--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The American Constitution is a practical…" description: "\"“The American Constitution is a practical secular covenant, drawn up by men who (with few exceptions) believed in a sacred Covenant, designed to restra..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2df/russell-kirk-6909_american-constitutio_the-american-constitution-is-a-practical_2011300.jpg" --- # The American Constitution is a practical secular covenant… ![“The American Constitution is a practical secular covenant, drawn up by men who (with few exceptions) believed in a sacred Covenant, designed to restrain the human tendencies toward violence and fraud; the American Constitution is a fundamental law deliberately meant to place checks upon will and…” quote by Russell Kirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2df/russell-kirk-6909_american-constitutio_the-american-constitution-is-a-practical_2011300.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2df/russell-kirk-6909_american-constitutio_the-american-constitution-is-a-practical_2011300.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2df/russell-kirk-6909_american-constitutio_the-american-constitution-is-a-practical_2011300.jpg) > ““The American Constitution is a practical secular covenant, drawn up by men who (with few exceptions) believed in a sacred Covenant, designed to restrain the human tendencies toward violence and fraud; the American Constitution is a fundamental law deliberately meant to place checks upon will and appetite.”” [Russell Kirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-kirk/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The Constitution is designed as a secular framework rooted in moral principles to limit human excesses. **In simple terms:** Constitution restrains violence and fraud. Key Takeaway Respect and uphold constitutional checks. Themes law morality government human nature Mood thoughtful serious Type political philosophical When to use this quote - political debate - legal reform - civic education Key Concepts social contract secularism ethical governance Questions to Reflect On - What moral principles should guide modern law? - How can checks balance freedom and security? A Different Perspective Interpretations of the Constitution vary, affecting its application. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [American constitution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-constitution/) [Constitution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constitution/) [Constitution Fundamental](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constitution-fundamental-3593018/) [Constitution Practical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constitution-practical-3593019/) [Sacred Covenant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sacred-covenant-497789/) [Secular Covenant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secular-covenant-3593020/) ## Related quotes > [The Constitution is the fundamental rule for people to live in society. If the rule no longer suits the lives of the general public…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ichiro-ozawa/the-constitution-is-the-fundamental-rule-for-people-to-live-in/) [Ichiro Ozawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ichiro-ozawa/) > [I say further that for this great legislative body to ignore the Constitution and the fundamental concepts of our governmental system is to act…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-goldwater/i-say-further-that-for-this-great-legislative-body-to-ignore-the/) [Barry Goldwater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-goldwater/) > [“Time has been given to us as a sacred covenant, that if wasted will haunt us throughout eternity, in the form of regret”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-redhead/time-has-been-given-to-us-as-a-sacred-covenant-that-if-wasted-will/) [steven redhead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-redhead/) > [We made a sacred covenant to follow the Creator's life plan at all times, which includes the responsibility of taking care of this land…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-banyacya/we-made-a-sacred-covenant-to-follow-the-creator-s-life-plan-at-all/) [Thomas Banyacya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-banyacya/) > [One of the most important concepts of revealed religion is that of a sacred covenant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-m-nelson/one-of-the-most-important-concepts-of-revealed-religion-is-that-of-a/) [Russell M. Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-m-nelson/) > [“...if you don't regard your word as a sacred covenant, then there is nothing in you I can honor ...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-geddes/if-you-don-t-regard-your-word-as-a-sacred-covenant-then-there-is/) [John Geddes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-geddes/) > [The American Constitution declares 'All men are born equal.' The British Socialist Party add: 'All men must be kept equal'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/the-american-constitution-declares-all-men-are-born-equal-the-british/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [For all the great dreams profitlessly invested in the digital computer, it is nonetheless true that not since the framers of the American Constitution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-berlinski/for-all-the-great-dreams-profitlessly-invested-in-the-digital/) [David Berlinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-berlinski/) > [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/) > [Anyone who says the American Constitution is obsolete just because social and economic conditions have changed does not understand the real genius of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-cleon-skousen/anyone-who-says-the-american-constitution-is-obsolete-just-because/) [W. Cleon Skousen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-cleon-skousen/) > [The American Constitution is the greatest governing document, and at some 7,000 words, just about the shortest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-ambrose/the-american-constitution-is-the-greatest-governing-document-and-at/) [Stephen Ambrose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-ambrose/) > [ \[quoting someone else\] the American constitution is a document designed by geniuses to be eventually interpreted by idiots ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-j-ellis/quoting-someone-else-the-american-constitution-is-a-document-designed/) [Joseph J. Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-j-ellis/) > [And I should like to assure you, my Islamic friends, that under the American Constitution, under American tradition, and in American hearts, this Center,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/and-i-should-like-to-assure-you-my-islamic-friends-that-under-the/) [Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/) > [The American Constitution, one of the few modern political documents drawn up by men who were forced by the sternest circumstances to think out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/the-american-constitution-one-of-the-few-modern-political-documents/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [In view of the tide of religiosity engulfing a once secular republic it is refreshing to be reminded by Freethinkers that free thought and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/in-view-of-the-tide-of-religiosity-engulfing-a-once-secular-republic/) [Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/) ## More by Russell Kirk > [“Only portions of the globe still enslaved by the enemies of the people refrained from congratulating President Zingu and Premier Villiers-Kolama upon the astounding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-kirk/only-portions-of-the-globe-still-enslaved-by-the-enemies-of-the/) [Russell Kirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-kirk/) > [“Manfredo -- Your Excellency -- how can you, even you, hope...?" "Life is a jest, and all things show it, my dear," I replied;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-kirk/manfredo-your-excellency-how-can-you-even-you-hope-life-is-a-jest-and/) [Russell Kirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-kirk/) > [“Today, as in the past, we ought to remind ourselves that the true natural law is not a mere congeries of appetites, and that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-kirk/today-as-in-the-past-we-ought-to-remind-ourselves-that-the-true/) [Russell Kirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-kirk/) > [Moral decay first hampers and then strangles honest government, regular commerce, and even the ability to take genuine pleasure in the goods of this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-kirk/moral-decay-first-hampers-and-then-strangles-honest-government/) [Russell Kirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-kirk/) > [ “Men are put into this world, he \[the enlightened conservative\] realizes, to struggle, to suffer, to contend against the evil that is in their… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-kirk/men-are-put-into-this-world-he-the-enlightened-conservative-realizes/) [Russell Kirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-kirk/) > [Mine was not an Enlightened mind, I now was aware: it was a Gothic mind, medieval in its temper and structure. I did not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-kirk/mine-was-not-an-enlightened-mind-i-now-was-aware-it-was-a-gothic-mind/) [Russell Kirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-kirk/) > [Humility, which Burke ranked high among the virtues, is the only effectual restraint upon this congenital vanity; yet our world has nearly forgotten the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-kirk/humility-which-burke-ranked-high-among-the-virtues-is-the-only/) [Russell Kirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-kirk/) > [Rousseau and his disciples were resolved to force men to be free; in most of the world, they triumphed; men are set free from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-kirk/rousseau-and-his-disciples-were-resolved-to-force-men-to-be-free-in/) [Russell Kirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-kirk/) > [Politics moves upward into ethics, and ethics ascends to theology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-kirk/politics-moves-upward-into-ethics-and-ethics-ascends-to-theology/) [Russell Kirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-kirk/) > [If men are discharged of reverence for ancient usage, they will treat this world, almost certainly, as if it were their private property, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-kirk/if-men-are-discharged-of-reverence-for-ancient-usage-they-will-treat/) [Russell Kirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-kirk/) > [“The Conservative Mind describes a cast of intellect or a type of character, an inclination to cherish the permanent things in human existence. On…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-kirk/the-conservative-mind-describes-a-cast-of-intellect-or-a-type-of/) [Russell Kirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-kirk/) > [Privilege, in any society, is the reward of duties performed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-kirk/privilege-in-any-society-is-the-reward-of-duties-performed/) [Russell Kirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-kirk/) > [“There are six canons of conservative thought: 1) Belief in a transcendent order, or body of natural law, which rules society as well as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-kirk/there-are-six-canons-of-conservative-thought-1-belief-in-a/) [Russell Kirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-kirk/) > [The Secular City, having legislated and litigated itself out of any entanglement with the City of God, would be a hell upon earth .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-kirk/the-secular-city-having-legislated-and-litigated-itself-out-of-any/) [Russell Kirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-kirk/) > [Why do we not exhaust the heritage of the ages, spiritual and material for our immediate pleasure, and let posterity go hang? So far…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-kirk/why-do-we-not-exhaust-the-heritage-of-the-ages-spiritual-and-material/) [Russell Kirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-kirk/) [Explore all 96 Russell Kirk quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-kirk/) ## More American constitution quotes > [The American Constitution declares 'All men are born equal.' The British Socialist Party add: 'All men must be kept equal'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/the-american-constitution-declares-all-men-are-born-equal-the-british/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [For all the great dreams profitlessly invested in the digital computer, it is nonetheless true that not since the framers of the American Constitution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-berlinski/for-all-the-great-dreams-profitlessly-invested-in-the-digital/) [David Berlinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-berlinski/) > [The American Constitution, one of the few modern political documents drawn up by men who were forced by the sternest circumstances to think out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/the-american-constitution-one-of-the-few-modern-political-documents/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [And I should like to assure you, my Islamic friends, that under the American Constitution, under American tradition, and in American hearts, this Center,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/and-i-should-like-to-assure-you-my-islamic-friends-that-under-the/) [Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/) > [ \[quoting someone else\] the American constitution is a document designed by geniuses to be eventually interpreted by idiots ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-j-ellis/quoting-someone-else-the-american-constitution-is-a-document-designed/) [Joseph J. Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-j-ellis/) > [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/) > [In view of the tide of religiosity engulfing a once secular republic it is refreshing to be reminded by Freethinkers that free thought and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/in-view-of-the-tide-of-religiosity-engulfing-a-once-secular-republic/) [Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/) > [Anyone who says the American Constitution is obsolete just because social and economic conditions have changed does not understand the real genius of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-cleon-skousen/anyone-who-says-the-american-constitution-is-obsolete-just-because/) [W. Cleon Skousen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-cleon-skousen/) > [The American Constitution is the greatest governing document, and at some 7,000 words, just about the shortest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-ambrose/the-american-constitution-is-the-greatest-governing-document-and-at/) [Stephen Ambrose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-ambrose/) > [“In America, the only way to succeed politically is to contest your opponent at every pass; to attack every weakness, and most importantly, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-moehring/in-america-the-only-way-to-succeed-politically-is-to-contest-your/) [Ryan Moehring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-moehring/) > [If someone has a Muslim background and they're willing to reject those tenets and to accept the way of life that we have and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-carson/if-someone-has-a-muslim-background-and-they-re-willing-to-reject/) [Benjamin Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-carson/) > [“The conscious utterance of thought, by speech or action, to any end, is Art. From the first imitative babble of a child to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-conscious-utterance-of-thought-by-speech-or-action-to-any-end-is/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [“Andrew Moraviscik, one of the best American scholars of Europe, points out that once you exclude translators and clerical workers, the European Commission employs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fareed-zakaria/andrew-moraviscik-one-of-the-best-american-scholars-of-europe-points/) [Fareed Zakaria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fareed-zakaria/) > [“The American Constitution was carefully rigged by the noteholders, land speculators, rum runners, and slave holders who were the Founding Fathers, so that it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-william-domhoff/the-american-constitution-was-carefully-rigged-by-the-noteholders/) [G. William Domhoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-william-domhoff/) > [The Internet's distinct configuration may have facilitated anonymous threats, copyright infringement, and cyberattacks, but it has also kindled the flame of freedom in ways…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-zittrain/the-internet-s-distinct-configuration-may-have-facilitated-anonymous/) [Jonathan Zittrain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-zittrain/) [Browse all 50 American constitution quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-constitution/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The American Constitution is a practical secular covenant, drawn up by men who (with few exceptions) believed in a sacred Covenant, designed to restrain the human tendencies toward violence and fraud; the American Constitution is a fundamental law deliberately meant to place checks upon will and appetite.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Russell Kirk" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-kirk/the-american-constitution-is-a-practical-secular-covenant-drawn-up-by/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "American constitution" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-kirk/the-american-constitution-is-a-practical-secular-covenant-drawn-up-by/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2df/russell-kirk-6909_american-constitutio_the-american-constitution-is-a-practical_2011300.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2df/russell-kirk-6909_american-constitutio_the-american-constitution-is-a-practical_2011300.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2df/russell-kirk-6909_american-constitutio_the-american-constitution-is-a-practical_2011300.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The American Constitution is a practical secular covenant, drawn up by men who (with few exceptions)…” — Russell Kirk", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Russell Kirk", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-kirk/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“The American Constitution is a practical...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-kirk/the-american-constitution-is-a-practical-secular-covenant-drawn-up-by/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-kirk/the-american-constitution-is-a-practical-secular-covenant-drawn-up-by/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```