--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Corporations are people, my friend." description: "\"Corporations are people, my friend.\" — Mitt Romney" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/12f/mitt-romney-268_corporations_corporations-are-people-my-friend-270007_2700076.png" --- # Corporations are people, my friend. ![“Corporations are people, my friend.” quote by Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/12f/mitt-romney-268_corporations_corporations-are-people-my-friend-270007_2700076.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/12f/mitt-romney-268_corporations_corporations-are-people-my-friend-270007_2700076.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/12f/mitt-romney-268_corporations_corporations-are-people-my-friend-270007_2700076.png) > “Corporations are people, my friend.” [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Corporations are treated as individuals under law, granting them rights and responsibilities similar to people. **In simple terms:** Corporations have legal personhood. Key Takeaway Recognize corporate influence and its limits. Themes law politics economics rights responsibility Mood critical thoughtful analytical Type policy legal political When to use this quote - policy debates - business regulation - voting rights - taxation - public discourse Key Concepts legal personhood corporate governance citizenship Questions to Reflect On - How does corporate personhood affect democracy? - Should corporations have the same rights as individuals? A Different Perspective Corporate personhood can conflict with democratic equality. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Corporations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corporations/) [Corporations People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corporations-people-550725/) [Election](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/election/) [Friend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friend/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Friend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-friend-961577/) ## Related quotes > [Corporations are people, my friend ... of course they are. Everything corporations earn ultimately goes to the people. Where do you think it goes?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/corporations-are-people-my-friend-of-course-they-are-everything/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [Corporations are people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/corporations-are-people/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [The enclosure of the biological and intellectual commons in this way is a real threat to the future of people everywhere because it creates…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vandana-shiva/the-enclosure-of-the-biological-and-intellectual-commons-in-this-way/) [Vandana Shiva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vandana-shiva/) > [If I was the leader of the House of Representatives, the first thing I would do is I would put in a very clean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-tester/if-i-was-the-leader-of-the-house-of-representatives-the-first-thing-i/) [Jon Tester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-tester/) > [Let freedom ka-ching...Corporations do everything people do except breathe, die and go to jail for dumping 1.3 million pounds of PCBs in the Hudson…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/let-freedom-ka-ching-corporations-do-everything-people-do-except/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [No, Governor Romney, corporations are not people. People have hearts, they have kids, they get jobs, they get sick, they cry, they dance. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-warren/no-governor-romney-corporations-are-not-people-people-have-hearts/) [Elizabeth Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-warren/) > [There is still the illusion that if we could declare corporations are not people or that money is not speech, all would be solved.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-lessig/there-is-still-the-illusion-that-if-we-could-declare-corporations-are/) [Lawrence Lessig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-lessig/) > [Corporations are not people. They shouldn't be funding. They shouldn't be funding campaigns at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/corporations-are-not-people-they-shouldn-t-be-funding-they-shouldn-t/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) > [Liberals hate corporations, folks. Corporations are not people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/liberals-hate-corporations-folks-corporations-are-not-people/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [With Citizens United, the Supreme Court's declaration that corporations are people, the whims of one can silence the voices of millions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-pelosi/with-citizens-united-the-supreme-court-s-declaration-that/) [Christine Pelosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-pelosi/) > [But I believe in fair trade, and I will tell you, I have many, many friends heading up corporations, and people that do just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/but-i-believe-in-fair-trade-and-i-will-tell-you-i-have-many-many/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [This is a crucial time in the fight for corporate civil rights. Just look at the hateful signs at Occupy Wallstreet: 'Corporations Are Not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/this-is-a-crucial-time-in-the-fight-for-corporate-civil-rights-just/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [The blanket assertion that corporations are people obfuscates the complex issues at play in the changing business world. Corporation are institutions. People are people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-tapscott/the-blanket-assertion-that-corporations-are-people-obfuscates-the/) [Don Tapscott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-tapscott/) > [“Traditional English, Dutch, French, and Spanish law didn’t say that corporations are people. The U.S. Constitution wasn’t written with that idea; corporations aren’t mentioned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thom-hartmann/traditional-english-dutch-french-and-spanish-law-didn-t-say-that/) [Thom Hartmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thom-hartmann/) > [Corporations are not people, despite what the Supreme Court says, and they don't need or deserve handouts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/corporations-are-not-people-despite-what-the-supreme-court-says-and/) [Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/) ## More by Mitt Romney > [I look at what's happening around the world and I see Iran four years closer to a bomb. I see the Middle East with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/i-look-at-what-s-happening-around-the-world-and-i-see-iran-four-years/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [I would like to have campaign spending limits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/i-would-like-to-have-campaign-spending-limits/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [I believe in my Mormon faith, and I endeavor to live by it. My faith is the faith of my fathers - I will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/i-believe-in-my-mormon-faith-and-i-endeavor-to-live-by-it-my-faith-is/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [America's military is second to none in the world. We're blessed with terrific soldiers, and extraordinary technology and intelligence. But the idea of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/america-s-military-is-second-to-none-in-the-world-we-re-blessed-with/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [And a special thank you to the citizens of Massachusetts: You are paying all the taxes, creating all the jobs, raising all the children.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/and-a-special-thank-you-to-the-citizens-of-massachusetts-you-are/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [When I was elected governor of my state, I had a legislature 87 percent Democrat. It was not lost on me that to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/when-i-was-elected-governor-of-my-state-i-had-a-legislature-87/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [I saw the young man over there with eggs Benedict, with hollandaise sauce. And I was going to suggest to you that you serve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/i-saw-the-young-man-over-there-with-eggs-benedict-with-hollandaise/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [I've been a hunter pretty much all my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/i-ve-been-a-hunter-pretty-much-all-my-life/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [I think Mitt Romney has demonstrated repeatedly he has a penchant for - for secrecy, doesn't seem to have any interest in actually showing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/i-think-mitt-romney-has-demonstrated-repeatedly-he-has-a-penchant-for/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [If I were to offer advice to any president of the United States, it would be this: do whatever you can do to keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/if-i-were-to-offer-advice-to-any-president-of-the-united-states-it/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [I was too important to go to Vietnam.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/i-was-too-important-to-go-to-vietnam/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [America has not dictated to other nations. We have freed other nations from dictators.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/america-has-not-dictated-to-other-nations-we-have-freed-other-nations/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [The right course is for the Palestinians and the Israelis to sit down at the table together. The Palestinians need to recognize that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/the-right-course-is-for-the-palestinians-and-the-israelis-to-sit-down/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [If I'm President of the United States, when I'm President of the United States, we will stand with Israel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/if-i-m-president-of-the-united-states-when-i-m-president-of-the/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [President Obama instituted the most anti-growth, anti-investment, anti-jobs measures that we have seen in our lifetime. Now he called his agenda ambitious, I call…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/president-obama-instituted-the-most-anti-growth-anti-investment-anti/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) [Explore all 781 Mitt Romney quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) ## More Corporations quotes > [It makes no sense to talk of the social obligations of the corporation without reference to its economic obligations. The two are intertwined.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-r-raymond/it-makes-no-sense-to-talk-of-the-social-obligations-of-the/) [Lee R. Raymond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-r-raymond/) > [I've long believed one of the mainsprings of our own liberty has been the widespread ownership of property among our people and the expectation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/i-ve-long-believed-one-of-the-mainsprings-of-our-own-liberty-has-been/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Everything affects hip-hop. The question is, how does it affect the money that corporations are going to invest to put out different kinds of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-i-am/everything-affects-hip-hop-the-question-is-how-does-it-affect-the/) [will.i.am](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-i-am/) > [Corporations have nothing to do with values, and they know it, and sometimes say it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-kierans/corporations-have-nothing-to-do-with-values-and-they-know-it-and/) [Eric Kierans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-kierans/) > [Corporations invest in sophisticated CRM, or Customer Relationship Management, programs to effectively oversee their relationship with their customers at every point during the buying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-ostrofsky/corporations-invest-in-sophisticated-crm-or-customer-relationship/) [Marc Ostrofsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-ostrofsky/) > [“Whatever happened in those more than one hundred years, from the time my great-great-great grandfather studied law to the time when my own father…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwenn-wright/whatever-happened-in-those-more-than-one-hundred-years-from-the-time/) [Gwenn Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwenn-wright/) > [I am somewhat influenced by the years that I've spent trying to actually get things done, whether it was reforming education in Arkansas or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-am-somewhat-influenced-by-the-years-that-i-ve-spent-trying-to/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [There are questions as to whether it should even exist. Who should corporations be responsive to, the management of a corporation? Theoretically they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/there-are-questions-as-to-whether-it-should-even-exist-who-should/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [“Subsequently there ensues an epoch of complex, proliferating intrigues and conspiracies among the ranks of double agents, whose agendas become so densely intertwined that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-ligotti/subsequently-there-ensues-an-epoch-of-complex-proliferating-intrigues/) [Thomas Ligotti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-ligotti/) > [I'm not only a fan of Apple products, I have stock in the company. I think Steve Jobs has started one of the greatest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kid-rock/i-m-not-only-a-fan-of-apple-products-i-have-stock-in-the-company-i/) [Kid Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kid-rock/) > [At Epcot Center the Disney corporation has focused its attention on two things greatly in need of Disneyfication: the tedious future and the annoying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/at-epcot-center-the-disney-corporation-has-focused-its-attention-on/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [There can be no effective control of corporations while their political activity remains.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/there-can-be-no-effective-control-of-corporations-while-their/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [Since FDR's New Deal, corporations and wealthy families have been non-stop finding new ways to get tax breaks, deregulation and entitlements from the government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-mckay/since-fdr-s-new-deal-corporations-and-wealthy-families-have-been-non/) [Adam McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-mckay/) > [There's a whole journalistic-industrial complex dedicated to keeping newsprint, TV screens and radio waves clean of destabilizing scoops damaging to corporations or the state.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-cockburn/there-s-a-whole-journalistic-industrial-complex-dedicated-to-keeping/) [Alexander Cockburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-cockburn/) > [They're counting on your patriotism to distract you from their plunder. They're counting on you to be standing at attention with your hand over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/they-re-counting-on-your-patriotism-to-distract-you-from-their/) [Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/) [Browse all 1,673 Corporations quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corporations/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Corporations are people, my friend.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Mitt Romney" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/corporations-are-people-my-friend/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Corporations" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/corporations-are-people-my-friend/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/12f/mitt-romney-268_corporations_corporations-are-people-my-friend-270007_2700076.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/12f/mitt-romney-268_corporations_corporations-are-people-my-friend-270007_2700076.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/12f/mitt-romney-268_corporations_corporations-are-people-my-friend-270007_2700076.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Corporations are people, my friend.” — Mitt Romney", "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": "Mitt Romney", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Corporations are people, my friend.", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/corporations-are-people-my-friend/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/corporations-are-people-my-friend/#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 } } ] } ```