America Quote by Reinhold Niebuhr
“Religion mustn't interfere with the state - so one of the basic Democratic principles as we know it in America is the separation of church and state.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Public address on church‑state separation, United States, early 20th century
The state should remain neutral, preventing religious influence on governance to protect liberty.
In simple terms: Keep government neutral toward religion.
Key Takeaway
Guard secular governance.
Themes
separation
democracy
religion
government
Mood
cautious
principled
Type
political
ethical
When to use this quote
- policy making
- legal debates
- education curriculum
- public administration
Key Concepts
constitutional law
civil liberty
Questions to Reflect On
- How can citizens ensure true neutrality?
- What limits should be placed on religious lobbying?
A Different Perspective
Religious groups may still wield informal power.
![“I do not make decisions [as governor] based on what have I learned through my Bible studies, what have I learned in my religious classes in school. I'm a big believer in separation of church and state, and I think that's what . . . the law is.” quote by Arnold Schwarzenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/a18/arnold-schwarzenegger-657_believer_i-do-not-make-decisions-as-governor-base_18031.jpg)
![“I'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumors, I'll die, deal? Thank you America. [salutes]” quote by Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/3d2/bill-hicks-970_america_i-ll-smoke-i-ll-cough-i-ll-get-the-tumor_655.jpg)
