--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We often imagine that the court serves as…" description: "\"We often imagine that the court serves as a sort of neutral umpire controlling the warring political branches. But this is mostly myth. The justices of..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/16a/noah-feldman-12383_authority_we-often-imagine-that-the-court-serves-a_887735.png" --- # We often imagine that the court serves as a sort of… ![“We often imagine that the court serves as a sort of neutral umpire controlling the warring political branches. But this is mostly myth. The justices of the Supreme Court are themselves actors in the struggle for power, and when they intervene, they think carefully about how their decisions will…” quote by Noah Feldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/16a/noah-feldman-12383_authority_we-often-imagine-that-the-court-serves-a_887735.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/16a/noah-feldman-12383_authority_we-often-imagine-that-the-court-serves-a_887735.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/16a/noah-feldman-12383_authority_we-often-imagine-that-the-court-serves-a_887735.png) > “We often imagine that the court serves as a sort of neutral umpire controlling the warring political branches. But this is mostly myth. The justices of the Supreme Court are themselves actors in the struggle for power, and when they intervene, they think carefully about how their decisions will affect the court's own legitimacy and authority.” [Noah Feldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-feldman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The Court is not a neutral arbiter; justices act strategically to protect institutional legitimacy. **In simple terms:** Justices act to preserve their power. Key Takeaway Recognize courts as political actors. Themes law politics institutional legitimacy judicial behavior Mood critical analytical Type legal political When to use this quote - legal analysis - policy debates - media commentary - academic teaching Key Concepts strategic decision‑making legitimacy preservation Questions to Reflect On - How do justices balance law and politics? - What safeguards can ensure impartiality? A Different Perspective Judges may be constrained by law and precedent. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Authority](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/authority/) [Constitution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constitution/) [Court](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/court/) [Legitimacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/legitimacy/) [Myth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/myth/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) [Struggle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/struggle/) [Supreme court](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/supreme-court/) ## Related quotes > [The Court's legitimacy arises from the source of its authority - which is, of course, the Constitution - and is best preserved by adhering…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-s-sykes/the-court-s-legitimacy-arises-from-the-source-of-its-authority-which/) [Diane S. Sykes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-s-sykes/) > [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/) > [We're going to appoint great justices to the United States Supreme Court to uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-re-going-to-appoint-great-justices-to-the-united-states-supreme/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [While some of the tales of woe emanating from the court are enough to bring tears to the eyes, it is true that only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-roberts/while-some-of-the-tales-of-woe-emanating-from-the-court-are-enough-to/) [John Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-roberts/) > [It is a mistake to suppose that the Supreme Court is either honoured or helped by being spoken of as beyond criticism. On the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-josiah-brewer/it-is-a-mistake-to-suppose-that-the-supreme-court-is-either-honoured/) [David Josiah Brewer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-josiah-brewer/) > [I have strong differences with Mr. Trump on a woman's right to choose and what kind of justices belong on the Supreme Court.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raja-krishnamoorthi/i-have-strong-differences-with-mr-trump-on-a-woman-s-right-to-choose/) [Raja Krishnamoorthi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raja-krishnamoorthi/) > [There have been 111 Justices in the Supreme Court of the United States. Only three have been women. If she is confirmed, Solicitor General…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-leahy/there-have-been-111-justices-in-the-supreme-court-of-the-united/) [Patrick Leahy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-leahy/) > [When I worked in the Department of Justice, in the office of the solicitor general, it was my job to argue cases for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-roberts/when-i-worked-in-the-department-of-justice-in-the-office-of-the/) [John Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-roberts/) > [We give Supreme Court justices this freedom because we expect them to remain above the pull of politics, to avoid the effects of public…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-kohl/we-give-supreme-court-justices-this-freedom-because-we-expect-them-to/) [Herb Kohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-kohl/) > [You know, it shows how old I am. I can remember the good old days when the president picked the Supreme Court justices instead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/you-know-it-shows-how-old-i-am-i-can-remember-the-good-old-days-when/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Roosevelt got a chance to name an amazing nine justices of the Supreme Court. He was not namby-pamby on this question. He wanted people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-feldman/roosevelt-got-a-chance-to-name-an-amazing-nine-justices-of-the/) [Noah Feldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-feldman/) > [FDR's justices were allies while he was alive, but after he died, they developed four totally different theories of what the Constitution is, two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-feldman/fdr-s-justices-were-allies-while-he-was-alive-but-after-he-died-they/) [Noah Feldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-feldman/) > [To hear both critics and defenders talk about the fitness of Judge Sonia Sotomayor for the Supreme Court, you'd think the most successful Supreme…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-feldman/to-hear-both-critics-and-defenders-talk-about-the-fitness-of-judge/) [Noah Feldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-feldman/) > [To be true to its constitutional role, the Supreme Court should refuse to be drawn into making public policy, and it should strike down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-levin/to-be-true-to-its-constitutional-role-the-supreme-court-should-refuse/) [Mark Levin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-levin/) > [Every generation gets the Constitution that it deserves. As the central preoccupations of an era make their way into the legal system, the Supreme…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-feldman/every-generation-gets-the-constitution-that-it-deserves-as-the/) [Noah Feldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-feldman/) ## More by Noah Feldman > [The administration of George W. Bush, emboldened by the Sept. 11 attacks and the backing of a Republican Congress, has sought to further extend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-feldman/the-administration-of-george-w-bush-emboldened-by-the-sept-11-attacks/) [Noah Feldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-feldman/) > [Our post-denominational age should be the perfect time for a Mormon to become president, or at least the Republican nominee. Mormons share nearly all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-feldman/our-post-denominational-age-should-be-the-perfect-time-for-a-mormon/) [Noah Feldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-feldman/) > [In 1953, after the armistice ending the Korean War, South Korea lay in ruins. President Eisenhower was eager to put an end to hostilities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-feldman/in-1953-after-the-armistice-ending-the-korean-war-south-korea-lay-in/) [Noah Feldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-feldman/) > [The Chinese public is deeply nationalist, which matters to China's unelected political leadership as much as U.S. nationalism does to American politicians. As China…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-feldman/the-chinese-public-is-deeply-nationalist-which-matters-to-china-s/) [Noah Feldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-feldman/) > [In an ideological age, diplomacy may seem weak and prosaic. But sometimes it is all we have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-feldman/in-an-ideological-age-diplomacy-may-seem-weak-and-prosaic-but/) [Noah Feldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-feldman/) > [When we put our trust in diplomacy, it is not because it is an inspiring or uplifting discourse or because it helps us see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-feldman/when-we-put-our-trust-in-diplomacy-it-is-not-because-it-is-an/) [Noah Feldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-feldman/) > [I have a 2-year-old son, and I know I'm dealing with a big, grand word when I can't point to the thing when I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-feldman/i-have-a-2-year-old-son-and-i-know-i-m-dealing-with-a-big-grand-word/) [Noah Feldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-feldman/) > [Prisoners, according to the law, who are non-U.S. citizens and are detained outside the U.S. - including in Guantanamo Bay - are denied 'habeas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-feldman/prisoners-according-to-the-law-who-are-non-u-s-citizens-and-are/) [Noah Feldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-feldman/) > [In politics, Joseph Smith was something of a radical. He preached, instead of democracy, a version of theocratic rule within a framework given by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-feldman/in-politics-joseph-smith-was-something-of-a-radical-he-preached/) [Noah Feldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-feldman/) > [The true test of whether Mr. Obama has improved on the Bush era lies in how his administration justifies its decisions on the 241…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-feldman/the-true-test-of-whether-mr-obama-has-improved-on-the-bush-era-lies/) [Noah Feldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-feldman/) > [In the first decade of the twenty-first century, the major international question was the relation between Islam and democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-feldman/in-the-first-decade-of-the-twenty-first-century-the-major/) [Noah Feldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-feldman/) > [Well-meaning Europeans sometimes argue that unlike the U.S., their countries are traditionally 'homogeneous' and have little experience with immigration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-feldman/well-meaning-europeans-sometimes-argue-that-unlike-the-u-s-their/) [Noah Feldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-feldman/) > [Many Muslims in Saudi Arabia believe that the core values of Islam, namely acknowledgement of God's sovereignty and basic human equality before God, are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-feldman/many-muslims-in-saudi-arabia-believe-that-the-core-values-of-islam/) [Noah Feldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-feldman/) > [Cyber war takes place largely in secret, unknown to the general public on both sides.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-feldman/cyber-war-takes-place-largely-in-secret-unknown-to-the-general-public/) [Noah Feldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-feldman/) > [Every generation gets the Constitution that it deserves. As the central preoccupations of an era make their way into the legal system, the Supreme…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-feldman/every-generation-gets-the-constitution-that-it-deserves-as-the/) [Noah Feldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-feldman/) [Explore all 55 Noah Feldman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-feldman/) ## More Authority quotes > [I don't believe in competitions between artists. This is insane. Who has the authority to say someone is better?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-arkin/i-don-t-believe-in-competitions-between-artists-this-is-insane-who/) [Alan Arkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-arkin/) > [Islam never differentiates between men and women as regards political rights and puts them on an equal footing. However, even if a woman is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yusuf-al-qaradawi/islam-never-differentiates-between-men-and-women-as-regards-political/) [Yusuf al-Qaradawi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yusuf-al-qaradawi/) > [I think people need to be comfortable questioning the authority of a doctor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susannah-cahalan/i-think-people-need-to-be-comfortable-questioning-the-authority-of-a/) [Susannah Cahalan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susannah-cahalan/) > [At a distance, we cannot conceive of the authority of a despot who knows all his subjects on sight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stendhal/at-a-distance-we-cannot-conceive-of-the-authority-of-a-despot-who/) [Stendhal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stendhal/) > [Throughout human history, as our species has faced the frightening, terrorizing fact that we do not know who we are, or where we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-leary/throughout-human-history-as-our-species-has-faced-the-frightening/) [Timothy Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-leary/) > [“I'm of the age and immaturity level that I cannot give you my respect solely because you are older or ranked higher on an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-goros/i-m-of-the-age-and-immaturity-level-that-i-cannot-give-you-my-respect/) [Erica Goros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-goros/) > [In the end theologians are jealous of science, for they are aware that it has greater authority than do their own ways of finding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-a-coyne/in-the-end-theologians-are-jealous-of-science-for-they-are-aware-that/) [Jerry A. Coyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-a-coyne/) > [Every wife ought to answer for her man. If the husband be engaged in a seditious club, or drinks mysterious healths, or be frugal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/every-wife-ought-to-answer-for-her-man-if-the-husband-be-engaged-in-a/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [Miracles are like candles lit up until the sun rises, and then blown out. Therefore, I am amused when I hear sects and churches…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/miracles-are-like-candles-lit-up-until-the-sun-rises-and-then-blown/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [The execution was set for the 29th of March, at nine in the morning. This delay was due to a desire on the part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/the-execution-was-set-for-the-29th-of-march-at-nine-in-the-morning/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [I started with the belief that every person who came to the laboratory was free to accept or to reject the dictates of authority.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-milgram/i-started-with-the-belief-that-every-person-who-came-to-the/) [Stanley Milgram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-milgram/) > [The rationale which accompanies that imposition of male authority euphemistically referred to as 'the battle of the sexes' bears a certain resemblance to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-millett/the-rationale-which-accompanies-that-imposition-of-male-authority/) [Kate Millett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-millett/) > [“We are at the mercy of whoever wields authority over the things we either desire or detest. If you would be free, then, do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/we-are-at-the-mercy-of-whoever-wields-authority-over-the-things-we/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [Sometimes it's easier for people who are in authority to be authoritarian, because people know where you stand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-streep/sometimes-it-s-easier-for-people-who-are-in-authority-to-be/) [Meryl Streep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meryl-streep/) > [The victory of Hamas is not only based on the corruption of the Palestinian Authority. Hamas has a vision and a program, and this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ismail-haniyeh/the-victory-of-hamas-is-not-only-based-on-the-corruption-of-the/) [Ismail Haniyeh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ismail-haniyeh/) [Browse all 4,003 Authority quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/authority/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We often imagine that the court serves as a sort of neutral umpire controlling the warring political branches. But this is mostly myth. The justices of the Supreme Court are themselves actors in the struggle for power, and when they intervene, they think carefully about how their decisions will affect the court's own legitimacy and authority.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Noah Feldman" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-feldman/we-often-imagine-that-the-court-serves-as-a-sort-of-neutral-umpire/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Authority" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-feldman/we-often-imagine-that-the-court-serves-as-a-sort-of-neutral-umpire/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/16a/noah-feldman-12383_authority_we-often-imagine-that-the-court-serves-a_887735.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/16a/noah-feldman-12383_authority_we-often-imagine-that-the-court-serves-a_887735.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/16a/noah-feldman-12383_authority_we-often-imagine-that-the-court-serves-a_887735.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We often imagine that the court serves as a sort of neutral umpire controlling the warring political…” — Noah Feldman", "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": "Noah Feldman", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-feldman/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "We often imagine that the court...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-feldman/we-often-imagine-that-the-court-serves-as-a-sort-of-neutral-umpire/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-feldman/we-often-imagine-that-the-court-serves-as-a-sort-of-neutral-umpire/#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 } } ] } ```