--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The powers of congress must be defined…" description: "\"The powers of congress must be defined, but their means must be adequate to the purposes of their constitution. It is possible there may be abuses and ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4cf/oliver-ellsworth-29122_abuse_the-powers-of-congress-must-be-defined-b_725408.jpg" --- # The powers of congress must be defined, but their means… ![“The powers of congress must be defined, but their means must be adequate to the purposes of their constitution. It is possible there may be abuses and misapplications; still, it is better to hazard something than to hazard at all.” quote by Oliver Ellsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4cf/oliver-ellsworth-29122_abuse_the-powers-of-congress-must-be-defined-b_725408.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4cf/oliver-ellsworth-29122_abuse_the-powers-of-congress-must-be-defined-b_725408.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4cf/oliver-ellsworth-29122_abuse_the-powers-of-congress-must-be-defined-b_725408.jpg) > “The powers of congress must be defined, but their means must be adequate to the purposes of their constitution. It is possible there may be abuses and misapplications; still, it is better to hazard something than to hazard at all.” [Oliver Ellsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-ellsworth/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Congressional authority should be clear and resources sufficient to fulfill constitutional goals, accepting some risk over inaction. **In simple terms:** Define powers, ensure resources, avoid paralysis. Key Takeaway Provide clear authority and resources. Themes governance balance of power risk management Mood cautious analytical Type political philosophical When to use this quote - legislative drafting - policy implementation - budget planning - crisis response Key Concepts constitutional law institutional design Questions to Reflect On - How do we balance adequate power with safeguards? - What risks arise from insufficient resources? A Different Perspective Too much risk can lead to overreach and unintended consequences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Abuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abuse/) [Congress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/congress/) [Constitution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constitution/) [Purpose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purpose/) ## Related quotes > [The Constitution, in addition to delegating certain enumerated powers to Congress, places whole areas outside the reach of Congress' regulatory authority. The First Amendment,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-thomas/the-constitution-in-addition-to-delegating-certain-enumerated-powers/) [Clarence Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-thomas/) > [The powers of Congress are totally inadequate to preserve the balance between the respective States, and oblige them to do those things which are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-knox/the-powers-of-congress-are-totally-inadequate-to-preserve-the-balance/) [Henry Knox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-knox/) > [We recognize the force of the argument that the effects of war under modern conditions may be felt in the economy for years and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-o-douglas/we-recognize-the-force-of-the-argument-that-the-effects-of-war-under/) [William O. Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-o-douglas/) > [I consider the foundation of the Constitution as laid on this ground that 'all powers not delegated to the United States, by the Constitution,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/i-consider-the-foundation-of-the-constitution-as-laid-on-this-ground/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Hillary Clinton's plan would trigger a constitutional crisis unlike almost anything we have ever seen before. In effect, she would be abolishing the law-making…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/hillary-clinton-s-plan-would-trigger-a-constitutional-crisis-unlike-2/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [It is fundamental that the great powers of Congress to conduct war and to regulate the Nation's foreign relations are subject to the constitutional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-goldberg/it-is-fundamental-that-the-great-powers-of-congress-to-conduct-war/) [Arthur Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-goldberg/) > [Article I, Section 8, of the Constitution, of course, lays out the delegated, enumerated, and therefore limited powers of Congress. Only through a deliberate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-crane/article-i-section-8-of-the-constitution-of-course-lays-out-the/) [Ed Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-crane/) > [In effect, Hillary Clinton would be abolishing the lawmaking powers of Congress in order to write her own laws from the Oval Office. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/in-effect-hillary-clinton-would-be-abolishing-the-lawmaking-powers-of/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [“...the Constitution is an invitation for the president and Congress to struggle for the privilege of directing foreign policy. Although the president is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-h-hamilton/the-constitution-is-an-invitation-for-the-president-and-congress-to/) [Lee H. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-h-hamilton/) > [If Congress can employ money indefinitely to the general welfare... they may appoint teachers in every state... The powers of Congress would subvert the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/if-congress-can-employ-money-indefinitely-to-the-general-welfare-they/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [To take a single step beyond the boundaries specially drawn around the powers of Congress is to take possession of a boundless field of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/to-take-a-single-step-beyond-the-boundaries-specially-drawn-around/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [The right of the judge to inflict punishment gives him both power and opportunity to oppress the innocent; yet none but crazy men will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-ellsworth/the-right-of-the-judge-to-inflict-punishment-gives-him-both-power-and/) [Oliver Ellsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-ellsworth/) > [Legislatures have no right to set up an inquisition and examine into the private opinions of men. Test-laws are useless and ineffectual, unjust and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-ellsworth/legislatures-have-no-right-to-set-up-an-inquisition-and-examine-into/) [Oliver Ellsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-ellsworth/) > [Genetic engineering is having a serious impact on the food we eat, on the environment, and on farmers. To ensure we can maximize benefits…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-kucinich/genetic-engineering-is-having-a-serious-impact-on-the-food-we-eat-on/) [Dennis Kucinich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-kucinich/) > [“It isn't the big troubles in life that require character. Anybody can rise to a crisis and face a crushing tragedy with courage, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-webster/it-isn-t-the-big-troubles-in-life-that-require-character-anybody-can/) [Jean Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-webster/) ## More by Oliver Ellsworth > [A people cannot long retain their freedom, whose government is incapable of protecting them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-ellsworth/a-people-cannot-long-retain-their-freedom-whose-government-is/) [Oliver Ellsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-ellsworth/) > [A government capable of controlling the whole, and bringing its force to a point, is one of the prerequisites for national liberty. We combine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-ellsworth/a-government-capable-of-controlling-the-whole-and-bringing-its-force/) [Oliver Ellsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-ellsworth/) > [The Thirteen States are Thirteen Sovereign bodies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-ellsworth/the-thirteen-states-are-thirteen-sovereign-bodies/) [Oliver Ellsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-ellsworth/) > [Systems of religious error have been adopted in times of ignorance. It has been the interest of tyrannical kings, popes, and prelates to maintain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-ellsworth/systems-of-religious-error-have-been-adopted-in-times-of-ignorance-it/) [Oliver Ellsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-ellsworth/) > [The charge of being ambiguous and indefinite may be brought against every human composition, and necessarily arises from the imperfection of language. Perhaps no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-ellsworth/the-charge-of-being-ambiguous-and-indefinite-may-be-brought-against/) [Oliver Ellsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-ellsworth/) > [The power of collecting money from the people is not to be rejected because it has sometimes been oppressive. Public credit is as necessary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-ellsworth/the-power-of-collecting-money-from-the-people-is-not-to-be-rejected/) [Oliver Ellsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-ellsworth/) > [The right of the judge to inflict punishment gives him both power and opportunity to oppress the innocent; yet none but crazy men will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-ellsworth/the-right-of-the-judge-to-inflict-punishment-gives-him-both-power-and/) [Oliver Ellsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-ellsworth/) > [“Liberty is a word which, according as it is used, comprehends the most good and the most evil of any in the world. Justly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-ellsworth/liberty-is-a-word-which-according-as-it-is-used-comprehends-the-most/) [Oliver Ellsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-ellsworth/) > [Some persons never attain to the happy art of perspicuous expression, and it is equally true that some persons, thro' a mental defect of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-ellsworth/some-persons-never-attain-to-the-happy-art-of-perspicuous-expression/) [Oliver Ellsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-ellsworth/) > [Liberty is a word which, according as it is used, comprehends the most good and the most evil of any in the world. Justly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-ellsworth/liberty-is-a-word-which-according-as-it-is-used-comprehends-the-most-2/) [Oliver Ellsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-ellsworth/) > [The sole purpose and effect of it is to exclude persecution and to secure the important right of religious liberty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-ellsworth/the-sole-purpose-and-effect-of-it-is-to-exclude-persecution-and-to/) [Oliver Ellsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-ellsworth/) > [A desire of gain is common to mankind, and the general motive to business and industry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-ellsworth/a-desire-of-gain-is-common-to-mankind-and-the-general-motive-to/) [Oliver Ellsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-ellsworth/) > [All good men wish the entire abolition of slavery, as soon as it can take place with safety to the public, and for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-ellsworth/all-good-men-wish-the-entire-abolition-of-slavery-as-soon-as-it-can/) [Oliver Ellsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-ellsworth/) > [Legislatures have no right to set up an inquisition and examine into the private opinions of men. Test-laws are useless and ineffectual, unjust and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-ellsworth/legislatures-have-no-right-to-set-up-an-inquisition-and-examine-into/) [Oliver Ellsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-ellsworth/) > [It may be assumed as a fixed truth that the prosperity and riches of the farmer must depend on the prosperity and good national…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-ellsworth/it-may-be-assumed-as-a-fixed-truth-that-the-prosperity-and-riches-of/) [Oliver Ellsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-ellsworth/) [Explore all 18 Oliver Ellsworth quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-ellsworth/) ## More Abuse quotes > [I wrote when I was a young teen, but I didn't put an eye on the available markets until I was seventeen. The next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reed/i-wrote-when-i-was-a-young-teen-but-i-didn-t-put-an-eye-on-the/) [Robert Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reed/) > [Amongst the financial Twitterati, the term 'muppets' has come to describe any client used and abused by some financial predator. I've adopted the term…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-ritholtz/amongst-the-financial-twitterati-the-term-muppets-has-come-to/) [Barry Ritholtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-ritholtz/) > [Being nice is okay,but don't allow anybody to abuse it...try to fight for your self when you know your on the right way...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-nice-is-okay-but-don-t-allow-anybody-to-abuse-it-try-to-fight/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Build a bridge over shame by teaching kids about sexual abuse. Give them a chance to run to us should they encounter it. Be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-byers-ruch/build-a-bridge-over-shame-by-teaching-kids-about-sexual-abuse-give/) [Carolyn Byers Ruch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-byers-ruch/) > [It is sure that those are most desirous of honour or glory who cry out loudest of its abuse and the vanity of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baruch-spinoza/it-is-sure-that-those-are-most-desirous-of-honour-or-glory-who-cry/) [Baruch Spinoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baruch-spinoza/) > [“The sole reason I stand to open it up now is that lots of people who are in pain just like I was, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-dsouza/the-sole-reason-i-stand-to-open-it-up-now-is-that-lots-of-people-who/) [Patricia Dsouza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-dsouza/) > [Democracy must be built through open societies that share information. When there is information, there is enlightenment. When there is debate, there are solutions.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atifete-jahjaga/democracy-must-be-built-through-open-societies-that-share-information/) [Atifete Jahjaga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atifete-jahjaga/) > [I have a theory that all abuse, no matter what kind of abuse it is, is foremost an assault on the mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-westover/i-have-a-theory-that-all-abuse-no-matter-what-kind-of-abuse-it-is-is/) [Tara Westover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tara-westover/) > [“Blaming therapy, social work and other caring professions for the confabulation of testimony of 'satanic ritual abuse' legitimated a programme of political and social…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-salter/blaming-therapy-social-work-and-other-caring-professions-for-the/) [Michael Salter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-salter/) > [Finally, the scariest thing about abuse of any shape or form, is, in my opinion, not the abuse itself, but that if it continues…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-cumming/finally-the-scariest-thing-about-abuse-of-any-shape-or-form-is-in-my/) [Alan Cumming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cumming/) > [“Research on organised abuse emphasises the diversity of organised abuse cases, and the ways in which serious forms of child maltreatment cluster in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-salter/research-on-organised-abuse-emphasises-the-diversity-of-organised/) [Michael Salter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-salter/) > [“Stand up for yourself. Never give any one permission to abuse you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/stand-up-for-yourself-never-give-any-one-permission-to-abuse-you/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [All governments should be pressured to correct their abuses of human rights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-stallman/all-governments-should-be-pressured-to-correct-their-abuses-of-human/) [Richard Stallman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-stallman/) > [“Words are free. It does not mean you should abuse them. Be kind with them. They will mirror your actions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hadinet-tekie/words-are-free-it-does-not-mean-you-should-abuse-them-be-kind-with/) [Hadinet Tekie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hadinet-tekie/) > [My illness is one often characterized by dramatic overspending - in my case through frenzied shopping sprees, credit card abuse, excessive hoarding of unnecessary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-behrman/my-illness-is-one-often-characterized-by-dramatic-overspending-in-my/) [Andy Behrman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-behrman/) [Browse all 3,113 Abuse quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abuse/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The powers of congress must be defined, but their means must be adequate to the purposes of their constitution. 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