--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The equal protection standard of the…" description: "\"The equal protection standard of the constitution has one clear and central meaning - it absolutely prohibits invidious [repugnant] discrimination by g..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7b/potter-stewart-22133_accounts_the-equal-protection-standard-of-the-con_1845148.png" --- # The equal protection standard of the constitution has one… ![“The equal protection standard of the constitution has one clear and central meaning - it absolutely prohibits invidious [repugnant] discrimination by government...Under our Constitution, any official action that treats a person differently on account of his race or ethnic origin is inherently [by…” quote by Potter Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7b/potter-stewart-22133_accounts_the-equal-protection-standard-of-the-con_1845148.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7b/potter-stewart-22133_accounts_the-equal-protection-standard-of-the-con_1845148.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7b/potter-stewart-22133_accounts_the-equal-protection-standard-of-the-con_1845148.png) > “The equal protection standard of the constitution has one clear and central meaning - it absolutely prohibits invidious \[repugnant\] discrimination by government...Under our Constitution, any official action that treats a person differently on account of his race or ethnic origin is inherently \[by nature\] suspect and presumptively \[probably\] invalid...Under the Constitution we have, one practice in which government may never engage in the practice of racism - not even "temporarily" and not even as an "experiment."” [Potter Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/potter-stewart/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The Constitution forbids any government discrimination based on race or ethnicity, deeming it inherently suspect and invalid. **In simple terms:** Government cannot discriminate by race. Key Takeaway Recognize and challenge racial bias in policy. Themes equality law civil rights Mood serious determined Type legal political When to use this quote - policy drafting - legal analysis - civil rights advocacy Key Concepts constitutional law suspect classifications Questions to Reflect On - How can institutions audit for hidden bias? - What safeguards ensure equal protection? A Different Perspective Discrimination may be subtle, requiring vigilant enforcement. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Affirmative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affirmative/) [Affirmative action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affirmative-action/) [Constitution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constitution/) [Discrimination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discrimination/) [Equal protection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/equal-protection/) [Equality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/equality/) [Experiments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experiments/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Practice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/practice/) [Protection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/protection/) [Race](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/race/) [Racism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/racism/) ## Related quotes > [Experience teaches that for most people there is a limit beyond which their constitution cannot comply with the demands of civilization. All who wish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sigmund-freud/experience-teaches-that-for-most-people-there-is-a-limit-beyond-which/) [Sigmund Freud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigmund-freud/) > [We recognize that same-sex marriage makes some people deeply uncomfortable. However, inertia and apprehension are not legitimate bases for denying same-sex couples due process…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-franklin-floyd/we-recognize-that-same-sex-marriage-makes-some-people-deeply/) Henry Franklin Floyd > [Equal protection under the law mandates that similarly situated criminal defendants be treated equally, regardless of financial means.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-sununu/equal-protection-under-the-law-mandates-that-similarly-situated/) [Chris Sununu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-sununu/) > [Laws that require equal protections reinforce the moral imperative of equality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/laws-that-require-equal-protections-reinforce-the-moral-imperative-of/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [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/) > [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/) > [Neither federal nor state government acts compatibly with equal protection when a law or official policy denies to women, simply because they are women,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/neither-federal-nor-state-government-acts-compatibly-with-equal/) [Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bader-ginsburg/) > [I just want to believe that, as a citizen in this country, that I have equal protection under the law and that I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-k-davis/i-just-want-to-believe-that-as-a-citizen-in-this-country-that-i-have/) [Danny K. Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-k-davis/) > [ It's time to recognize that under the equal protection clause of the United States \[Constitution\], same-sex couples should have the same rights as anybody… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/it-s-time-to-recognize-that-under-the-equal-protection-clause-of-the/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Money is speech. It's incongruous to say a multimillionaire can spend as much on his own campaign as he wants, but you can only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-stone/money-is-speech-it-s-incongruous-to-say-a-multimillionaire-can-spend/) [Roger Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-stone/) > [Full participation in government and society has been a basic right of the country symbolizing the full citizenship and equal protection of all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/full-participation-in-government-and-society-has-been-a-basic-right/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Homosexuals do not meet the criteria for a susect class under the equal protection clause because they are neither disadvantaged nor identified on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-johnson/homosexuals-do-not-meet-the-criteria-for-a-susect-class-under-the/) [Mike Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-johnson/) > [Civil union is less than marriage. Marriage is a sacred and valued institution and ought to be afforded equal protection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mcgreevey/civil-union-is-less-than-marriage-marriage-is-a-sacred-and-valued/) [James McGreevey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mcgreevey/) > [We must never stop pushing for equal protection under the law in Pennsylvania and across the country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fetterman/we-must-never-stop-pushing-for-equal-protection-under-the-law-in/) [John Fetterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fetterman/) > [The legal bias for special protection for women has begun to wreak havoc with the Constitution's guarantee of equal protection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-farrell/the-legal-bias-for-special-protection-for-women-has-begun-to-wreak/) [Warren Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-farrell/) ## More by Potter Stewart > [May the state fence in the harmless mentally ill solely to save its citizens from exposure to those whose ways are different? One might…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/potter-stewart/may-the-state-fence-in-the-harmless-mentally-ill-solely-to-save-its/) [Potter Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/potter-stewart/) > [The Court today holds the Congress may say that some of the poor are too poor even to go bankrupt. I cannot agree.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/potter-stewart/the-court-today-holds-the-congress-may-say-that-some-of-the-poor-are/) [Potter Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/potter-stewart/) > [In fact, a fundamental interdependence exists between the personal right to liberty and the personal right to property.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/potter-stewart/in-fact-a-fundamental-interdependence-exists-between-the-personal/) [Potter Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/potter-stewart/) > [To force a lawyer on a defendant can only lead him to believe that the law contrives against him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/potter-stewart/to-force-a-lawyer-on-a-defendant-can-only-lead-him-to-believe-that/) [Potter Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/potter-stewart/) > [Fairness is what justice really is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/potter-stewart/fairness-is-what-justice-really-is/) [Potter Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/potter-stewart/) > [These death sentences are cruel and unusual in the same way that being struck by lightning is cruel and unusual.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/potter-stewart/these-death-sentences-are-cruel-and-unusual-in-the-same-way-that/) [Potter Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/potter-stewart/) > [It must always be remembered that what the Constitution forbids is not all searches and seizures, but unreasonable searches and seizures.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/potter-stewart/it-must-always-be-remembered-that-what-the-constitution-forbids-is/) [Potter Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/potter-stewart/) > [We are concerned here only with the imposition of capital punishment for the crime of murder, and when a life has been taken deliberately…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/potter-stewart/we-are-concerned-here-only-with-the-imposition-of-capital-punishment/) [Potter Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/potter-stewart/) > [The dichotomy between personal liberties and property rights is a false one. Property does not have rights. People have rights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/potter-stewart/the-dichotomy-between-personal-liberties-and-property-rights-is-a/) [Potter Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/potter-stewart/) > [The 4th Amendment and the personal rights it secures have a long history. At the very core stands the right of a man to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/potter-stewart/the-4th-amendment-and-the-personal-rights-it-secures-have-a-long/) [Potter Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/potter-stewart/) > [“For when everything is classified, then nothing is classified, and the system becomes one to be disregarded by the cynical or the careless, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/potter-stewart/for-when-everything-is-classified-then-nothing-is-classified-and-the/) [Potter Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/potter-stewart/) > [Censorship reflects a society's lack of confidence in itself. It is a hallmark of an authoritarian regime.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/potter-stewart/censorship-reflects-a-society-s-lack-of-confidence-in-itself-it-is-a/) [Potter Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/potter-stewart/) > [Ethics is knowing the difference between what you have a right to do and what is right to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/potter-stewart/ethics-is-knowing-the-difference-between-what-you-have-a-right-to-do/) [Potter Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/potter-stewart/) > [We dedicated ourselves to a powerful idea - organic law rather than naked power. 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