--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I look on that paper (the Constitution)…" description: "\"I look on that paper (the Constitution) as the most fatal plan that could possibly be conceived to enslave a free people.\" — Patrick Henry" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b9/patrick-henry-3071_constitution_i-look-on-that-paper-the-constitution-as_1622939.png" --- # I look on that paper (the Constitution) as the most fatal… ![“I look on that paper (the Constitution) as the most fatal plan that could possibly be conceived to enslave a free people.” quote by Patrick Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b9/patrick-henry-3071_constitution_i-look-on-that-paper-the-constitution-as_1622939.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b9/patrick-henry-3071_constitution_i-look-on-that-paper-the-constitution-as_1622939.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b9/patrick-henry-3071_constitution_i-look-on-that-paper-the-constitution-as_1622939.png) > “I look on that paper (the Constitution) as the most fatal plan that could possibly be conceived to enslave a free people.” [Patrick Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-henry/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He views the Constitution as a dangerous plan that could enslave free people. **In simple terms:** The Constitution is seen as a potential threat to liberty. Key Takeaway Critically assess foundational documents. Themes politics freedom constitutional law Mood skeptical serious Type cautionary philosophical When to use this quote - policy debate - civic education - historical analysis Key Concepts authoritarianism civil liberties legal theory Questions to Reflect On - What safeguards prevent misuse? - How to balance liberty and order? A Different Perspective Constitutional intent can be misused. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Conceived Enslave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conceived-enslave-297698/) [Constitution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constitution/) [Constitution Fatal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constitution-fatal-297696/) [Enslave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enslave/) [Fatal Plan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fatal-plan-297697/) [Free people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/free-people/) [Looks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looks/) [Paper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paper/) [Paper Constitution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paper-constitution-297699/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Plans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plans/) ## Related quotes > [The constitution of England is not a paper constitution. It is an aggregate of institutions, many of them founded merely upon prescription, some of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/the-constitution-of-england-is-not-a-paper-constitution-it-is-an/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [If you cannot free people from their wrongs and see them as the needy people they are, you enslave yourself to your own painful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-b-smedes/if-you-cannot-free-people-from-their-wrongs-and-see-them-as-the-needy/) [Lewis B. Smedes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-b-smedes/) > [“But if you want to truly enslave someone, there is something even more powerful than fear, and that is hope.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-thorn/but-if-you-want-to-truly-enslave-someone-there-is-something-even-more/) [J. Thorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-thorn/) > [The Grecians and Romans were strongly possessed of the spirit of liberty but not the principle, for at the time they were determined not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/the-grecians-and-romans-were-strongly-possessed-of-the-spirit-of/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [They enslave their children's children who make compromise with sin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-russell-lowell/they-enslave-their-children-s-children-who-make-compromise-with-sin/) [James Russell Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-russell-lowell/) > [Give. Giving affirms Christ's lordship. It dethrones me and exalts Him. It breaks the chains of mammon that would enslave me and transfers my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-alcorn/give-giving-affirms-christ-s-lordship-it-dethrones-me-and-exalts-him/) [Randy Alcorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-alcorn/) > [“To disarm the people--that was the best and most effective way to enslave them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-mason/to-disarm-the-people-that-was-the-best-and-most-effective-way-to/) [George Mason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-mason/) > [They wanna hang us, see us dead, or enslave us, keep us trapped in the same place we raised in. Then they wonder why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-dre/they-wanna-hang-us-see-us-dead-or-enslave-us-keep-us-trapped-in-the/) [Dr. Dre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-dre/) > [The Hebrew scriptures say it's okay to enslave anybody except your fellow Jews. It says you should enslave only your neighbors. I say to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shelby-spong/the-hebrew-scriptures-say-it-s-okay-to-enslave-anybody-except-your/) [John Shelby Spong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shelby-spong/) > [Some people steal from others, or defraud them, or enslave them, seizing their product and preventing them from living as they choose, or forcibly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-nozick/some-people-steal-from-others-or-defraud-them-or-enslave-them-seizing/) [Robert Nozick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-nozick/) > [“To disarm the people is the best and most effectual way to enslave them." -George Mason - Father of the Bill of Rights”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-goodwin/to-disarm-the-people-is-the-best-and-most-effectual-way-to-enslave/) [Mark Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-goodwin/) > [“Society always tries to enslave, imprison, and execute its greatest men, those who dare to stand apart and rise above.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-torode/society-always-tries-to-enslave-imprison-and-execute-its-greatest-men/) [Sam Torode](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-torode/) > [Why not exploit, enslave, or exterminate a class that everybody is taught to regard as inferior?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carter-g-woodson/why-not-exploit-enslave-or-exterminate-a-class-that-everybody-is/) [Carter G. Woodson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carter-g-woodson/) > [A man who will enslave his own blood, may not be safely relied on for magnamity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/a-man-who-will-enslave-his-own-blood-may-not-be-safely-relied-on-for/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [The greatest of all crimes are the wars that are carried on by governments, to plunder, enslave, and destroy mankind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lysander-spooner/the-greatest-of-all-crimes-are-the-wars-that-are-carried-on-by/) [Lysander Spooner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lysander-spooner/) ## More by Patrick Henry > [You ought to be extremely cautious, watchful, jealous of your liberty; for instead of securing your rights, you may lose them forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-henry/you-ought-to-be-extremely-cautious-watchful-jealous-of-your-liberty/) [Patrick Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-henry/) > [“Guard with jealous attention the public liberty. Suspect everyone who approaches that jewel. Unfortunately, nothing will preserve it but downright force. Whenever you give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-henry/guard-with-jealous-attention-the-public-liberty-suspect-everyone-who/) [Patrick Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-henry/) > [I have now disposed of all my property to my family. There is one thing more I wish I could give them, and that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-henry/i-have-now-disposed-of-all-my-property-to-my-family-there-is-one/) [Patrick Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-henry/) > [My great objection to this government is, that it does not leave us the means of defending our rights, or of waging war against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-henry/my-great-objection-to-this-government-is-that-it-does-not-leave-us/) [Patrick Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-henry/) > [“When the American Spirit was in its youth, the language of America was different; Liberty, sir, was then the primary object.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-henry/when-the-american-spirit-was-in-its-youth-the-language-of-america-was/) [Patrick Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-henry/) > [Shall we, who have laid the proud British lion at our feet, now be afraid of his whelps?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-henry/shall-we-who-have-laid-the-proud-british-lion-at-our-feet-now-be/) [Patrick Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-henry/) > [It is when a people forget God, that tyrants forge their chains.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-henry/it-is-when-a-people-forget-god-that-tyrants-forge-their-chains/) [Patrick Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-henry/) > [That religion, or the duty we owe to our Creator, and the manner of discharging it, can be directed only by reason and conviction,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-henry/that-religion-or-the-duty-we-owe-to-our-creator-and-the-manner-of/) [Patrick Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-henry/) > [I shall act as I think my duty requires.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-henry/i-shall-act-as-i-think-my-duty-requires/) [Patrick Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-henry/) > [It is the business of a virtuous clergy to censure vice in every appearance of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-henry/it-is-the-business-of-a-virtuous-clergy-to-censure-vice-in-every/) [Patrick Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-henry/) > [Being a Christian... is a character which I prize far above all this world has or can boast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-henry/being-a-christian-is-a-character-which-i-prize-far-above-all-this/) [Patrick Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-henry/) > [Jealousy is the only vice that gives no pleasure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-henry/jealousy-is-the-only-vice-that-gives-no-pleasure/) [Patrick Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-henry/) > […I am sure that the dangers of this system (the Federal Constitution) are real, when those who have no similar interest with the people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-henry/i-am-sure-that-the-dangers-of-this-system-the-federal-constitution/) [Patrick Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-henry/) > [Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it! Almighty God! I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-henry/is-life-so-dear-or-peace-so-sweet-as-to-be-purchased-at-the-price-of/) [Patrick Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-henry/) > [That religion, or the duty which we owe to our Creator, and the manner of discharging it, can be directed only by reason and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-henry/that-religion-or-the-duty-which-we-owe-to-our-creator-and-the-manner/) [Patrick Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-henry/) [Explore all 139 Patrick Henry quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-henry/) ## More Constitution quotes > [ Next came the Patent laws. These began in England in 1624; and, in this country, with the adoption of our constitution. 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Moreover I have tried it fairly and, strange as it may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/as-for-doing-good-that-is-one-of-the-professions-which-is-full/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [While not widely reported, our victories in Iraq are plentiful. National elections, a democratic parliament and the drafting of a constitution are just some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-gillmor/while-not-widely-reported-our-victories-in-iraq-are-plentiful/) [Paul Gillmor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-gillmor/) > [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/) > [The judiciary must not take on the coloration of whatever may be popular at the moment. We are guardian of rights, and we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-bird/the-judiciary-must-not-take-on-the-coloration-of-whatever-may-be/) [Rose Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-bird/) > [There is not a revolution that succe Women are suffering because they are being excluded. The high military council excluded women from the committee…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nawal-el-saadawi/there-is-not-a-revolution-that-succe-women-are-suffering-because-they/) [Nawal El Saadawi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nawal-el-saadawi/) > [Free government is founded in jealousy, and not in confidence; it is jealousy, and not confidence, which prescribes limited constitutions, to bind down those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/free-government-is-founded-in-jealousy-and-not-in-confidence-it-is/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [The American Constitution declares 'All men are born equal.' The British Socialist Party add: 'All men must be kept equal'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/the-american-constitution-declares-all-men-are-born-equal-the-british/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [“The Court has a special responsibility to ensure that the Constitution works in practice. While education, including the transmission of our civic values from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-breyer/the-court-has-a-special-responsibility-to-ensure-that-the/) [Stephen Breyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-breyer/) > [The Constitution is very clear on the - on the declaration of war or reacting to international crimes - crimes against nations. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-pitts/the-constitution-is-very-clear-on-the-on-the-declaration-of-war-or/) [Joe Pitts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-pitts/) > [Nothing from man's hands, nor law, nor constitution, can be final. 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