--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I had a copy of the Soviet Constitution…" description: "\"“I had a copy of the Soviet Constitution and I read it with great interest. And I saw all kinds of terms in there that sound just exactly like our own:..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bef/ronald-reagan-119_communication_i-had-a-copy-of-the-soviet-constitution_1490622.jpg" --- # I had a copy of the Soviet Constitution and I read it with… ![“I had a copy of the Soviet Constitution and I read it with great interest. And I saw all kinds of terms in there that sound just exactly like our own: 'Freedom of assembly' and 'freedom of speech' and so forth. Of course, they don't allow them to have those things, but they're in there in the…” quote by Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bef/ronald-reagan-119_communication_i-had-a-copy-of-the-soviet-constitution_1490622.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bef/ronald-reagan-119_communication_i-had-a-copy-of-the-soviet-constitution_1490622.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bef/ronald-reagan-119_communication_i-had-a-copy-of-the-soviet-constitution_1490622.jpg) > ““I had a copy of the Soviet Constitution and I read it with great interest. And I saw all kinds of terms in there that sound just exactly like our own: 'Freedom of assembly' and 'freedom of speech' and so forth. Of course, they don't allow them to have those things, but they're in there in the constitution. But I began to wonder about the other constitutions - everyone has one - and our own, and why so much emphasis on ours. And then I found out, and the answer was very simple - that's why you don't notice it at first. But it is so great that it tells the entire difference. All those other constitutions are documents that say, 'We, the government, allow the people the following rights,' and our Constitution says 'We the People, allow the government the following privileges and rights.' We give our permission to government to do the things that it does. And that's the whole story of the difference - why we're unique in the world and why no matter what our troubles may be, we're going to overcome.”” [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He contrasts the U.S. Constitution’s empowerment of the people with other constitutions that empower governments, emphasizing the unique American principle of limiting governmental authority. **In simple terms:** U.S. Constitution protects people, not government. Key Takeaway Guard and and constitutional rights. Themes freedom government constitution Mood reflective patriotic Type political philosophical When to use this quote - civic education - legal reforms - public debates - policy analysis Key Concepts political theory civil liberties Questions to Reflect On - What responsibilities accompany our freedoms? - How can citizens hold government accountable? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on rights can lead to complacency. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Communication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/) [Constitution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constitution/) [Constitution Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constitution-read-840287/) [Constitution Says](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constitution-says/) [Constitutions Emphasis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constitutions-emphasis-5447709/) [Difference Constitutions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/difference-constitutions-5447710/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Freedom of assembly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom-of-assembly/) [Freedom of speech](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom-of-speech/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Soviet Constitution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soviet-constitution-1923577/) ## Related quotes > [Two Soviets . . . were talking to each other. And one of them asked, "What's the difference between the Soviet Constitution and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/two-soviets-were-talking-to-each-other-and-one-of-them-asked-what-s/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Words, especially those of a constitution, are not to be read with such stultifying narrowness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-f-stone/words-especially-those-of-a-constitution-are-not-to-be-read-with-such/) [Harlan F. 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They think it has been pursuing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-said/most-arabs-and-muslims-feel-that-the-united-states-hasn-t-really-been/) [Edward Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-said/) > [Israel is a country that respects freedom - freedom of assembly, freedom of speech and freedom of worship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-pataki/israel-is-a-country-that-respects-freedom-freedom-of-assembly-freedom/) [George Pataki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-pataki/) > [What is the use of freedom of the press if the government is in possession of all the printing presses, what does freedom of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugen-richter/what-is-the-use-of-freedom-of-the-press-if-the-government-is-in/) [Eugen Richter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugen-richter/) > [“Liberalism is a creation of the seventeenth century, fathered by British philosopher John Locke (1632–1704). For Locke, liberalism means limited government, the rule of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-boghossian/liberalism-is-a-creation-of-the-seventeenth-century-fathered-by/) [Peter Boghossian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-boghossian/) ## More by Ronald Reagan > [Today, the world looks to America for leadership. And America looks to its Corps of Marines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/today-the-world-looks-to-america-for-leadership-and-america-looks-to/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [I've long believed one of the mainsprings of our own liberty has been the widespread ownership of property among our people and the expectation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/i-ve-long-believed-one-of-the-mainsprings-of-our-own-liberty-has-been/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [You know, by the time you reach my age, you've made plenty of mistakes if you've lived your life properly. 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The only experience you gain in politics is how to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/professional-politicians-like-to-talk-about-the-value-of-experience/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The WPA was one of the most productive elements of FDR's alphabet soup of agencies because it put people to work building roads, bridges,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/the-wpa-was-one-of-the-most-productive-elements-of-fdr-s-alphabet/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Where there's liberty, art succeeds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/where-there-s-liberty-art-succeeds/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Since I came to the White House, I got two hearing aids, a colon operation, skin cancer, a prostate operation, and I was shot.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/since-i-came-to-the-white-house-i-got-two-hearing-aids-a-colon/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [A moment I've been dreading. 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Of course, they don't allow them to have those things, but they're in there in the constitution. But I began to wonder about the other constitutions - everyone has one - and our own, and why so much emphasis on ours. And then I found out, and the answer was very simple - that's why you don't notice it at first. But it is so great that it tells the entire difference. All those other constitutions are documents that say, 'We, the government, allow the people the following rights,' and our Constitution says 'We the People, allow the government the following privileges and rights.' We give our permission to government to do the things that it does. 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