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [States](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/states/) ## Related quotes > [I will say this: it's important to work hard, but you have to know your limits. There's always another show, but if there's no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenn-wasner/i-will-say-this-it-s-important-to-work-hard-but-you-have-to-know-your/) [Jenn Wasner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenn-wasner/) > [Laws abridging the natural right of the citizen should be restrained by rigorous constructions within their narrowest limits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/laws-abridging-the-natural-right-of-the-citizen-should-be-restrained/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [I consider the difference between a system founded on the legislatures only, and one founded on the people, to be the true difference between…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/i-consider-the-difference-between-a-system-founded-on-the/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [The PRO Act represents a massive power grab by the Democrats here in Washington, D.C. to override the will of the voters and state…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-tuberville/the-pro-act-represents-a-massive-power-grab-by-the-democrats-here-in/) [Tommy Tuberville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-tuberville/) > [The Federal Constitution forms a happy combination in this respect; the great and aggregate interests being referred to the national, the local and particular,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/the-federal-constitution-forms-a-happy-combination-in-this-respect/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [At the end of the day, I want to make sure everyone feels supported and has somewhere to turn - and to make this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsay-hoyle/at-the-end-of-the-day-i-want-to-make-sure-everyone-feels-supported/) [Lindsay Hoyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsay-hoyle/) > [The 'free market' is the product of laws and rules continuously emanating from legislatures, executive departments, and courts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/the-free-market-is-the-product-of-laws-and-rules-continuously/) [Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/) > [Unlike the United States Congress, which mostly forbids outside employment, state legislatures are generally composed of people with other careers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-dedman/unlike-the-united-states-congress-which-mostly-forbids-outside/) [Bill Dedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-dedman/) > [We have 31 Republican governors in this country. We have roughly the same number of Republican legislatures.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-inskeep/we-have-31-republican-governors-in-this-country-we-have-roughly-the/) [Steve Inskeep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-inskeep/) > [The frame of mind in the local legislatures seems to be exerted to prevent the federal constitution from having any good effect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-knox/the-frame-of-mind-in-the-local-legislatures-seems-to-be-exerted-to/) [Henry Knox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-knox/) > [The excuse of divided government is over: they have the House and the Senate as well; they have the state legislatures; they have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kellyanne-conway/the-excuse-of-divided-government-is-over-they-have-the-house-and-the/) [Kellyanne Conway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kellyanne-conway/) > [The smartest thing legislatures can do is get rid of lotteries and get those dollars buying consumer goods and get the sales tax revenues…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-warren-kindt/the-smartest-thing-legislatures-can-do-is-get-rid-of-lotteries-and/) [John Warren Kindt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-warren-kindt/) > [In the last two years, the amount of legislation in the House of Representatives and state legislatures has been really unprecedented, that has focused…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-fluke/in-the-last-two-years-the-amount-of-legislation-in-the-house-of/) [Sandra Fluke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-fluke/) > [I am unable to conceive that the state legislatures which must feel so many motives to watch, and which possess so many means of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/i-am-unable-to-conceive-that-the-state-legislatures-which-must-feel/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [They wish for a general government of unity, as they see that the local legislatures must naturally and necessarily tend to retard the general…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-knox/they-wish-for-a-general-government-of-unity-as-they-see-that-the/) [Henry Knox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-knox/) ## More by Martin Van Buren > [“it is easier to do a job right than to explain why you didnt”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-van-buren/it-is-easier-to-do-a-job-right-than-to-explain-why-you-didnt/) [Martin Van Buren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-van-buren/) > [The law increasing and organizing the military establishment of the United States has been nearly carried into effect, and the Army has been extensively…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-van-buren/the-law-increasing-and-organizing-the-military-establishment-of-the/) [Martin Van Buren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-van-buren/) > [I cannot expect to perform the task with equal ability and success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-van-buren/i-cannot-expect-to-perform-the-task-with-equal-ability-and-success/) [Martin Van Buren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-van-buren/) > [I shall tread in the footsteps of my illustrious predecessor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-van-buren/i-shall-tread-in-the-footsteps-of-my-illustrious-predecessor/) [Martin Van Buren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-van-buren/) > [Mutual forbearance and reciprocal concessions: thro' their agency the Union was established - the patriotic spirit from which they emanated will forever sustain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-van-buren/mutual-forbearance-and-reciprocal-concessions-thro-their-agency-the/) [Martin Van Buren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-van-buren/) > [For myself, therefore, I desire to declare that the principle that will govern me in the high duty to which my country calls me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-van-buren/for-myself-therefore-i-desire-to-declare-that-the-principle-that-will/) [Martin Van Buren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-van-buren/) > [The national will is the supreme law of the Republic, and on all subjects within the limits of his constitutional powers should be faithfully…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-van-buren/the-national-will-is-the-supreme-law-of-the-republic-and-on-all/) [Martin Van Buren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-van-buren/) > [No evil can result from its inhibition more pernicious than its toleration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-van-buren/no-evil-can-result-from-its-inhibition-more-pernicious-than-its/) [Martin Van Buren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-van-buren/) > [I only look to the gracious protection of the Divine Being whose strengthening support I humbly solicit, and whom I fervently pray to look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-van-buren/i-only-look-to-the-gracious-protection-of-the-divine-being-whose/) [Martin Van Buren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-van-buren/) > [In time of peace there can, at all events, be no justification for the creation of a permanent debt by the Federal Government. Its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-van-buren/in-time-of-peace-there-can-at-all-events-be-no-justification-for-the/) [Martin Van Buren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-van-buren/) > [The connection which formerly existed between the Government and banks was in reality injurious to both, as well as to the general interests of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-van-buren/the-connection-which-formerly-existed-between-the-government-and/) [Martin Van Buren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-van-buren/) > [Railroad carriages are pulled at the enormous speed of fifteen miles per hour by engines which, in addition to endangering life and limb of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-van-buren/railroad-carriages-are-pulled-at-the-enormous-speed-of-fifteen-miles/) [Martin Van Buren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-van-buren/) > [To avoid the necessity of a permanent debt and its inevitable consequences, I have advocated and endeavored to carry into effect the policy of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-van-buren/to-avoid-the-necessity-of-a-permanent-debt-and-its-inevitable/) [Martin Van Buren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-van-buren/) > [Banks properly established and conducted are highly useful to the business of the country, and will doubtless continue to exist in the States so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-van-buren/banks-properly-established-and-conducted-are-highly-useful-to-the/) [Martin Van Buren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-van-buren/) > [There is but one reliance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-van-buren/there-is-but-one-reliance/) [Martin Van Buren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-van-buren/) [Explore all 46 Martin Van Buren quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-van-buren/) ## More Acting quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [Many Republicans have always reminded me of professional WWF wrestlers. They come into the ring all pumped up and acting like they're invincible and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-feig/many-republicans-have-always-reminded-me-of-professional-wwf/) [Paul Feig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-feig/) > [I'm a big fan of all the Boston guys that are acting - Matt Damon , Ben Affleck, Mark Wahlberg - they made a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-wormald/i-m-a-big-fan-of-all-the-boston-guys-that-are-acting-matt-damon-ben/) [Kenny Wormald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-wormald/) > [Acting is a grind, just like music is a grind. Sometimes it takes longer than what you can give.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-sean/acting-is-a-grind-just-like-music-is-a-grind-sometimes-it-takes/) [Big Sean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-sean/) > [It was only when I started making short films in college and I was looking for girls to play the me-ish parts that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/it-was-only-when-i-started-making-short-films-in-college-and-i-was/) [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) > [Writing is something I took up rather than anything I had an inclination toward. I like acting -delivering someone else's message - but writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-martin/writing-is-something-i-took-up-rather-than-anything-i-had-an/) [Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/) > [I can still function when I don't have that balance I crave. I had a tendency to be precious about acting, thinking of it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-regan/i-can-still-function-when-i-don-t-have-that-balance-i-crave-i-had-a/) [Laura Regan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-regan/) > [Actors don't hate acting. Most people don't hate acting! Whether you're a child mucking around with your friends or a grown up being paid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liv-hewson/actors-don-t-hate-acting-most-people-don-t-hate-acting-whether-you-re/) [Liv Hewson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liv-hewson/) > [It was only when I went to acting school that I was like, "You are absolutely such a pigheaded freak show that you thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-matthey/it-was-only-when-i-went-to-acting-school-that-i-was-like-you-are/) [Giles Matthey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-matthey/) > [Once I committed to acting, this has been it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-hudson/once-i-committed-to-acting-this-has-been-it/) [Ernie Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-hudson/) > [It definitely helps to have the acting experience going into singing, because when you're singing, you have to portray the emotion you were feeling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-newman/it-definitely-helps-to-have-the-acting-experience-going-into-singing/) [Ryan Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-newman/) > [The show was number one in the ratings, Gordon Russell was our head writer, the story lines were magnificent and the acting most exciting.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-storm/the-show-was-number-one-in-the-ratings-gordon-russell-was-our-head/) [Michael Storm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-storm/) > [I've done so many other projects where you're in a room with a reader and you're acting your lines out: 'We have to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cummings/i-ve-done-so-many-other-projects-where-you-re-in-a-room-with-a-reader/) [Jim Cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cummings/) > [I do not believe in public shaming. I do believe that young adults go to college to learn things, and that this process will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-weingarten/i-do-not-believe-in-public-shaming-i-do-believe-that-young-adults-go/) [Gene Weingarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-weingarten/) > [Poetry has, in a way, been my bridge to my acting career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omari-hardwick/poetry-has-in-a-way-been-my-bridge-to-my-acting-career/) [Omari Hardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omari-hardwick/) [Browse all 12,062 Acting quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If laws acting upon private interests can not always be avoided, they should be confined within the narrowest limits, and left wherever possible to the legislatures of the States.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Martin Van Buren" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-van-buren/if-laws-acting-upon-private-interests-can-not-always-be-avoided-they/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Acting" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-van-buren/if-laws-acting-upon-private-interests-can-not-always-be-avoided-they/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/397/martin-van-buren-14496_acting_if-laws-acting-upon-private-interests-ca_1554495.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/397/martin-van-buren-14496_acting_if-laws-acting-upon-private-interests-ca_1554495.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/397/martin-van-buren-14496_acting_if-laws-acting-upon-private-interests-ca_1554495.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If laws acting upon private interests can not always be avoided, they should be confined within the…” — Martin Van Buren", "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 Van Buren", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-van-buren/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If laws acting upon private interests...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-van-buren/if-laws-acting-upon-private-interests-can-not-always-be-avoided-they/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-van-buren/if-laws-acting-upon-private-interests-can-not-always-be-avoided-they/#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 } } ] } ```