--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We have built no temple but the Capitol…" description: "\"We have built no temple but the Capitol. We consult no common oracle but the Constitution.\" — Rufus Choate" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d3/rufus-choate-26933_built_we-have-built-no-temple-but-the-capitol_1747250.png" --- # We have built no temple but the Capitol. We consult no… ![“We have built no temple but the Capitol. We consult no common oracle but the Constitution.” quote by Rufus Choate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d3/rufus-choate-26933_built_we-have-built-no-temple-but-the-capitol_1747250.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d3/rufus-choate-26933_built_we-have-built-no-temple-but-the-capitol_1747250.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d3/rufus-choate-26933_built_we-have-built-no-temple-but-the-capitol_1747250.png) > “We have built no temple but the Capitol. We consult no common oracle but the Constitution.” [Rufus Choate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rufus-choate/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Emphasizes that the Constitution is the ultimate guide, not religious or mystical sources. **In simple terms:** The Constitution is our only authority. Key Takeaway Rely on the Constitution. Themes law governance secularism Mood serious reflective Type political philosophical When to use this quote - political debates - legal interpretation - public policy - education Key Concepts constitutionalism civic duty Questions to Reflect On - How does law shape morality? - When should tradition be consulted? A Different Perspective May overlook moral or ethical considerations beyond law. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Constitution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constitution/) [Oracles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oracles/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Temple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/temple/) [Temples](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/temples/) ## Related quotes > [Our thoughts are boundless, though our frames are frail, Our souls immortal, though our limbs decay; Though darken'd in this poor life by a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-gates-percival/our-thoughts-are-boundless-though-our-frames-are-frail-our-souls/) [James Gates Percival](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-gates-percival/) > [The heart with compassion is the temple of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sathya-sai-baba/the-heart-with-compassion-is-the-temple-of-god/) [Sathya Sai Baba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sathya-sai-baba/) > [If, while hurrying ostensibly to the temple of truth, we hand the reins over to our personal interests which look aside at very different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-schopenhauer/if-while-hurrying-ostensibly-to-the-temple-of-truth-we-hand-the-reins/) [Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-schopenhauer/) > [A temple is a place in which those whom He has chosen are endowed with power from on high—a power which enables us to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-b-haight/a-temple-is-a-place-in-which-those-whom-he-has-chosen-are-endowed/) [David B. Haight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-b-haight/) > [A mind not set on God is given to wandering and lacks the quality of a temple of worship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/a-mind-not-set-on-god-is-given-to-wandering-and-lacks-the-quality-of/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Every Hebrew should look upon his Faith as a temple extending over every land to prove the immutability of God and the unity of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-aguilar/every-hebrew-should-look-upon-his-faith-as-a-temple-extending-over/) [Grace Aguilar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-aguilar/) > [If we are not able to fix the Lord firmly in our hearts, even a lifetime of temple-going does not do us any good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mata-amritanandamayi/if-we-are-not-able-to-fix-the-lord-firmly-in-our-hearts-even-a/) [Mata Amritanandamayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mata-amritanandamayi/) > [Revere the body and care for it, for it is a temple.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-muktananda/revere-the-body-and-care-for-it-for-it-is-a-temple/) [Swami Muktananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-muktananda/) > [Creation lives alone in a small temple. Only one may worship at a time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-hale/creation-lives-alone-in-a-small-temple-only-one-may-worship-at-a-time/) [Nancy Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-hale/) > [We are committed to the Common Civil Code, Article 370 and building of a magnificent temple at the birthplace of Lord Ram.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/venkaiah-naidu/we-are-committed-to-the-common-civil-code-article-370-and-building-of/) Venkaiah Naidu > [The temple of art is built in words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-temple-of-art-is-built-in-words/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [What a glorious thing it is for us to have the privilege of going to the temple for our own blessings. Then after going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-w-hunter/what-a-glorious-thing-it-is-for-us-to-have-the-privilege-of-going-to/) [Howard W. Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-w-hunter/) > [A man is the facade of a temple wherein all wisdom and all good abide.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-man-is-the-facade-of-a-temple-wherein-all-wisdom-and-all-good-abide/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [THE DEMOLITION OF A TEMPLE IS POSSIBLE AT ANY TIME, as it cannot walk away from its place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aurangzeb/the-demolition-of-a-temple-is-possible-at-any-time-as-it-cannot-walk/) [Aurangzeb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aurangzeb/) > [Clearly, when we baptize, our eyes should gaze beyond the baptismal font to the holy temple. The great garner into which the sheaves should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/clearly-when-we-baptize-our-eyes-should-gaze-beyond-the-baptismal/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) ## More by Rufus Choate > [“Dalam berargumentasi jangan mengeluarkan ejekan mau pun sindiran tajam.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rufus-choate/dalam-berargumentasi-jangan-mengeluarkan-ejekan-mau-pun-sindiran-tajam/) [Rufus Choate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rufus-choate/) > [Power, carried to extremes, is always liable to reaction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rufus-choate/power-carried-to-extremes-is-always-liable-to-reaction/) [Rufus Choate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rufus-choate/) > [The final end of government is not to exert restraint but to do good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rufus-choate/the-final-end-of-government-is-not-to-exert-restraint-but-to-do-good/) [Rufus Choate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rufus-choate/) > [Knowledge is power as well as fame.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rufus-choate/knowledge-is-power-as-well-as-fame/) [Rufus Choate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rufus-choate/) > [The courage of New England was the courage of conscience. It did not rise to that insane and awful passion, the love of war…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rufus-choate/the-courage-of-new-england-was-the-courage-of-conscience-it-did-not/) [Rufus Choate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rufus-choate/) > [Happy is he who has laid up in his youth, and held fast in all fortune, a genuine and passionate love of reading.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rufus-choate/happy-is-he-who-has-laid-up-in-his-youth-and-held-fast-in-all-fortune/) [Rufus Choate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rufus-choate/) > [A book is the only immortality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rufus-choate/a-book-is-the-only-immortality/) [Rufus Choate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rufus-choate/) > [We join ourselves to no party that does not carry the flag and I keep step to the music of the Union.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rufus-choate/we-join-ourselves-to-no-party-that-does-not-carry-the-flag-and-i-keep/) [Rufus Choate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rufus-choate/) > [Happy is he who has laid up in his youth, and held fast in all fortune, a genuine and passionate love for reading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rufus-choate/happy-is-he-who-has-laid-up-in-his-youth-and-held-fast-in-all-fortune-2/) [Rufus Choate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rufus-choate/) > [Its Constitution--the glittering and sounding generalities of natural right which make up the Declaration of Independence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rufus-choate/its-constitution-the-glittering-and-sounding-generalities-of-natural/) [Rufus Choate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rufus-choate/) > [All that happens in the world of Nature or Man, - every war; every peace; every hour of prosperity; every hour of adversity; every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rufus-choate/all-that-happens-in-the-world-of-nature-or-man-every-war-every-peace/) [Rufus Choate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rufus-choate/) > [Neither irony nor sarcasm is argument.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rufus-choate/neither-irony-nor-sarcasm-is-argument/) [Rufus Choate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rufus-choate/) > [“The book is the only immortality.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rufus-choate/the-book-is-the-only-immortality/) [Rufus Choate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rufus-choate/) > [There was a state without king or nobles; there was a church without a bishop; there was a people governed by grave magistrates which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rufus-choate/there-was-a-state-without-king-or-nobles-there-was-a-church-without-a/) [Rufus Choate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rufus-choate/) > [No lawyer can afford to be ignorant of the Bible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rufus-choate/no-lawyer-can-afford-to-be-ignorant-of-the-bible/) [Rufus Choate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rufus-choate/) [Explore all 21 Rufus Choate quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rufus-choate/) ## More Built quotes > [It's really fun and challenging to build things that have never been built before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mason/it-s-really-fun-and-challenging-to-build-things-that-have-never-been/) [Hilary Mason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mason/) > [Astronomers have built telescopes which can show myriads of stars unseen before; but when a man looks through a tear in his own eye,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/astronomers-have-built-telescopes-which-can-show-myriads-of-stars/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [So I concentrated on the rhythmic side of things, and therefore left a lot of holes. 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