--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We establish no religion in this country…" description: "\"We establish no religion in this country. We command no worship. We mandate no belief, nor will we ever. Church and state are and must remain separate...." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c6/ronald-reagan-119_atheism_we-establish-no-religion-in-this-country_1897767.jpg" --- # We establish no religion in this country. We command no… ![“We establish no religion in this country. We command no worship. We mandate no belief, nor will we ever. Church and state are and must remain separate.” quote by Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c6/ronald-reagan-119_atheism_we-establish-no-religion-in-this-country_1897767.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c6/ronald-reagan-119_atheism_we-establish-no-religion-in-this-country_1897767.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c6/ronald-reagan-119_atheism_we-establish-no-religion-in-this-country_1897767.jpg) > “We establish no religion in this country. We command no worship. We mandate no belief, nor will we ever. Church and state are and must remain separate.” [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. Advocates strict separation of church and state, rejecting any government endorsement of religion. **In simple terms:** Keep government neutral on religion. Key Takeaway Uphold constitutional separation. Themes freedom separation government Mood thoughtful serious Type political ethical When to use this quote - policy making - public education - legislation - court rulings Key Concepts secularism constitutional law Questions to Reflect On - Should personal beliefs influence public policy? - How to ensure neutrality? A Different Perspective Balancing religious freedom with public expression can be complex. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Atheism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheism/) [Belief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/) [Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/church/) [Church and state](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/church-and-state/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Pluralism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pluralism/) [Prayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prayer/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Separation between church and state](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/separation-between-church-and-state/) [Separation of church and state](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/separation-of-church-and-state/) [Worship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worship/) ## Related quotes > [“We establish no religion in this country, we command no worship, we mandate no belief. Nor will we ever. Church and state are, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/we-establish-no-religion-in-this-country-we-command-no-worship-we/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [We in the United States, above all, must remember that lesson, for we were founded as a nation of openness to people of all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/we-in-the-united-states-above-all-must-remember-that-lesson-for-we/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Church and state are, and must remain, separate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/church-and-state-are-and-must-remain-separate/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [We establish no religion in this country, nor will we ever. But we poison our society when we remove its theological underpinnings. We court…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-miller/we-establish-no-religion-in-this-country-nor-will-we-ever-but-we/) [Jeff Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-miller/) > [The First Amendment to the Constitution says government can't establish a religion, but neither can it limit the exercise of religion. And that's the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-gjelten/the-first-amendment-to-the-constitution-says-government-can-t/) [Tom Gjelten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-gjelten/) > [However the great successes of science - Galileo's telescopic observations, Newton's law of gravity, etc - all of this great success caused people to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-coyne/however-the-great-successes-of-science-galileo-s-telescopic/) [George Coyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-coyne/) > [The First Amendment...does not say that in every respect there shall be a separation of Church and State…Otherwise the state and religion would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-o-douglas/the-first-amendment-does-not-say-that-in-every-respect-there-shall-be/) [William O. Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-o-douglas/) > [Congress should not establish a religion, and enforce the legal observation of it by law, nor compel men to worship God in any Manner…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/congress-should-not-establish-a-religion-and-enforce-the-legal/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [If we were to set out to establish a religion in polar opposition to the Beatitudes Jesus taught, it would look strikingly similar to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-campolo/if-we-were-to-set-out-to-establish-a-religion-in-polar-opposition-to/) [Tony Campolo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-campolo/) > [“If the Almighty chose to establish his religion by miracles, he chooses to carry it on by means.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-more/if-the-almighty-chose-to-establish-his-religion-by-miracles-he/) [Hannah More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-more/) > [A school prayer amendment would confer upon public school boards a power the First Amendment now denies to Congress and the states, that is,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-ervin/a-school-prayer-amendment-would-confer-upon-public-school-boards-a/) [Sam Ervin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-ervin/) > [It is a fine thing to establish one's own religion in one's heart, not to be dependent on tradition and second-hand ideals. Life will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-a-fine-thing-to-establish-one-s-own-religion-in-one-s-heart-not/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The self identity of Man is transcultural, and thus cannot have any single point of reference. Pluralism is not synonymous with tolerance of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raimon-panikkar/the-self-identity-of-man-is-transcultural-and-thus-cannot-have-any/) [Raimon Panikkar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raimon-panikkar/) > [We need the value and the beauty of democracy, and the beauty of pluralism is there's a free exchange of ideas. Nobody is right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/we-need-the-value-and-the-beauty-of-democracy-and-the-beauty-of/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [Religious pluralism is neither mere coexistence nor forced consensus. It is a form of proactive cooperation that affirms the identity of the constituent communities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eboo-patel/religious-pluralism-is-neither-mere-coexistence-nor-forced-consensus/) [Eboo Patel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eboo-patel/) ## 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 Atheism quotes > [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [No philosophy, no religion, has ever brought so glad a message to the world as this good news of Atheism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-besant/no-philosophy-no-religion-has-ever-brought-so-glad-a-message-to-the/) [Annie Besant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-besant/) > [Let me tell you that atheism has never painted a masterpiece. Atheism has never dispelled fear. Atheism has never healed a disease; faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hagee/let-me-tell-you-that-atheism-has-never-painted-a-masterpiece-atheism/) [John Hagee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hagee/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [The inner defenses are unconscious. They consist of a kind of magic aura which the mind builds around cherished belief. Arguments which penetrate into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-inner-defenses-are-unconscious-they-consist-of-a-kind-of-magic/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [God speaks through me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/god-speaks-through-me/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [A knowledge of the existence of something we cannot penetrate, of the manifestations of the profoundest reason and the most radiant beauty - it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/a-knowledge-of-the-existence-of-something-we-cannot-penetrate-of-the/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [You cannot ... transmute some incoherent mixture of words into sense merely by introducing the three-letter word "God" to be its grammatical subject.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antony-flew/you-cannot-transmute-some-incoherent-mixture-of-words-into-sense/) [Antony Flew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antony-flew/) > [Many humanists have argued that happiness involves a combination of hedonism and creative moral development; that an exuberant life fuses excellence and enjoyment, meaning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kurtz/many-humanists-have-argued-that-happiness-involves-a-combination-of/) [Paul Kurtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kurtz/) > [If, with all the time at my disposal, with all the wealth of the resources of this vast universe, to do with as I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/if-with-all-the-time-at-my-disposal-with-all-the-wealth-of-the/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [Do you think that was kind? 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