--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I would not look to the U.S. Constitution…" description: "\"I would not look to the U.S. Constitution if I were drafting a constitution in 2012.\" — Ruth Bader Ginsburg" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a3/ruth-bader-ginsburg-1906_constitution_i-would-not-look-to-the-u-s-constitution_2794918.jpg" --- # I would not look to the U.S. Constitution if I were… ![“I would not look to the U.S. Constitution if I were drafting a constitution in 2012.” quote by Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a3/ruth-bader-ginsburg-1906_constitution_i-would-not-look-to-the-u-s-constitution_2794918.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a3/ruth-bader-ginsburg-1906_constitution_i-would-not-look-to-the-u-s-constitution_2794918.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a3/ruth-bader-ginsburg-1906_constitution_i-would-not-look-to-the-u-s-constitution_2794918.jpg) > “I would not look to the U.S. Constitution if I were drafting a constitution in 2012.” [Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bader-ginsburg/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She suggests the 2012 constitution should not be modeled on the U.S. Constitution. **In simple terms:** Do not copy old constitutions blindly. Key Takeaway Consider contemporary needs. Themes law constitution innovation Mood critical reflective Type analytical political When to use this quote - drafting new charters - legal reform - policy making Key Concepts political theory comparative law Questions to Reflect On - How would modern values reshape a constitution? - What risks arise from ignoring past frameworks? A Different Perspective Historical context may limit relevance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Constitution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constitution/) ## Related quotes > [I would not look to the United States Constitution if I were drafting a constitution in the year 2012.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/i-would-not-look-to-the-united-states-constitution-if-i-were-drafting/) [Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bader-ginsburg/) > [When drafting our Constitution, the Founders took great care to ensure our military is above politics, that its leaders were civilians.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-mace/when-drafting-our-constitution-the-founders-took-great-care-to-ensure/) [Nancy Mace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-mace/) > [Drafting a constitution is only the first step. The constitution has to be granted legitimacy by open discussion and a fair, representative referendum.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-bonino/drafting-a-constitution-is-only-the-first-step-the-constitution-has/) [Emma Bonino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-bonino/) > [I would consider myself American in the way of what the actual idea that's in the Constitution is, not the way that it's performed:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rowan-blanchard/i-would-consider-myself-american-in-the-way-of-what-the-actual-idea/) [Rowan Blanchard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rowan-blanchard/) > [I think anybody that is concerned with national security, and if you look at our Constitution - the Constitution states very clearly that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-yoho/i-think-anybody-that-is-concerned-with-national-security-and-if-you/) [Ted Yoho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-yoho/) > [We have to have a good look at the Constitution. Let's determine where the shortcomings are. Then we can start talking of clauses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyril-ramaphosa/we-have-to-have-a-good-look-at-the-constitution-let-s-determine-where/) [Cyril Ramaphosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyril-ramaphosa/) > [“They keep talking about drafting a constitution for Iraq. Why don't we just give them ours? It was written by a lot of really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/they-keep-talking-about-drafting-a-constitution-for-iraq-why-don-t-we/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [While not widely reported, our victories in Iraq are plentiful. National elections, a democratic parliament and the drafting of a constitution are just some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-gillmor/while-not-widely-reported-our-victories-in-iraq-are-plentiful/) [Paul Gillmor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-gillmor/) > [If you ask judges, do you always agree on everything? Of course not, we divide just as you do. Why aren't you transparent about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/if-you-ask-judges-do-you-always-agree-on-everything-of-course-not-we/) [Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bader-ginsburg/) > [Racial discrimination in elections in Texas is no mere historical artifact. To the contrary, Texas has been found in violation of the Voting Rights…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/racial-discrimination-in-elections-in-texas-is-no-mere-historical/) [Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bader-ginsburg/) > [When I'm drafting right to life language, I don't call up the nuns.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bart-stupak/when-i-m-drafting-right-to-life-language-i-don-t-call-up-the-nuns/) [Bart Stupak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bart-stupak/) > [My own emotional health issues were bullying me during the time I was drafting that poem. It was a pressure I couldn't pin down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-pardlo/my-own-emotional-health-issues-were-bullying-me-during-the-time-i-was/) [Gregory Pardlo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-pardlo/) > [Denver, of course I've got to take my hats off to them, because they took a chance of drafting me in the first round.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demaryius-thomas/denver-of-course-i-ve-got-to-take-my-hats-off-to-them-because-they/) [Demaryius Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demaryius-thomas/) > [Just as playgrounds didn't even make the priority list of most of those responding to Katrina, they all too often slip off the radar…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darell-hammond/just-as-playgrounds-didn-t-even-make-the-priority-list-of-most-of/) [Darell Hammond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darell-hammond/) > [It's been a long and tumultuous relationship between Donald Trump and Ted Cruz that started off more or less as allies during the Republican…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hayes/it-s-been-a-long-and-tumultuous-relationship-between-donald-trump-and/) [Chris Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hayes/) ## More by Ruth Bader Ginsburg > [If we gave up our freedom as the price of security, we would no longer be the great nation that we are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/if-we-gave-up-our-freedom-as-the-price-of-security-we-would-no-longer/) [Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bader-ginsburg/) > [Work hard on each opinion, but once the case is decided, don't look back; go on to the next case and give it your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/work-hard-on-each-opinion-but-once-the-case-is-decided-don-t-look/) [Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bader-ginsburg/) > [Racial discrimination in elections in Texas is no mere historical artifact. To the contrary, Texas has been found in violation of the Voting Rights…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/racial-discrimination-in-elections-in-texas-is-no-mere-historical/) [Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bader-ginsburg/) > [The Democrats do fine in presidential elections; their problem is they can't get out the vote in the midterm elections.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/the-democrats-do-fine-in-presidential-elections-their-problem-is-they/) [Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bader-ginsburg/) > [In sum, the Court's conclusion that a constitutionally adequate recount is impractical is a prophecy the Court's own judgment will not allow to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/in-sum-the-court-s-conclusion-that-a-constitutionally-adequate/) [Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bader-ginsburg/) > [I think our system is being polluted by money,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/i-think-our-system-is-being-polluted-by-money/) [Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bader-ginsburg/) > [We will never see a day when women of means are not able to get a safe abortion in this country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/we-will-never-see-a-day-when-women-of-means-are-not-able-to-get-a/) [Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bader-ginsburg/) > [The entering class I joined in 1956 included just nine women, up from five in the then second-year class, and only one African American.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/the-entering-class-i-joined-in-1956-included-just-nine-women-up-from/) [Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bader-ginsburg/) > [If you ask judges, do you always agree on everything? Of course not, we divide just as you do. Why aren't you transparent about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/if-you-ask-judges-do-you-always-agree-on-everything-of-course-not-we/) [Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bader-ginsburg/) > [One thing that concerns me is that today's young women don't seem to care that we have a fundamental instrument of government that makes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/one-thing-that-concerns-me-is-that-today-s-young-women-don-t-seem-to/) [Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bader-ginsburg/) > [It's a facet of the gay rights movement that people don't think about enough. Why suddenly marriage equality? Because it wasn't until 1981 that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/it-s-a-facet-of-the-gay-rights-movement-that-people-don-t-think-about/) [Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bader-ginsburg/) > [If you have a caring life partner, you help the other person when that person needs it. I had a life partner who thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/if-you-have-a-caring-life-partner-you-help-the-other-person-when-that/) [Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bader-ginsburg/) > [There are some singers that know exactly when to go, and others hang on much too long and that is the same, that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/there-are-some-singers-that-know-exactly-when-to-go-and-others-hang/) [Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bader-ginsburg/) > [I would not like to be the only woman on the court.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/i-would-not-like-to-be-the-only-woman-on-the-court/) [Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bader-ginsburg/) > [My mother told me to be a lady. And for her, that meant be your own person, be independent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/my-mother-told-me-to-be-a-lady-and-for-her-that-meant-be-your-own/) [Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bader-ginsburg/) [Explore all 200 Ruth Bader Ginsburg quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bader-ginsburg/) ## More Constitution quotes > [ Next came the Patent laws. These began in England in 1624; and, in this country, with the adoption of our constitution. Before then \[these?\],… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/next-came-the-patent-laws-these-began-in-england-in-1624-and-in-this/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/) [Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/) > [In this choice of inheritance we have given to our frame of polity the image of a relation in blood; binding up the constitution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/in-this-choice-of-inheritance-we-have-given-to-our-frame-of-polity/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [As for doing good; that is one of the professions which is full. Moreover I have tried it fairly and, strange as it may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/as-for-doing-good-that-is-one-of-the-professions-which-is-full/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [While not widely reported, our victories in Iraq are plentiful. National elections, a democratic parliament and the drafting of a constitution are just some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-gillmor/while-not-widely-reported-our-victories-in-iraq-are-plentiful/) [Paul Gillmor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-gillmor/) > [In a recent decision of the Supreme Court, not made, however, by the full court, and concurred in by only four justices, it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bates-clark/in-a-recent-decision-of-the-supreme-court-not-made-however-by-the/) [John Bates Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bates-clark/) > [The judiciary must not take on the coloration of whatever may be popular at the moment. We are guardian of rights, and we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-bird/the-judiciary-must-not-take-on-the-coloration-of-whatever-may-be/) [Rose Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-bird/) > [There is not a revolution that succe Women are suffering because they are being excluded. The high military council excluded women from the committee…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nawal-el-saadawi/there-is-not-a-revolution-that-succe-women-are-suffering-because-they/) [Nawal El Saadawi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nawal-el-saadawi/) > [Free government is founded in jealousy, and not in confidence; it is jealousy, and not confidence, which prescribes limited constitutions, to bind down those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/free-government-is-founded-in-jealousy-and-not-in-confidence-it-is/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [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/) > [“The Court has a special responsibility to ensure that the Constitution works in practice. While education, including the transmission of our civic values from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-breyer/the-court-has-a-special-responsibility-to-ensure-that-the/) [Stephen Breyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-breyer/) > [The Constitution is very clear on the - on the declaration of war or reacting to international crimes - crimes against nations. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-pitts/the-constitution-is-very-clear-on-the-on-the-declaration-of-war-or/) Joe Pitts > [Nothing from man's hands, nor law, nor constitution, can be final. Truth alone is final.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-sumner/nothing-from-man-s-hands-nor-law-nor-constitution-can-be-final-truth/) [Charles Sumner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-sumner/) > [“I am apprehensive, Sir, that in the warmth of my feelings, I may have uttered expressions, which were too vehement. If such has been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/i-am-apprehensive-sir-that-in-the-warmth-of-my-feelings-i-may-have/) [Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/) > [Conservative political opinion in America cleaves to the tradition of the judge as passive interpreter, believing that his absolute loyalty to authoritative law is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/learned-hand/conservative-political-opinion-in-america-cleaves-to-the-tradition-of/) [Learned Hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/learned-hand/) [Browse all 4,507 Constitution quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constitution/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I would not look to the U.S. Constitution if I were drafting a constitution in 2012.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ruth Bader Ginsburg" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/i-would-not-look-to-the-u-s-constitution-if-i-were-drafting-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Constitution" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/i-would-not-look-to-the-u-s-constitution-if-i-were-drafting-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a3/ruth-bader-ginsburg-1906_constitution_i-would-not-look-to-the-u-s-constitution_2794918.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a3/ruth-bader-ginsburg-1906_constitution_i-would-not-look-to-the-u-s-constitution_2794918.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a3/ruth-bader-ginsburg-1906_constitution_i-would-not-look-to-the-u-s-constitution_2794918.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I would not look to the U.S. Constitution if I were drafting a constitution in 2012.” — Ruth Bader Ginsburg", "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": "Ruth Bader Ginsburg", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bader-ginsburg/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I would not look to the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/i-would-not-look-to-the-u-s-constitution-if-i-were-drafting-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/i-would-not-look-to-the-u-s-constitution-if-i-were-drafting-a/#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 } } ] } ```