--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The First Amendment of the Constitution…" description: "\"The First Amendment of the Constitution was not written to protect the people from religion; that amendment was written to protect religion from govern..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7df/ronald-reagan-119_amendments_the-first-amendment-of-the-constitution_2644556.jpg" --- # The First Amendment of the Constitution was not written to… ![“The First Amendment of the Constitution was not written to protect the people from religion; that amendment was written to protect religion from government tyranny. . . But now we're told our children have no right to pray in school. Nonsense. The pendulum has swung too far toward intolerance…” quote by Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7df/ronald-reagan-119_amendments_the-first-amendment-of-the-constitution_2644556.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7df/ronald-reagan-119_amendments_the-first-amendment-of-the-constitution_2644556.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7df/ronald-reagan-119_amendments_the-first-amendment-of-the-constitution_2644556.jpg) > “The First Amendment of the Constitution was not written to protect the people from religion; that amendment was written to protect religion from government tyranny. . . But now we're told our children have no right to pray in school. Nonsense. The pendulum has swung too far toward intolerance against genuine religious freedom. It is time to redress the balance.” [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. The First Amendment protects religion from government, not the reverse; current policies overreach. **In simple terms:** Amendment shields religion from state. Key Takeaway Restore balance between church and state. Themes religion government constitutional rights Mood political defensive Type constitutional social When to use this quote - school prayer debates - legislative reforms - public policy Key Concepts separation of church and state religious liberty Questions to Reflect On - How should religious expression be handled in schools? - What limits protect both faith and state? A Different Perspective Balancing rights can be politically contentious. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Amendment Written](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amendment-written-1128954/) [Amendments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amendments/) [Balance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/balance/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Constitution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constitution/) [Constitution Written](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constitution-written-245294/) [First amendment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-amendment/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Genuine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/genuine/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Government tyranny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government-tyranny/) [Intolerance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intolerance/) [Nonsense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nonsense/) [Our children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/our-children/) [Pendulums](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pendulums/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Praying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/praying/) [Protect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/protect/) [Protect Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/protect-religion-2164397/) [Redress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/redress/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Religion Amendment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion-amendment-2298356/) [Religious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religious/) [Religious freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religious-freedom/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [Too far](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/too-far/) [Tyranny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tyranny/) [Written](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/written/) ## Related quotes > [Now I realize it's fashionable in some circles to believe that no one in government should encourage others to read the Bible. That we're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/now-i-realize-it-s-fashionable-in-some-circles-to-believe-that-no-one/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [To those who cite the first amendment as reason for excluding God from more and more of our institutions and everyday life, may I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/to-those-who-cite-the-first-amendment-as-reason-for-excluding-god/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [If America has a civic religion, the First Amendment is its central article of faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-louis-gates/if-america-has-a-civic-religion-the-first-amendment-is-its-central/) [Henry Louis Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-louis-gates/) > [Where the preamble declares, that coercion is a departure from the plan of the holy author of our religion, an amendment was proposed by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/where-the-preamble-declares-that-coercion-is-a-departure-from-the/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“Freedom prospers when religion is vibrant and the rule of law under God is acknowledged. When our Founding Fathers passed the First Amendment, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/freedom-prospers-when-religion-is-vibrant-and-the-rule-of-law-under/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The courts are using the First Amendment to attack religion, when they should be using it to protect religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-istook/the-courts-are-using-the-first-amendment-to-attack-religion-when-they/) [Ernest Istook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-istook/) > [The erosion of privacy rights under the Fourth Amendment, written to protect us against unreasonable search and seizure, began in earnest under President George…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-mackinnon/the-erosion-of-privacy-rights-under-the-fourth-amendment-written-to/) [Rebecca MacKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-mackinnon/) > [The censor is always quick to justify his function in terms that are protective of society. But the First Amendment, written in terms that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-o-douglas/the-censor-is-always-quick-to-justify-his-function-in-terms-that-are/) [William O. Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-o-douglas/) > [The First Amendment was written by the Founders to protect the free exercise of Christianity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-fischer/the-first-amendment-was-written-by-the-founders-to-protect-the-free/) [Bryan Fischer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-fischer/) > [the separation of church and state grew out of a desire, not so much to protect government from religion, but to protect religion from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/the-separation-of-church-and-state-grew-out-of-a-desire-not-so-much/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [When one is under pressure, one may lie in order to protect the religion, this is taught in the Qur'an.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-spencer/when-one-is-under-pressure-one-may-lie-in-order-to-protect-the/) [Robert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-spencer/) > [“If there is something to protect you, it is religion. Who helped you meet Dada? Your own religion did.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/if-there-is-something-to-protect-you-it-is-religion-who-helped-you/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [Unfortunately, you've grown up hearing voices that incessantly warn of government as nothing more than some separate, sinister entity that's at the root of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/unfortunately-you-ve-grown-up-hearing-voices-that-incessantly-warn-of/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [The federal government is our servant, not our master.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-federal-government-is-our-servant-not-our-master/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [When the people are afraid of the government, that's tyranny. But when the government is afraid of the people, that's liberty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/when-the-people-are-afraid-of-the-government-that-s-tyranny-but-when/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) ## 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. So you learn. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/you-know-by-the-time-you-reach-my-age-you-ve-made-plenty-of-mistakes/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Yes, across Europe, this wall will fall. For it cannot withstand faith; it cannot withstand truth. The wall cannot withstand freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/yes-across-europe-this-wall-will-fall-for-it-cannot-withstand-faith/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Simple fairness dictates that government must not raise taxes on families struggling to pay their bills.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/simple-fairness-dictates-that-government-must-not-raise-taxes-on/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The time has come to turn to God and reassert our trust in Him for the healing of America - our country is in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/the-time-has-come-to-turn-to-god-and-reassert-our-trust-in-him-for/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Professional politicians like to talk about the value of experience in government. Nuts! 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. George brought his ne're-do-well son around this morning and asked me to find the kid a job. Not the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/a-moment-i-ve-been-dreading-george-brought-his-ne-re-do-well-son/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [On Father's Day, we pay tribute to all in our society who have taken on the responsibilitie s and joys of fatherhood. Whether our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/on-father-s-day-we-pay-tribute-to-all-in-our-society-who-have-taken/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [There is no limit to the amount of good you can do if you don't care who gets the credit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/there-is-no-limit-to-the-amount-of-good-you-can-do-if-you-don-t-care/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [It's not that liberals aren't smart, it's just that so much of what they know isn't so](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/it-s-not-that-liberals-aren-t-smart-it-s-just-that-so-much-of-what/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Love your country, not for her power or wealth, but for her selflessness and her idealism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/love-your-country-not-for-her-power-or-wealth-but-for-her/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) [Explore all 1,244 Ronald Reagan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) ## More Amendments quotes > [This separation was absolute in our original Republic. But the sky-godders do not give up easily. In the 1950s they actually got the phrase…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/this-separation-was-absolute-in-our-original-republic-but-the-sky/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [The First Amendment makes confidence in the common sense of our people and in the maturity of their judgement the great postulate of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-o-douglas/the-first-amendment-makes-confidence-in-the-common-sense-of-our/) [William O. Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-o-douglas/) > [Anybody who pretends that how you read the 10th and 11th Amendment doesn't have a fundamental impact on the things we care about is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/anybody-who-pretends-that-how-you-read-the-10th-and-11th-amendment/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [I have a lot of guns on my ranch. I don't use them for hunting. I'm not a hunter. It's for protection. The Second…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-norris/i-have-a-lot-of-guns-on-my-ranch-i-don-t-use-them-for-hunting-i-m-not/) [Chuck Norris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-norris/) > [All human situations have their inconveniences. We feel those of the present but neither see nor feel those of the future; and hence we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/all-human-situations-have-their-inconveniences-we-feel-those-of-the/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [If, in the opinion of the people, the distribution or modification of the constitutional powers be in any particular wrong, let it be corrected…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/if-in-the-opinion-of-the-people-the-distribution-or-modification-of/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [The First Amendment exists to protect our religious liberty--to ensure that all Americans are able to seek out worship God with all our hearts,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/the-first-amendment-exists-to-protect-our-religious-liberty-to-ensure/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [Laws that forbid the carrying of arms . . . disarm only those who are neither inclined nor determined to commit crimes . .…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/laws-that-forbid-the-carrying-of-arms-disarm-only-those-who-are/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [As civil rulers, not having their duty to the people duly before them, may attempt to tyrannize,... The people are confirmed by the next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tench-coxe/as-civil-rulers-not-having-their-duty-to-the-people-duly-before-them/) [Tench Coxe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tench-coxe/) > [The lessons of the First Amendment are as urgent in the modern world as the 18th Century when it was written. One timeless lesson…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-kennedy/the-lessons-of-the-first-amendment-are-as-urgent-in-the-modern-world/) [Anthony Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-kennedy/) > [The American people intuitively understand this, which is why the majority of Catholics practice birth control and some of those opposed to gay marriage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-american-people-intuitively-understand-this-which-is-why-the/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I think the reality is that copyright law has for a very long time been a tiny little part of American jurisprudence, far removed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-lessig/i-think-the-reality-is-that-copyright-law-has-for-a-very-long-time/) [Lawrence Lessig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-lessig/) > [What country can preserve its liberties if its rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/what-country-can-preserve-its-liberties-if-its-rulers-are-not-warned/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [The First Amendment defends all forms of speech including hate speech, which is why groups like Ku Klux Klan are allowed to utter their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/the-first-amendment-defends-all-forms-of-speech-including-hate-speech/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [The Second Amendment has no place in modern society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-dershowitz/the-second-amendment-has-no-place-in-modern-society/) [Alan Dershowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-dershowitz/) [Browse all 709 Amendments quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amendments/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The First Amendment of the Constitution was not written to protect the people from religion; that amendment was written to protect religion from government tyranny. . . 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