--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The case decided on Thursday, though…" description: "\"The case decided on Thursday, though, seemed promising to takings fans because it wasn't about compensation. It was about the requirement that any gove..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/058/michael-kinsley-18523_about_the-case-decided-on-thursday-though-seem_1179828.png" --- # The case decided on Thursday, though, seemed promising to… ![“The case decided on Thursday, though, seemed promising to takings fans because it wasn't about compensation. It was about the requirement that any government taking must have a 'public purpose.'” quote by Michael Kinsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/058/michael-kinsley-18523_about_the-case-decided-on-thursday-though-seem_1179828.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/058/michael-kinsley-18523_about_the-case-decided-on-thursday-though-seem_1179828.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/058/michael-kinsley-18523_about_the-case-decided-on-thursday-though-seem_1179828.png) > “The case decided on Thursday, though, seemed promising to takings fans because it wasn't about compensation. It was about the requirement that any government taking must have a 'public purpose.'” [Michael Kinsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-kinsley/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote highlights that the key issue is the public purpose requirement for government takings, not monetary compensation. **In simple terms:** Public purpose matters more than money. Key Takeaway Focus on ensuring takings serve the public good. Themes law government property rights public policy justice Mood analytical concerned thoughtful Type explanatory critical When to use this quote - urban development - infrastructure projects - community displacement - policy reform - legal challenges Key Concepts eminent domain public purpose doctrine legal standards Questions to Reflect On - What defines a true public purpose? - How can compensation be fair while serving the public? A Different Perspective Balancing private rights with public needs can be contentious. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Compensation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compensation/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Purpose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purpose/) [Thursday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thursday/) ## Related quotes > [One answer is that the town's elected officials thought that the project served a public purpose and that the various subsidies and favors were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-kinsley/one-answer-is-that-the-town-s-elected-officials-thought-that-the/) [Michael Kinsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-kinsley/) > [Considering community support and cost-benefit analysis, I have supported earmarks for projects of high public purpose involving such areas as higher education, alternative energy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-fortenberry/considering-community-support-and-cost-benefit-analysis-i-have/) [Jeff Fortenberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-fortenberry/) > [Natural resources must be so distributed, by way of auction or otherwise, that they serve a larger public purpose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kapil-sibal/natural-resources-must-be-so-distributed-by-way-of-auction-or/) [Kapil Sibal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kapil-sibal/) > [I've spent about that amount of time trying to tell the public that there was purpose in... my business, my career and the roller…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diahann-carroll/i-ve-spent-about-that-amount-of-time-trying-to-tell-the-public-that/) [Diahann Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diahann-carroll/) > [Government should not tell you what to do unless there's a compelling public purpose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bloomberg/government-should-not-tell-you-what-to-do-unless-there-s-a-compelling/) [Michael Bloomberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bloomberg/) > [I thought I was benefiting the Indians as well as the government, by taking them all over the United States, and giving them a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buffalo-bill/i-thought-i-was-benefiting-the-indians-as-well-as-the-government-by/) [Buffalo Bill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buffalo-bill/) > [I'm saying the federal government is taking away the freedom of Americans to make choices.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-lepage/i-m-saying-the-federal-government-is-taking-away-the-freedom-of/) [Paul LePage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-lepage/) > [No government has ever been beneficent when the attitude of government was that it was taking care of the people. The only freedom consists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/no-government-has-ever-been-beneficent-when-the-attitude-of/) [Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) > [At times it felt as if no one in Government was taking ownership of how COVID-19 directives would be perceived, interpreted and understood on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pritam-singh/at-times-it-felt-as-if-no-one-in-government-was-taking-ownership-of/) [Pritam Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pritam-singh/) > [More and more people are becoming aware that government has nothing to give them without first taking it away from somebody else-or from themselves.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-hazlitt/more-and-more-people-are-becoming-aware-that-government-has-nothing/) [Henry Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-hazlitt/) > [“Imagine, representatives of our own government taking the side of a foreign country over the interest of American citizen. If it ever gets to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-w-johnstone/imagine-representatives-of-our-own-government-taking-the-side-of-a/) [William W. Johnstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-w-johnstone/) > [I've always considered the government taking one out of every two dollars I earn absolute tyranny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-van-zandt/i-ve-always-considered-the-government-taking-one-out-of-every-two/) [Steven Van Zandt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-van-zandt/) > [I didn't defraud the government by taking money that was not mine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wesley-snipes/i-didn-t-defraud-the-government-by-taking-money-that-was-not-mine/) [Wesley Snipes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wesley-snipes/) > [That is the crux of modern conservatism - government taking strong measures to foster the attitudes and aptitudes necessary for increased individual independence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-will/that-is-the-crux-of-modern-conservatism-government-taking-strong/) [George Will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-will/) > [Obama actually believes that as small business grows, the government should be taking more and more from them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-ayotte/obama-actually-believes-that-as-small-business-grows-the-government/) [Kelly Ayotte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-ayotte/) ## More by Michael Kinsley > [He's nice enough not to want to be associated with a nasty remark but not nice enough not to make it. Lacking the courage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-kinsley/he-s-nice-enough-not-to-want-to-be-associated-with-a-nasty-remark-but/) [Michael Kinsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-kinsley/) > [Almost any government activity can also be seen as taking property without just compensation. The basic model of an unconstitutional aking would be if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-kinsley/almost-any-government-activity-can-also-be-seen-as-taking-property/) [Michael Kinsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-kinsley/) > [The definition of a gaffe is when a politician tells the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-kinsley/the-definition-of-a-gaffe-is-when-a-politician-tells-the-truth/) [Michael Kinsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-kinsley/) > [Journalistic conventions make it hard for reporters to deal with a big, complicated lie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-kinsley/journalistic-conventions-make-it-hard-for-reporters-to-deal-with-a/) [Michael Kinsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-kinsley/) > [He hasn't said whether he remembers the episode itself - or, if he doesn't, whether that is because it never happened or because it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-kinsley/he-hasn-t-said-whether-he-remembers-the-episode-itself-or-if-he-doesn/) [Michael Kinsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-kinsley/) > [What could be more absurd than the idea that genuine anti-Christian prejudice is a major force in American politics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-kinsley/what-could-be-more-absurd-than-the-idea-that-genuine-anti-christian/) [Michael Kinsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-kinsley/) > [The takings clause of the Fifth Amendment is for conservatives what the equal protection clause of the 14th is for liberals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-kinsley/the-takings-clause-of-the-fifth-amendment-is-for-conservatives-what/) [Michael Kinsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-kinsley/) > [It wouldn't be fair to say that conservatives cherish property the way liberals cherish equality. But it would be fair to say that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-kinsley/it-wouldn-t-be-fair-to-say-that-conservatives-cherish-property-the/) [Michael Kinsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-kinsley/) > [One answer is that the town's elected officials thought that the project served a public purpose and that the various subsidies and favors were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-kinsley/one-answer-is-that-the-town-s-elected-officials-thought-that-the/) [Michael Kinsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-kinsley/) > [Anything that keeps a politician humble is healthy for democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-kinsley/anything-that-keeps-a-politician-humble-is-healthy-for-democracy/) [Michael Kinsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-kinsley/) > [In those days, the late 1970s, one of the leading politicians was a soon-to-be uncle by marriage of Arnold Schwarzenegger, named Ted Kennedy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-kinsley/in-those-days-the-late-1970s-one-of-the-leading-politicians-was-a/) [Michael Kinsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-kinsley/) > [Almost any government activity can also be seen as taking property 'without just compensation.' The basic model of an unconstitutional 'taking' would be if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-kinsley/almost-any-government-activity-can-also-be-seen-as-taking-property-2/) [Michael Kinsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-kinsley/) > [The akings clause of the Fifth Amendment is for conservatives what the equal protection clause of the 14th is for liberals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-kinsley/the-akings-clause-of-the-fifth-amendment-is-for-conservatives-what/) [Michael Kinsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-kinsley/) > [In any event, the proper question isn't what a journalist thinks is relevant but what his or her audience thinks is relevant. Denying people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-kinsley/in-any-event-the-proper-question-isn-t-what-a-journalist-thinks-is/) [Michael Kinsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-kinsley/) > [I have a saying: the scandal isn't what's illegal, the scandal is what's legal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-kinsley/i-have-a-saying-the-scandal-isn-t-what-s-illegal-the-scandal-is-what/) [Michael Kinsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-kinsley/) [Explore all 34 Michael Kinsley quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-kinsley/) ## More About quotes > [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/) [Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/) > [Joking about violence is not funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perez-hilton/joking-about-violence-is-not-funny/) [Perez Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perez-hilton/) > [I talk to my mates about our kids, being too tired and being worn out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-willoughby/i-talk-to-my-mates-about-our-kids-being-too-tired-and-being-worn-out/) [Holly Willoughby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-willoughby/) > [With 'Pretty Girls,' I saw the opportunity to talk not just about crime but what crime leaves behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/with-pretty-girls-i-saw-the-opportunity-to-talk-not-just-about-crime/) [Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/) > [I write about presidents. That means I write about guys - so far. I'm interested in the people closest to them, the people they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/i-write-about-presidents-that-means-i-write-about-guys-so-far-i-m/) [Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/) > [That's something a lot of folks don't know about me - I'm pretty darn funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/that-s-something-a-lot-of-folks-don-t-know-about-me-i-m-pretty-darn/) [Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/) > [I learned a lot about myself at Oakmont.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-lowry/i-learned-a-lot-about-myself-at-oakmont/) [Shane Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-lowry/) > [I don't think about the press or the crowds or the other leaders of the race. The focus is only on myself. As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/) [Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/) > [Sport is not just about entertainment. It is equally about winning and losing, pooling and galvanising the energy of the youth, upgrading people's physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nita-ambani/sport-is-not-just-about-entertainment-it-is-equally-about-winning-and/) [Nita Ambani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nita-ambani/) > [One of the ways that I discovered my confidence and my ability to overpower is becoming a mother. Suddenly, my world wasn't about myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/one-of-the-ways-that-i-discovered-my-confidence-and-my-ability-to/) [Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/) > [I didn't want to do 'Fashion Police' because I thought, 'This is stupid, this is beneath me, who wants to talk about fashion?' It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/i-didn-t-want-to-do-fashion-police-because-i-thought-this-is-stupid/) [Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/) > [I just worried about my weight. Worried about my appearance and thought I wan't pretty enough to be a pop star. It was very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-durham/i-just-worried-about-my-weight-worried-about-my-appearance-and/) [Judith Durham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-durham/) > [I read a couple of books about neuroscience and the relationship between the mind and the body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-kinnaman/i-read-a-couple-of-books-about-neuroscience-and-the-relationship/) [Joel Kinnaman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-kinnaman/) > [There are a lot of kids out there copying and distributing movies - not because they care about seeing the movies or sharing them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perry-barlow/there-are-a-lot-of-kids-out-there-copying-and-distributing-movies-not/) [John Perry Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perry-barlow/) > [I have no physical genius about me. I can't dribble a ball and run at the same time, I can't do lay-ups - I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/i-have-no-physical-genius-about-me-i-can-t-dribble-a-ball-and-run-at/) [Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/) Browse all 26,122 About quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The case decided on Thursday, though, seemed promising to takings fans because it wasn't about compensation. It was about the requirement that any government taking must have a 'public purpose.'", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Michael Kinsley" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-kinsley/the-case-decided-on-thursday-though-seemed-promising-to-takings-fans/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "About" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-kinsley/the-case-decided-on-thursday-though-seemed-promising-to-takings-fans/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/058/michael-kinsley-18523_about_the-case-decided-on-thursday-though-seem_1179828.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/058/michael-kinsley-18523_about_the-case-decided-on-thursday-though-seem_1179828.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/058/michael-kinsley-18523_about_the-case-decided-on-thursday-though-seem_1179828.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The case decided on Thursday, though, seemed promising to takings fans because it wasn't about compensation…” — Michael Kinsley", "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": "Michael Kinsley", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-kinsley/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The case decided on Thursday, though,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-kinsley/the-case-decided-on-thursday-though-seemed-promising-to-takings-fans/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-kinsley/the-case-decided-on-thursday-though-seemed-promising-to-takings-fans/#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 } } ] } ```